Labour’s State of the Nation speech set to be policy light

Summarised by Centrist

Labour leader Chris Hipkins delivered a State of the Nation speech in Auckland that signalled caution rather than new commitments, with no major policy announcements.

Speaking to reporters the following morning, Hipkins confirmed Labour would not unveil new policy until after Budget Day on 28 May, saying he wanted to “know what we’re dealing with” before locking in commitments. He described the approach as “very responsible” and said Labour would only make promises it could deliver.

Here’s what I said about @nzlabour in @actparty’s State of the Nation speech:

"I listen to Chris Hipkins, and I hear Jacinda Ardern “light” … a lilting voice that says all the right things, promises nirvana, but never says how we will pay for it or tackles the key issues. He…

— David Seymour (@dbseymour) February 23, 2026

Hipkins focused on cost of living pressures, health, housing and climate, repeating Labour’s existing priorities and promising voters would see a “different” Labour to 2023. He said it was responsible to wait until closer to the election before making firm promises, arguing that “a lot can happen in six months” and that Labour would set out commitments once it knows the state of the economy.

So far, Labour has proposed three free GP visits funded by a targeted capital gains tax, a Future Fund, free cervical screening and a GP loan scheme. Hipkins has confirmed Labour would repeal the Regulatory Standards Act and reinstate the full pay equity system, but has not outlined how it would fund that commitment.

Chris “softy” Hipkins just delivered one of the most boring State of the Nation speeches in recorded history.

He may as well have just sent a press release out. He couldn’t even fill a smoko room with a public meeting so had to tack on to a chamber of commerce hosted event.…

— Winston Peters (@winstonpeters) February 23, 2026

National deputy leader Nicola Willis dismissed the speech as a “lump of jelly filled with platitudes and sentiment but no concrete plans,” and called for a contest of “actual ideas.” She questioned how Labour would fund pay equity changes and whether it would raise taxes or borrow more.

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters labelled the address “boring,” while ACT leader David Seymour called it “featherweight,” arguing there was no plan to pay for Labour’s promises.

The most recent RNZ Reid Research poll put Labour ahead as the highest polling party, though the current coalition would still have enough support to govern.

Read more over at RNZhereand****here

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