Chris Hipkins outlines Labour’s priorities, unveils economic team and reshuffled portfolios
Friday, 7 March 2025
Labour leader Chris Hipkins has set out his party’s key priorities and launched a scathing attack on the Government, accusing Prime Minister Christopher Luxon of lacking vision and failing to address New Zealand’s biggest challenges.
Hipkins, speaking on Friday to the Auckland Business Chamber, outlined three goals that Labour was focused on should it return to government in 2026:
Jobs – A fair economy with secure jobs that pay a decent wage.
Health – A quality public health system supporting healthy communities.
Homes – Ensuring every New Zealander has a safe, affordable place to live.
“The cost-of-living crunch is still hitting New Zealanders hard. Prices are going up, wage growth is stagnant, and more people are unemployed or about to lose their jobs,” Hipkins said.
He accused the National-led government of prioritising tax cuts for landlords while cutting public services, increasing division, and failing to deliver results.
“The Luxon Government does not have a vision or a plan for New Zealand. Buzzwords and corporate waffle will not lift incomes, fix our health system, or build more homes,” he said.
“Labour will not sell our pristine landscapes for a quick buck. We won’t lay off thousands of people and cripple sectors for the sake of politics. We won’t sit idly by watching unemployment grow and families suffer as a result.”
Labour’s economic strategy and new leadership team
Hipkins signalled a renewed economic focus, unveiling a reshuffled caucus line up designed to strengthen Labour’s economic credentials.
Barbara Edmonds has been promoted in the party rankings and will lead the finance portfolio, while also taking on a new savings and investment portfolio.
“Economic growth for the sake of it isn’t an economic strategy. I’ve tasked Barbara with making sure we’re ready to balance the books, increase our savings, expand our investment opportunities, and create the economic conditions for all Kiwis to thrive,' Hipkins said.
Labour’s new economic team includes:
Barbara Edmonds – Finance and Economy, Savings and Investment
Ginny Andersen – Jobs and Incomes
Peeni Henare – Economic Development
Reuben Davidson – Science, Technology and Creative Economy
Cushla Tangaere-Manuel – Māori Economy
Hipkins said the team would work with energy, infrastructure, manufacturing, and industry spokespeople to develop a comprehensive economic plan.
“This is not just about inviting in foreign money – it’s far more complex than that. It involves our businesses, our exporters, our tech and science innovators, our creative sector, our iwi partners, and our regions,” he said.
Infrastructure, health, and education reshuffle
Labour has also introduced a new infrastructure and public investment portfolio, led by Kieran McAnulty, who will work alongside Tangi Utikere on transport and local government.
“We have run down our infrastructure and sold off many of the public assets built up and passed down to us by previous generations. I want our next government to be one of rebuilding,” Hipkins said.
In a notable change, former Education Minister Jan Tinetti has been moved to social investment and workplace relations and safety, with Willow-Jean Prime taking over the education portfolio. Megan Woods will lead the new manufacturing and industry portfolio, while Ayesha Verrall remains in health.
Winning back Auckland will be a key focus for Labour, and the Auckland portfolio will now be led by Deputy Leader Carmel Sepuloni.
Labour prepares for 2026
With 18 months until the next election, Hipkins said Labour was already preparing for government, with policy development well underway to ensure jobs, health, and housing were attainable for all New Zealanders.
“New Zealand can have a strong economy that supports people in work and pays them well. We can invest in long-term infrastructure while ensuring our health and education systems don’t collapse. We can ensure people have access to quality homes, and that Kiwi kids get a great start to life,” he said.
“This experienced, united, and formidable team is ready for government. We will be working relentlessly over the next 18 months to finalise policy and prepare to take back power in 2026.”
National: ‘Platitudes, not policies’
National MP Chris Bishop called Hipkins’ speech a “fizzer”.
“He announced a series of platitudes, not policies,” Bishop said.
He called the party’s track record “atrocious” and said it had no plans for the future.
“In fact they are making a point of saying that they are only starting their policy development now,” Bishop said.
“One has to wonder what on earth the Labour Party has been doing for the last 16 months that this government has been in office, cracking on with the job of cleaning up the mess that the Labour Party left the government to deal with and rebuilding the economy, focusing on law and order and delivering better results in health and education.
“All they have is platitudes, and we’re looking forward to a big fight over the next 18 months as we run into the next election.”
Who’s up, who’s down
Labour’s new list (new portfolios in bold):
1. Chris Hipkins - Leader, Ministerial Services, National Security and Intelligence
2. Carmel Sepuloni - Auckland Issues, Women, Pacific Peoples (loses Social Development, Child Poverty Reduction)
3. Barbara Edmonds (+1) - Finance and Economy, Savings and Investment (loses Infrastructure)
4. Megan Woods (-1) - Energy and Resources, Manufacturing and Industry, Associate Finance (loses Climate Change)
5. Willie Jackson - Social Development, Māori Development (loses Broadcasting and Media, Employment, Associate Housing, Associate Workplace Relations)
6. Ayesha Verrall - Health, Wellington Issues (loses Public Service)
7. Kieran McAnulty - Shadow Leader of the House, Housing, Infrastructure and Public Investment (loses Local Govt and Regional Development)
8. Williow-Jean Prime - Education, Children (loses Youth, Associate Education - Māori)
9. Ginny Andersen - Jobs and Incomes, Police, Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations (loses Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence, Social Investment, Associate Social Development)
10. Jan Tinetti - Workplace Relations and Safety, Social Investment, Early Childhood Education, Child Poverty Reduction (loses Education, Women)
11. Peeni Henare - Economic Development, Māori-Crown Relations Te Arawhiti, Defence, Associate Health (loses Sport and Recreation)
12. Tangi Utikere (+7) - Local Government, Transport, Small Business, Racing (loses Oceans and Fisheries, Associate Education - Pacific)
13. Priyanca Radhakrishnan (-1) - NZSIS, GCSB, Disability, Conservation
14. Jo Luxton (-1) - Agriculture, Rural Communities, Biosecurity
15. Duncan Webb (-1) - Deputy Shadow Leader of the House, Justice, Regulation, Natural Hazards Commission (loses Christchurch issues)
16. Deborah Russell (-1) - Revenue, Climate Change, Associate Finance (loses Science, Innovation and Technology, Associate Education - Tertiary)
17. Rachel Brooking (-1) - Environment, Food Safety, Space, RMA Reform
18. Damien O'Connor (-1) - Trade, Land Information, Regional Development (loses Associate Foreign Affairs, Associate Transport)
19. David Parker (-1) - Foreign Affairs, Shadow Attorney General (loses Electoral Reform)
20. Camilla Belich - ACC, Public Services, Emergency Management (loses Workplace Relations and Safety)
21. Arena Williams - Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Building and Construction, Youth (loses State-owned Enterprises)
22. Phil Twyford - Immigration, Disarmament and Arms Control, Associate Foreign Affairs
23. Greg O'Connor - Courts, Veterans
24. Jenny Salesa - Ethnic Communities, Customs
25. Rachel Boyack - Arts, Culture and Heritage, Animal Welfare, Oceans and Fisheries (loses ACC)
26. Adrian Rurawhe - Whānau Ora (loses Associate Māori Development)
27. Helen White - Community and Voluntary Sector, Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence (loses Small Business and Manufacturing, Associate Justice)
28. Ingrid Leary - Seniors, Mental Health
29. Lemauga Lydia Sosene - Internal Affairs, Statistics (loses Associate Pacific Peoples, Associate Social Development and Employment)
30. Reuben Davidson - Science, Technology and Innovation, Broadcasting, Media and Creative Economy (loses Statistics, Digital Economy and Communications, Associate Broadcasting and Media)
31. Cushla Tangaere-Manuel - Māori Economy, Sport and Recreation, Forestry (loses Tourism and Hospitality, Cyclone Recovery)
32. Tracey McLellan - Corrections, Christchurch Issues (loses Associate Health)
33. Shanan Halbert - Tertiary Education, Rainbow Issues (loses Auckland Issues)
34. Glen Bennett - Tourism and Hospitality (loses Economic Development, Associate Energy)
– Additional reporting from RNZ