Episode description
The new government's first week in office saw it get straight to work, setting high expectations and unveiling its 100-day plan - but it's not exactly been smooth sailing. Fixing the economy and making a material difference for New Zealanders is a hefty workload for a Cabinet which has so far been dogged by distractions - driven partly by new Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters. In this week's Focus on Politics, Political Reporter Katie Scotcher looks back at the coalition's first week in power and the distractions that dogged it.
The new coalition government unveiled its 100-day plan this week.
"I don't think there's been any previous government that's been as aggressive about getting out of the blocks hard, fast and early" - Christopher Luxon
The new government's first week in office saw it get straight to work, setting high expectations and unveiling its 100-day plan - but it's not exactly been smooth sailing.
Fixing the economy and making a material difference for New Zealanders is a hefty workload for a Cabinet which has so far been dogged by distractions - driven partly by new Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters.
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It began with the swearing-in ceremony at Government House on Monday, a moment of pageantry marking the official handover of power.
Most of the MPs were beaming, none more so than Christopher Luxon, relishing his new title of Prime Minister.
Christopher Luxon grins at his swearing-in as prime minister.
It's remarkable given just two years earlier he was a mere backbencher in his first term at Parliament: New Zealand's least politically experienced Prime Minister - both an incredible feat - and a potential liability.
Unveiling the plan for the first 100 days of the government at his first post-Cabinet briefing, Luxon on Wednesday set the bar high.
"I'll just say, I think we're going to do more than 100 days than this government did in the last six years. So we're looking forward to getting into work."
The agenda is a mix: Cellphones in schools are out, pseudoephedrine in pharmacies are back in. The clean car discount will be scrapped along with Labour's Three Waters and RMA changes.
Luxon insists the plan will help ease the cost of living, pointing to a return to a single mandate for the Reserve Bank and cutting compliance costs for businesses.
"We are absolutely determined to rebuild the economy, to lower the cost of living, we are determined to actually deal with law and order and we're determined to deliver public services."
Read more:
Luxon in Auckland touts plans for education, local government
Government confirms its 100-day plan…