Hipkins commits to Labour-led government before Christmas

Chris Hipkins has committed to forming a Labour-led government before Christmas, RNZ reported.

Hipkins said that if Labour is elected, its priorities would be bringing down the cost of living and fixing healthcare. Both are areas where voters feel the effects of government decisions most directly, and he put them at the top of his plans.

He also set out five actions his Cabinet, the group of senior ministers who run the government day to day, would take in its first week under his leadership as prime minister.

Hipkins said he would hold every minister accountable for delivering those actions. Ministers who failed to meet the standards he set would face consequences, he said.

The Otago Daily Times carried the same commitment under a similar headline.