Chippie prepares to sign off as PM – but his future as party leader is not so clear
The PM has delivered some news about what’s going on in The Beehive, but he has not posted it on the government’s official website.
Indeed, nothing has been posted there since October 29, when the PM and his sports minister congratulated the All Blacks after they finished runners up at Rugby World Cup 2023.
But Chris Hipkins has been busy. Busy packing is bags.
We learned of this from Newshub this morning in a report headed Election 2023: Chris Hipkins admits he’s packed his boxes as he prepares to depart Prime Minister’s office.
Labour leader Chris Hipkins says he’s packed his boxes and is ready to shift out of the Prime Minister’s office, marking the end of his left-bloc party’s six years in power.
The outgoing Prime Minister said he’s just waiting for the special votes to be counted to make the final move.
He’s not hoping for the final count to overturn the election night result – is he?
No. He accepts he is merely a caretaker:
Hipkins told AM he’s been trying to keep busy over the past two weeks by fulfilling the role of caretaker Prime Minister.
“We’re all boxed up ready to go so we can’t move until the new Government have sorted themselves out and figured out who the new Government’s going to be,” he said. “In the meantime, we just keep the home fires burning – there’s still a bit of day-to-day business of Government that needs to be transacted.”
While saying he accepted he no longer would be Prime Minister, Hipkins insisted he still had fight left in him.
“I’m still pretty passionate about New Zealand and about New Zealand politics, and the Labour Party has always been very good to me, and I continue to be very committed to the New Zealand Labour Party.”
Whether he would be the long-term leader of the party remained unclear, Newshub noted:
“I’m sure colleagues are speaking to each other,” he said.
“We’ve indicated that we’ll get together again soon, once we’ve actually got the final vote count.”
Final election results will be known on Thursday with the unveiling of special votes.
Point of Order is a blog focused on politics and the economy run by veteran newspaper reporters Bob Edlin and Ian Templeton
Labour leader Chris Hipkins says he’s packed his boxes and is ready to shift out of the Prime Minister’s office, marking the end of his left-bloc party’s six years in power.
The outgoing Prime Minister said he’s just waiting for the special votes to be counted to make the final move.
He’s not hoping for the final count to overturn the election night result – is he?
No. He accepts he is merely a caretaker:
Hipkins told AM he’s been trying to keep busy over the past two weeks by fulfilling the role of caretaker Prime Minister.
“We’re all boxed up ready to go so we can’t move until the new Government have sorted themselves out and figured out who the new Government’s going to be,” he said. “In the meantime, we just keep the home fires burning – there’s still a bit of day-to-day business of Government that needs to be transacted.”
While saying he accepted he no longer would be Prime Minister, Hipkins insisted he still had fight left in him.
“I’m still pretty passionate about New Zealand and about New Zealand politics, and the Labour Party has always been very good to me, and I continue to be very committed to the New Zealand Labour Party.”
Whether he would be the long-term leader of the party remained unclear, Newshub noted:
“I’m sure colleagues are speaking to each other,” he said.
“We’ve indicated that we’ll get together again soon, once we’ve actually got the final vote count.”
Final election results will be known on Thursday with the unveiling of special votes.
Point of Order is a blog focused on politics and the economy run by veteran newspaper reporters Bob Edlin and Ian Templeton
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