Labour leader Chris Hipkins. Photo: Getty ImagesLabour leader Chris Hipkins has taken aim at the government's cost of living and climate policies in his State of the Nation speech in Auckland. Hipkins did not announce any new policy in the speech on Monday, repeating his promise that the public would see a "different" Labour to 2023. "Labour didn't get everything right last time - and some of you don't hold back in telling me," Hipkins told the Auckland Business Chamber audience. Or we can recognise that the cost of inaction on climate change now far exceeds the cost of action."

Source: Otago Daily Times February 23, 2026 06:29 UTC