CAPTIONS BY SALLY HARPER AND JESSIE PURU. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2023 KIA ORA GOOD AFTERNOON. THIS IS A NEWSHUB SPECIAL AS WE WAIT TO HEAR FROM NEW ZEALAND'S NEXT PRIME MINISTER, CHRIS HIPKINS, WHO WILL BE ADDRESSING MEDIA IN JUST A FEW MOMENTS. HIPKINS WAS CONFIRMED THIS MORNING AS THE ONLY NOMINATION IN LABOUR LEADERSHIP RACE, MAKING HIM THE DESIGNATED HEIR TO JACINDA ARDERN. THE CAUCUS WILL STILL MEET TOMORROW TO FORMALLY CONFIRM HIS APPOINTMENT AS LABOUR LEADER AND PRIME MINISTER. LET'S GO LIVE NOW TO OUR POLITCIAL EDITOR JENNA LYNCH. JENNA, IT'S ALL A DONE DEAL NOW. IS THIS HOW WE EXPECTED THINGS TO GO? LABOUR HAD ONE OPTION AND ONE OPTION ONLY IF THEY WANTED ANY CHANCE OF WINNING THE ELECTION IN OCTOBER, AND THIS MAKES THIS A CLEAN TRANSITION PERIOD TO HAND IT OVER TO ONE PLAYER. NOT PLAY IT OUT IN PUBLIC, NOT HAVE ANY BATTLES. THEY HAVE MANAGED TO DITCH THOSE DAYS LIKE IN 2014 WHEN THEY CYCLED THROUGH LEADERS AND THEY HAVE COME OUT WITH A GOOD OUTCOME, ONE SINGLE CANDIDATE. CHRIS HIPKINS WILL BECOME THE NEXT PRIME MINISTER. I AM TOLD THAT THEY WERE VERY MATURE CONVERSATIONS THAT WERE HELD OVER THE LAST 24-HOURS. THEY HAVE MANAGED TO COME TOGETHER AS A CAUCUS AND FIND CONSENSUS AND GO INTO AN ELECTION YEAR WITH A FIRM RESOLVE. WE CAN SEE THE CROWD GATHERING BEHIND YOU WAITING TO HEAR FROM CHRIS HIPKINS TODAY. WHAT DO YOU THINK HE WILL SAY? THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE WILL HEAR FROM OUR INCOMING PRIME MINISTER. A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL REMEMBER HIM FROM THE 1 PM PRESS COMPETENCES FROM WHEN HE WAS COVID MINISTER, PARTICULARLY ONE PRESS CONFERENCE WHEN HE UTTERED ONE PHRASE A LITTLE BIT WRONG AND INSPIRED A THOUSAND MEMES ABOUT SPREAD YOUR LEGS. THIS IS A DIFFERENT CHRIS HIPKINS WE WILL HEAR FROM TODAY. HE WILL WANT TO APPEAR MINISTERIAL. THIS GUY IS REALLY AFFABLE. HE IS A REALLY LIKEABLE GUY. HE IS VERY CHEERY, HE HAS A GOOD GIGGLE ABOUT HIM, IT IS A GOOD QUALITY FOR AN INCOMING PRIME MINISTER AND ESPECIALLY IN AN ELECTION YEAR, YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO LAUGH AT YOURSELF IF YOU ARE GOING TO TAKE THAT JOB. SO HIPKINS WILL GET THE TOP JOB, BUT WHAT ABOUT DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER ` WILL WE SEE A CHANGE THERE? THAT IS STILL TO BE DECIDED. KIRI ALLAN HAS CONFIRMED TO NEWSHUB THAT SHE WILL NOT BE STANDING FOR IT. CHRIS HIPKINS IS A WELLINGTON BASED MP, SO YOU NEED TO REPRESENT AUCKLAND SOMEWHERE IN THAT LEADERSHIP. CARMEL SEPULONI TEXT THAT BOX. SHE IS PACIFICA, AND THAT WOULD BE GREAT REPRESENTATION. SHE TAKES A LOT OF BOXES BUT NOTHING IS CONFIRMED. IT IS LIKELY THAT CHRIS ATKINS WILL NEWS ON THAT TODAY. WE MAY SEE HIM GIVE SOME HINTS AS TO WHO HE MIGHT PICK FOR THAT DEPUTY ROLE. WHAT HAS BEEN THE REACTION FROM OTHER MPS? EVERY LABOUR MP HAS BEEN GOING THROUGH THEIR CAMERA ROLL TRYING TO FIND A SELFIE THAT THEY HAVE TAKEN WITH CHRIS HIPKINS. THEY HAVE ALL COME OUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA, HE HAS THEIR FULL SUPPORT. THEY ARE EXCITED FOR HIM TO TAKE ON THIS JOB AS PRIME MINISTER AND LEADER. THEY HAVE HAD GREAT EXPERIENCES WITH HAM AND THEY CONSIDER HIM A FRIEND. A LOT OF THEM ARE DIGGING INTO THE ARCHIVES AND DIGGING OUT PHOTOS THAT WE MAY NOT HAVE SEEN BEFORE. WE SPOKE TO HIS FAMILY EARLIER TODAY, WE SPOKE TO HIS DAD TO GET HIS REACTION. HE SAID THAT HE WAS VERY PROUD OF HIS SON, THE ONE TAKING ON THE BIG JOB, BUT HE ALSO HAS MIXED FEELINGS ABOUT THIS, PARTICULARLY BECAUSE OF JACINDA ARDERN'S COMMENTS WHEN SHE STOOD DOWN. THINGS THAT SHE FACED WHILE SHE WAS PRIME MINISTER, AND SOME OF THE VITRIOL THAT WAS DIRECTED AT HER, MEANS THAT HE FEELS MIXED FEELINGS TOWARDS HIS SON TAKING THIS JOB. AND MANY TWEETS THIS MORNING, CHRIS HIPKINS HAS BEEN REFERRED TO AS CHIPPY. WHAT IS THAT ABOUT? IT AS HIS NICKNAME. I THINK HE HAS A T-SHIRT THAT SAYS THAT. IT LOOKS LIKE WE MAY HAVE SOME ACTION HERE. IT LOOKS LIKE THE NEXT PRIME MINISTER OF NEW ZEALAND IS ABOUT TO WALK OUT OF THE BEEHIVE. HOW ARE YOU FEELING? HIGHER, I WILL MAKE MY WAY OVER HERE TO TALK TO EVERYONE AT THE SAME TIME. I'M FEELING GOOD THANK YOU. NEXT PRIME MINISTER, HOW ARE YOU FEELING? LET'S GET OVER HERE AND WE WILL GET STARTED. I WILL ANSWER ALL YOUR QUESTIONS AND JUST A MOMENT. KIA ORA KOUTOU. TODAY I CAN CONFIRM THAT I HAVE PUT MY NAME FORWARD TO BE THE NEXT LEADER OF THE LABOR PARTY AND ALSO THE NEXT PRIME MINISTER OF NEW ZEALAND. I CAN CONFIRM THAT WHEN THE NOMINATIONS CLOSE AT 9 O'CLOCK THIS MORNING I WAS THE ONLY NOMINEE FOR THAT ROLE. I SAID THAT WHEN JACINDA ARDERN MOUNTS HER RESIGNATION, I WOULD PLAY MY ROLE WITHIN THE LABOUR CAUCUS TO MAKE SURE WE REACH A CONSENSUS ABOUT WHO WAS BEST TO LEAD LABOUR AND NEW ZEALAND FORWARD. I AM ABSOLUTELY HUMBLED THAT WITHIN THOSE CONVERSATIONS I HAVE HAD SUPPORT FROM WITHIN THE CAUCUS, FROM MY TEAM, AND THAT CONSENSUS HAS EMERGED AND THEY HAVE CONFIRMED THAT THEY WILL SUPPORT ME TO BE THE LEADER OF THE LABOR PARTY AND THE NEXT PRIME MINISTER. THERE IS STILL A LOT TO GO IN THIS PROCESS. THERE IS A MEETING TOMORROW. I DO NOT WANT TO GET TOO FAR AHEAD OF THAT I'D WANT TO RESPECT MY COLLEAGUES AND THEIR DECISION-MAKING PROCESS. I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR THE WAY THE PROCESS HAS BEEN HANDLED. I THINK WE ARE AN INCREDIBLY STRONG TEAM, AND WE HAVE GONE THROUGH THIS PROCESS WITH UNITY AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT. I FEEL REALLY FORTUNATE TO BE WORKING WITH SUCH AN AMAZING GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE A REAL COMMITMENT TO THE SERVICE OF THE PEOPLE OF NEW ZEALAND, AND A REAL PASSION FOR OUR COUNTRY. I SHARE THAT AND I AM IN CREDIBLY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT NEW ZEALAND'S FUTURE. I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO THE JOB AND I AM BILLING ENERGISED AND FANTASTIC AND I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING INTO THE WORK. I WANT TO THANK THE PEOPLE OF NEW ZEALAND AS WELL FOR THEIR PATIENCE DURING THIS PROCESS. I ADD KNOWLEDGE THAT THE RESIGNATION OF THE PRIME MINISTER IS A BIG THING, AND I CAN REASSURE THEM OF MY ABSOLUTE DEDICATION AND DEVOTION OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. IT IS A BIG DAY FOR A BOY FROM THE HUTT. I AM HONOURED AND HUMBLED BY THE SUPPORT THAT MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SHOWN TOWARDS ME. IT IS AN ENORMOUS PRIVILEGE, AND ALSO AN ENORMOUS RESPONSIBILITY AND THE WEIGHT OF THAT RESPONSIBILITY IS STILL SINKING IN, BUT I ABSOLUTELY TAKE THAT VERY SERIOUSLY. CAN CHRISTOPHER HIPKINS BEAT CHRISTOPHER LUXTON? WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES FOR YOU? I'M GOING TO AVOID COMMENTS ON POSITIONS OR POLICIES TODAY. I AM NOT COMMENTING ON THOSE TODAY. THE PROCESS HAS NOT YET BEEN FINISHED, I HAVE NOT BEEN CONFIRMED AS THE LEADER OR THE PRIME MINISTER. CAN YOU WIN THE ELECTION? CAN YOU BEAT CHRISTOPHER LUXTON? YES. WE WILL SET OUT A BIT MORE ABOUT THAT ONCE WE HAVE A RESULT. YOU CAN HEAR A LOT MORE FROM US TOMORROW. FOR TODAY, I ABSOLUTELY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT I HAVE HAD A LOT OF SUPPORT FROM MY COLLEAGUES, I AM REALLY HUMBLED BY THAT. I AM NOT GOING TO GET AHEAD OF THE PROCESS FURTHER AND TALK ABOUT CONVERSATIONS THAT WE ARE YET TO HAVE. I'M NOT GOING TO GET INTO COMMENTS ON ANY OTHER POSITIONS TODAY. AS WE HAVE ALWAYS DONE IN THE PAST, THERE ARE FURTHER CONVERSATIONS THAT NEED TO HAPPEN. I THOROUGHLY ENJOYED BEING A MINISTER IN JACINDA ARDERN'S GOVERNMENT. THE PUBLIC HAS SEEN THE WORK THAT I HAVE DONE. I HAD DEALT WITH SOME CHALLENGING SITUATIONS OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS, THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS PARTICULARLY. I AM A HUMAN BEING. I WILL MAKE A MISTAKE FROM TIME TO TIME, I TRY TO OWN MY MISTAKES. I DO NOT TRY TO PRETEND THAT I AM SUMMARY I AM NOT. I HAVE NEVER DONE THAT BEFORE. UNDER ANY REGRETS ABOUT HOW YOU HAVE HANDLED SOME SITUATIONS FROM YOUR POLITICAL CAREER? I THINK IN THOSE CASES THAT YOU MENTIONED, SOME OF WHAT I MUST DEFEND AS DECISIONS THAT WERE MADE BY OTHER PEOPLE. IN THE CHARLOTTE BELLIS CASE, I APOLOGISE TO HER AND I KNOW THAT SHE CONSIDERS THE CASE CLOSED AND I WILL NOT COMMENT FURTHER ON THAT. THE CABINET WILL BE RESHUFFLED AFTER JACINDA ARDERN STOP I WILL NOT COMMENT ON THAT TODAY. OF COURSE THERE IS A RESHUFFLE COMING, IT IS A NECESSITY. CAN YOU TALK US THROUGH THE EVENTS OF THE LAST 36 HOURS? DID YOU HAVE TO CONVINCE YOUR COLLEAGUES? NO. I HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS WITH MY PARLIAMENTARY COLLEAGUES. A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO, I WAS COMMITTED TO STRIVING TO REACH A CONSENSUS AND TO ENSURE THAT UNITY AND FOCUS ON PROVIDING STRONG LEADERSHIP FOR NEW ZEALAND STATE IN PLACE, AND IT ABSOLUTELY HAS.. JACINDA ARDERN SAID SHE DOES NOT HAVE ENERGY LEFT FOR THE JOB, BUT YOU DO? THOSE ARE MATTERS FOR THEM. I HAVE HAD A GOOD SUMMER BREAK AND I AM REFRESHED AND READY TO GET INTO IT. I DON'T THINK THAT GRANT ROBERTSON WAS SAYING THAT HE DOES NOT HAVE ENERGY FOR THE JOB THAT HE HAS NOW. I THINK HE WAS SAYING THAT HE DOES NOT WANT TO STEP UP TO BE PRIME MINISTER AND THAT IS FINE. CAN YOU BEAT CHRISTOPHER LUXON? THE PUBLIC CAN JUDGE THAT. I AM A POLITICIAN AND I LOVE MY JOB. IT IS A MASSIVE OPPORTUNITY AND PRIVILEGE TO HAVE THIS PRIME MINISTERIAL JOB. I AM A BOY FROM THE HUTT. MY PARENTS CAME FROM RELATIVELY HUMBLE BEGINNINGS AND WORK HARD TO PROVIDE A GOOD LIFE OR MY BROTHER AND I. MY COMMITMENT AND POLITICS IS TO ENSURE THAT WE PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES TO ALL KIWIS WHO WORK HARD TO GET AHEAD AND PROVIDE A GOOD LIFE FOR THEIR FAMILIES. I LIKE TO CYCLE, I LIKE TO GARDEN, I LIKE TO BE OUTSIDE WHEN I CAN. I LIKE TO DIY. MAYBE I DON'T HAVE THE BEST FASHION SENSE IN PARLIAMENT. PEOPLE WHO MAKE THOSE COMMENTS MAY BE ARE NOT SENDING THE ERRORS WHEN THEY DO. CORRECTION: STANDING NEAR MIRRORS. I THINK THERE HAS BEEN AN ESCALATION IN VITRIOL, AND OUR PRIME MINISTER JACINDA ARDERN HAS BEEN ON THE RECEIVING END OF SOME UN-TOLERABLE AND UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOUR. I ACCEPTED THAT WHEN I ACCEPTED THIS JOB, I OPEN MYSELF UP TO A LOT OF SCRUTINY AND A LOT OF CRITICISM. I GO INTO THIS JOB WITH MY EYES WIDE OPEN AND I KNOW WHAT I HAVE STEPPED INTO. DO YOU HAVE ANY SKELETONS IN YOUR CLOSET? I'M A HUMAN BEING. WITH ALL HUMAN BEINGS, THERE WILL BE` NO ONE IS PERFECT. I DON'T PRETEND TO BE. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE FROM WHEN YOU WENT INTO YOUR ELECTORATE ROLE, VERSUS THIS. PEOPLE CAN JUDGE THAT IN TIME. JACINDA ARDERN HAS BEEN AN INCREDIBLE PRIME MINISTER FOR NEW ZEALAND. SHE WAS THE LEADER THAT WE NEEDED WHEN WE NEEDED IT. I LOOK AT WHAT SHE HAS LEAD US THROUGH ` A PANDEMIC, A TERRORIST ATTACK, A VOLCANO ERUPTION, SHE HAS PROVIDED CALM REASSURING AND STABLE LEADERSHIP, WHICH I HOPE TO CONTINUE TO DO. HOWEVER, WE ARE DIFFERENT PEOPLE, AND I'M SURE THAT PEOPLE WILL SEE THAT. WILL YOU KEEP GRANT ROBERTSON ON IN YOUR CABINET? AS I SAID, I AM NOT GOING TO MAKE COMMENTS ON OTHER POSITIONS TODAY. CAN YOU CONFIRM THAT GRANT ROBERTSON AS FINANCE MINISTER? I WILL MAKE ONE EXCEPTION, WHICH IS TO SAY THAT GRANT ROBERTSON HAS INDICATED THAT HE IS HAPPY TO CONTINUE AND FINANCE MINISTER ROLE, AND HE WILL CONTINUE WITH THAT. QUESTIONS ABOUT WHO IS STAYING AND OTHER ROLES AND STUFF, I AM NOT GETTING INTO THAT. YOU HAVE THE ADVANTAGE OF STANDING RIGHT NEXT TO ME AND HAVING A LOUD VOICE. YOU ARE KNOWN AROUND PARLIAMENT AS CHIPPY, WILL YOU BE PRIME MINISTER CHIPPY? PEOPLE CAN CALL ME WHAT THEY CALL ME. YOU HAVE COME TO BE PRO MINISTER FROM NOWHERE... THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW INTERESTING MOMENTS OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS. I GOT A MESSAGE FROM THE PRIME MINISTER JUST AS THE DOOR TO A PLANE THAT I WAS BOARDING CLOSED STOP AND I COULD NOT REPLY UNTIL THE PLANE LANDED. IN THAT TIME, A FEW THINGS SUNK IN. I HAD TO WAIT FOR 40 MINUTES TO REPLY. IT'S BEEN AN INTERESTING COUPLE OF DAYS. NO ONE WAS CONTESTING? I'M NOT GOING TO GET INTO ANY DETAILS. THERE WERE SIGNIFICANT MESSAGES IN THE PROCESS. LABOUR HAS AN INCREDIBLE MAORI TEAM. I AM PROUD TO WORK ALONGSIDE THEM AND WITH THEM. THEY WILL CONTINUE TO PLAY A PIVOTAL ROLE IN OUR GOVERNMENT, AS THEY HAVE DONE THE LAST FIVE YEARS. I LIKE TO THINK I AM PRETTY UPFRONT AND PRETTY STRAIGHT WITH PEOPLE. I LIKE TO THINK I'M PRETTY DECISIVE AND I CAN GET THINGS DONE. ... DIRTY POLITICS SCANDAL? ACCIDENTALLY, YES. GRANT ROBERTSON IS A GREAT FRIEND OF MINE. HE IS A REALLY IMPORTANT MEMBER OF OUR TEAM. I RESPECT THAT HE DECIDED OF HIS OWN VOLITION THAT HE DID NOT WANT TO PUT HIS HAND UP FOR THE JOB. I CAN SPEAK FOR MYSELF, HE CAN SPEAK FOR HIMSELF. THE FEEDBACK THAT I HAVE HAD FROM ALL OF LABOURS MPS OVER THE LAST 24 TO 48 WAS HAS BEEN AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF SUPPORT FOR ME TO DO THE JOB. LIKE I SAID, I AM RELATIVELY UP FRONT I AM INCLUSIVE, PEOPLE WILL NOT DIE WONDERING WHAT I THINK. BUT I THINK I HAVE AN AMAZING TEAM TO WORK WITH, AND I INTEND TO MAKE THE MOST OF THAT. ... PROTEST ARREST HERE. IT'S A BIG DAY FOR A BOY FROM THE HUTT. I AM HUMBLED AND PROUD TO BE TAKING THIS ON. IT IS THE BIGGEST RESPONSIBILITY AND THE BIGGEST PRIVILEGE OF MY LIFE. ALL OF THE EXPERIENCES THAT I HAVE HAD THROUGH MY LIFE HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THIS POINT. AND SOME AMAZING PEOPLE AS WELL. WHEN YOU PUT YOUR NAME FORWARD AND POLITICS FOR A POSITION LIKE THIS, YOU DO SO WITH AN ENORMOUS NETWORK OF SUPPORT. I HAVE HAD AMAZING SUPPORT. FROM MY FAMILY, FROM THE PEOPLE AROUND ME, FROM A WORK COLLEAGUES, FROM THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE WORKED WITH ME HERE AT PARLIAMENT ` I WOULD NOT BE HERE WITHOUT THE SUPPORT THAT THEY HAVE GIVEN ME. POLICIES LIKE CAPITAL GAINS TAX AND SUPERANNUATION HAD BEEN TAKEN OFF THE TABLE BY JACINDA ARDERN` I AM NOT GETTING INTO A POLICY DISCUSSION. WERE YOU ALWAYS LISTEN FOR THIS JOB? I DO NOT BELIEVE IN DESTINY AND POLITICS. I BELIEVE IN HARD WORK. I BELIEVE I HAVE CONTRIBUTED AS MUCH AS I POSSIBLY CAN IN THE TIME THAT I HAVE BEEN IN THE PUBLIC LIFE. I AM GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT. HAVING SAID THAT, I HAVE ALWAYS RESOLVED TO BE A MEMBER OF MY TEAM. I HAVE ALWAYS ENDEAVOURED TO SUPPORT THE TEAM IN EVERY WAY THAT I CAN. IF YOU LOSE THE ELECTION, WILL YOU STAY ON AS OPPOSITION LEADER? I DO NOT INTEND TO LOSE. I BELIEVE AND LOOKING FORWARD. OF COURSE, IF I THOUGHT THROUGH, THERE WOULD BE MISTAKES OR THINGS THAT IF I COULD DO THEM AGAIN I WOULD DO THEM DIFFERENTLY. BUT YOU HAVE TO KEEP MOVING FORWARD. FOR PEOPLE WHO DO NOT KNOW WHO YOU ARE, HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN ONE SENTENCE? A HARD WORKER AND SOMEBODY WHO IS ABSOLUTELY COMMITTED TO LEAVING NEW ZEALAND AND A BETTER SHAPE THAN I FOUND IT. SINCE THE RESULT WAS CLEARED, OF COURSE I HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH JACINDA, AND WE WILL BE SITTING DOWN SHORTLY TO WORK OUT THE NEXT STEPS FROM HERE. THERE ARE SOME LOGISTICS TO BE WORKED THROUGH AND SOME STEPS THAT WE WILL HAVE TO DO TOGETHER, BECAUSE THERE ARE THINGS THAT SHE NEEDS TO DO BEFORE I CAN DO WHAT I NEED TO DO. I'VE HAD A LOT OF MESSAGES FROM MY HOME CONSTITUENCY, I HAVE BEEN REALLY HUMBLED BY THAT. I THINK THEY ARE PROUD TO HAVE THE FIRST PM FROM THE HUTT FOR MANY GENERATIONS, I THINK WALTER NASH WAS THE LAST ONE. I AM ABSOLUTELY WARMED BY THE SUPPORT I HAVE HAD FROM THE LOCAL PEOPLE. I HAVE HAD A CONVERSATION WITH ANTHONY ALBANESE. IT HAS BEEN GREAT TO BE ABLE TO TALK TO HIM, I AM HOPING TO CATCH UP WITH HIM IN PERSON SOON. A FEW THINGS TO GET THROUGH BEFORE THAT HAPPENS. THERE ARE SO MANY MESSAGES ON MY PHONE RIGHT NOW THAT I COULD NOT GIVE YOU A DEFINITIVE ANSWER OF WHO I HAVE HEARD FROM. BUT OF COURSE THAT IS AN IMPORTANT RELATIONSHIP FOR NEW ZEALAND. CAN YOU COMMIT TO LEADING LABOUR THROUGH TO THE 2026 ELECTION. I INTEND TO WIN IN 2023. HOW DID THAT CONVERSATION GO? UNFORTUNATELY, I MISSED HIS CALL. AND THEN I CALLED HIM BACK AND WE HAD A GOOD CHAT. I THINK THERE IS A LABOUR GOVERNMENT IN AUSTRALIA, LABOUR GOVERNMENT IN NEW ZEALAND, OF COURSE WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP. HE HAS HAD A SOLID WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH JACINDA ARDERN, I THINK FROM OUR CONVERSATION THIS MORNING, WHICH WAS VERY WARM, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP AS WELL. ...HEALTHY SENSE OF BEING ABLE TO LAUGH AT YOURSELF. WILL YOU BE ABLE TO KEEP THAT? YES.. ARE YOU NEW ZEALAND'S FIRST GINGER PRIME MINISTER? I THINK IT'S ABOUT TIME THAT WE HAD A GINGER AT THE TOP. LIKE I SAID, I AM NOT GETTING INTO POLICY OR POSITIONS TODAY. IN TERMS OF THE PROCESS, JACINDA AND I WILL WORK THROUGH THAT OVER THE NEXT 24 TO 48 HOURS. WE WILL SET UP A TIMETABLE, I EXPECT PEOPLE WILL WANT TO KNOW WHEN EVERYTHING WILL HAPPEN. WHEN THE DETAILS ARE LOCKED DOWN, WE WILL LET YOU KNOW. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE SHAPE OF NEW ZEALAND RIGHT NOW? I THINK NEW ZEALAND IS AN INCREDIBLE COUNTRY. WE HAVE SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES HERE. THERE IS NOWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD THAT I WOULD WANT TO LIVE AND I WOULD WANT TO BE RAISING MY KIDS. I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT AT THE MOMENT WE ARE GOING THROUGH SOME ECONOMIC TURBULENCE, AND WE NEED TO NAVIGATE OUR WAY THROUGH THAT. I BELIEVE, PASSIONATELY, THAT WE CAN COME OUT THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT. I AM REALLY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT OUR FUTURE, AND I AM REALLY COMMITTED TO LEAVING NEW ZEALAND THROUGH THAT IN A WAY THAT IS STRONG, STABLE, AND UNIFYING. A LOT OF THE VITRIOL AND DISQUIET THAT WAS DIRECTED TOWARDS JACINDA ARDERN WAS AROUND THE COVID 19 RESTRICTIONS. YOU WERE INVOLVED WITH THAT. CAN YOU DE-LINK YOURSELF FROM THAT? I THINK THE VAST MAJORITY OF NEW ZEALANDERS ARE PROUD ABOUT WHAT WE ACHIEVED AROUND COVID 19. WE HAD THE LOWEST DEATH RATE, WE ACTUALLY HAD THE FEWEST DAYS OF LOCKDOWN, AND I THINK THAT IS A TRACK RECORD THAT NEW ZEALANDERS AS A WHOLE SHOULD BE PROUD OF. YES THERE IS A VOCAL MINORITY WHO WOULD LIKE TO REWRITE HISTORY, BUT I THINK NEW ZEALAND IS A COUNTRY SHOULD BE PROUD. IS IT A VOCAL MINORITY? LOCKDOWN OUR BIGGEST CITY FOR THREE MONTHS. PEOPLE WERE ANGRY WITH YOU. I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE LOCKDOWN AND ORGAN WAS HARD. THERE WERE A LOT OF THINGS AT PLAY. WE ARE NOW DEALING WITH THE ECONOMIC AFTERMATH OF COVID 19, MUCH OF WHICH IS GLOBAL. WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO LEAD NEW ZEALAND THROUGH THAT, AND WE WILL DO THAT. I WILL TALK MORE ABOUT THAT ANOTHER TIME. I DON'T WANT TO SPECULATE ON POSITIONS, I HAVE INDICATED THAT I WILL NOT TALK ABOUT THAT TODAY. I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN NEW ZEALAND'S HISTORY, WE HAVE A GENDER BALANCED PARLIAMENT. WOMEN ARE GOING TO OCCUPY SENIOR ROLES AND OUR PARLIAMENT. THAT IS GOOD, THAT IS FANTASTIC. WE SHOULD BE PROUD OF THAT AS A COUNTRY. WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE KNOWN BEST FOR? WELL, THERE'S ONE THING... (LAUGHS) HOPEFULLY NEW ZEALANDERS KNOW ME AS SOMEBODY WHO IS UPFRONT, DOESN'T MIND ADMITTING WHEN THEY HAVE MADE A MISTAKE AND CAN LAUGH AT THEMSELVES. YOU HAVE DONE A PRESS CONFERENCE FROM THE BUSH BEFORE. AND NOW WE ARE OUT HERE. CAN WE EXPECT YOUR PRESS CONFERENCES TO BE OUTSIDE? IT IS A BEAUTIFUL WELLINGTON DAY, PERHAPS WE COULD DO A FEW MORE OF THESE OUTSIDE. I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO POLICY ISSUES TODAY. I AM HERE TO MAKE SURE THAT NEW ZEALANDERS WHO GO OUT AND WORK HARD TO MAKE A BETTER LIFE FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES CAN SUCCEED IN DOING SO. THAT THEIR HARD WORK CAN GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITIES TO GET AHEAD. THAT IS WHAT LABOUR HAS ALWAYS STOOD FOR, AND THAT IS WHY I REITERATING THIS SEVERAL TIME THAT IT WAS A BIG DAY FOR A BOY FROM THE HUTT. HE'S OPTIMISTIC ABOUT NEW ZEALAND FUTURE, ENERGISED AND ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT THE ROLE. HE WOULDN'T BE DRAWN ON ANY POLICY ANNOUNCEMENTS TODAY NOR WOULD HE BE DRAWN ON ANYONE'S ROLES HEADING INTO THE SELECTION. HE HAS DEALT WITH SOME CHALLENGING SITUATIONS IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS, BUT HE SAYS IT IS THE BIGGEST PRIVILEGE OF HIS LIFE. PRIME MINISTER CHIPPY FOR THE FIRST TIME. SO STOKED FOR BECOMING THE PRIME LIST OF NEW ZEALAND. THAT IS THE CHIPPY WE ALL KNOW AND GOTTEN OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS. HE WAS PERSONABLE VIA, BUT HE DIDN'T GIVE AWAY TOO MUCH DETAIL ABOUT WHAT IS HIS PLAN GOING FORWARD. OTHER THAN CONFIRMING HE'LL KEEP GRANT ROBERTSON ON AS THE FINANCE MINISTER, WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT SHAPE THE LABOUR PARTY AND THE GOVERNMENT UNDER CHRIS HIPKINS IS GOING TO TAKE. HE DIDN'T GIVE US ANY CLUES AS TO WHO HIS DEPUTY MIGHT BE. CALVIN DAVIS IS THE DEPUTY LEADER OF THE LABOUR PARTY. ALL OF THAT IS STILL TO BE WORKED OUT BEFORE WE EVEN GET TO POLICY. HE WOULDN'T CONFIRM WHETHER OR NOT HE WOULD PUT A CAPITAL GAINS TAX BACK ON THE TABLE. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT JACINDA ARDERN RULED OUT IN PERPETUITY AS LONG AS SHE WAS LEADER, BUT IT WAS CALLED LABOUR POLICY THAT THEY HAVE CAMPAIGNED ON, THAT THE TAX WORKING GROUP THAT THEY FORMED RECOMMENDED THEY IMPLEMENT, JACINDA ARDERN TOOK IT OFF THE TABLE FOR HERSELF, BUT THAT IS OPEN TO A NEW LABOUR LEADER. SHOULD THEY WISH TO GO THERE. THE OTHER THING HE WOULDN'T COMMENT ON WAS THE SUPERANNUATION AGE. WHETHER HE WOULD RAISE THE AGE UP TO 67 LIKE NATIONAL IS PROPOSING. WITH ME NOW FROM WELLINGTON IS FORMER LABOUR LEADER DAVID CUNLIFFE. DAVID, WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF WHAT WE'VE JUST HEARD FROM CHRIS HIPKINS? HE IS CLEARLY SETTING UP FOR A GOOD RUN. HE IS IN A PLACE THAT HE CLEARLY IS KEEN TO BE IN AND ENERGISED FOR AND HUNGRY FOR. AND THERE IS THE SAME SELF-DEPRECATING HUMOUR THAT HAS BEEN A HALLMARK OF HIS TIME IN PARLIAMENT. HE HAS ONLY GOT EIGHT MONTHS. THIS IS A VERY CHALLENGING TASK FOR ANYBODY TO TAKE ON. I KNOW VERY WELL. DAVID, WHAT KIND OF PRIME MINISTER WILL CHRIS HIPKINS BE? WE KNOW THAT JACINDA ARDERN WANTED TO BE KIND AND EMPATHETIC. WHAT WILL CHRIS INTO THE TABLE? A LOT OF EMPHASIS ON CONSENSUS. ALL IN THE BACK ROOM, ONLY ONE CANDIDATE, THE MEETING TOMORROW WILL BE CORONATION NOT A VOTE. THEMES AROUND ENERGY AND PASSION. THE UNSPOKEN WORD THERE IS TOUGHNESS AND PRAGMATISM. CHRIS WILL BE CENTRED LEADER. HE WILL PLAY TO WIN, AND HE IS TOUGH ENOUGH TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS, LIKE HE SAID. HE WAS CONTINUITY CANDIDATE. HE WAS THE SAFE CHOICE AND SENSIBLE CHOICE. POLLS SHOW THAT HE WAS THE FAVOURED CHOICE. THIS IS QUITE THE CHALLENGE HE'S BEEN THROWN ISN'T IT ` A NEW, VERY BIG, JOB, AND AN ELECTION TO FIGHT. HAS HE GOT WHAT IT TAKES? THAT'S FOR THE NEW ZEALAND PUBLIC TO DECIDE. I THINK HE HAS GOT THE ENERGY FOR THE JOB. HE HAS THE TOUGHNESS FOR THE JOB, HE IS HUNGRY FOR THE JOB. I THINK WE CAN TAKE HIM AT HIS WORD ON THAT. HE WASN'T GETTING INTO PEOPLE OR POSITIONS TODAY, AND HE WASN'T COMMENTING ON POLICY. IT ALSO SAYS SOMETHING ABOUT THE WAY HE HANDLES MEDIA. WITHIN AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF DISCIPLINE. HE WILL MAKE DECISIONS AND MAKE STATEMENTS WHEN HE THINKS IT'S THE RIGHT TIME AND HE WILL BE CAREFUL NOT TO BE DRAWN WHEN HE DOESN'T THINK IT'S THE RIGHT TIME. HE'S NOT A LEADER OR A CANDIDATE THAT SHOULD BE UNDERESTIMATED, BUT IT IS A CHALLENGING TASK FOR LABOUR TO REFRAIN FROM A BRANDING THAT WAS AUCKLAND UNIVERSITY POLITCAL RESEARCHER LARA GREAVES IS WITH ME NOW. LARA, LET'S START WITH YOUR THOUGHTS ON WHAT WE HEARD FROM CHRIS HIPKINS TODAY. NORMALLY WE SEE THE LEADER OF A PARTY STAND UP ON A PODIUM LIKE INSIDE WITH A DEPUTY BEHIND THEM. THIS IN TURN WAS VERY OUTSIDE, IN THE DAY IN THE SUNSHINE WITH THE TREES BEHIND A LITTLE BIT MORE CASUAL. I WONDER TO WHAT EXTENT WE SEE A SETUP OF CHIPPY FROM THE HUTT VERSUS THE CEO CHRIS. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO REFER TO THEM BY THEIR LAST NAMES. HOW DOES THIS ANNOUCMENT TODAY CHANGE THE POLITICAL LANDSCAPE? I THINK CHALLENGES THE KEYWORD. IT IS GOING TO BE A HUGE CHALLENGE FOR LABOUR TO WIN THE SELECTION. WHEN WE LOOKED AT THE POLLS AT WHEN THE LINGUIST TOOK OVER FROM JOHN KEY, BILL ENGLISH HOLDS PORT. THE ECONOMY AS THE BIG ISSUE. THE COST OF LIVING IS GOING TO BE THE BIG ISSUE COMING UP INTO REALLY SEE NOW, WE WILL SEE WHAT WILL HAPPEN WITH THE RESHUFFLE. BUT ALSO THAT CHALLENGE OF THEIR FIRST BUDGET AND WHAT THOSE POLICIES WILL BE TO TRY AND REBALANCE THOSE ECONOMIC SCALES IN SOME WAY. INTERESTING THAT HE DID CONFIRM TODAY THAT GRANT ROBERTSON WILL STAY ON AS THE MINISTER OF FINANCE. IS THAT BECAUSE OF THE ECONOMIC TURBULENCE THAT WE ARE GOING THROUGH AT THE MOMENT? ALSO, PULLING ONE OF YOUR MOST EXPERIENCED MEMBERS OF YOUR CABINET WOULD LOOK QUITE DISRUPTIVE, SO YOU CAN SEE THE REASONS WHY YOU WOULD KEEP GRANT ROBERTSON ON AND THAT SITUATION. CHRIS HIPKINS' FACE IS A FAMILIAR ONE FOR MOST KIWIS, DO YOU RECOGNISE THIS GUY? YEAH, UH, CHRIS HIPKINS? DO YOU KNOW THIS GUY? YES, YEP. WHO IS HE? CHRIS HIPKINS. THAT'S` THAT'S GOOD, COS HE WAS, LIKE, REALLY HELPFUL FOR THE COVID STUFF. WHAT DO YOU RECKON? GOOD LUCK. LAUGHS: YEAH. (LAUGHTER) YOU'D VOTE FOR LABOUR WITH HIM AS LEADER? YES, OF COURSE. CHRIS SOMETHING? CHRIS HIPKINS? CHRIS HIPKINS. CHRIS HIPKINS. SO HE IS GOING TO BE THE NEXT PRIME MINISTER. OH, HE IS? WELL, IT'S BETTER THAN JACINDA, I RECKON, EH. WOULD YOU GUYS VOTE FOR HIM, OR LABOUR, WITH HIM AS LEADER? UH... I'D WANNA WAIT AND SEE WHAT HE SAYS. YEAH. SEE WHAT'S` YEAH. I WOULDN'T VOTE NATIONAL. A LOT OF RECOGNITION OF WHO HE IS, BUT PERHAPS NOT A LOT OF SUPPORT. HE LEANS INTO THE MEMES. THE ABILITY OF MAKING FUN OF YOURSELF. AND IT'S KIND OF HARD TO EXPLAIN TO PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF THE NEW ZEALAND CONTEXT, AND HE REALLY LEANED INTO THE SPREAD YOUR LEGS MEME, AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT POLITICAL FOCUS GROUPS, HE IS LEANING INTO THAT, AND THAT IS A STRENGTH BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T NECESSARILY SEEN THAT FROM LUXE AND AT THIS POINT. HIPKINS HAS BEEN MR FIX IT FOR LABOUR. BUT IT CAN'T BE THAT AS PRIME MINISTER. DOES HE HAVE THE TALENT AND THE TEAM TO PROVE THAT LABOUR CAN DELIVER? TIME IS NOT ON THEIR SIDE. BEFORE THAT IT'S GOING TO START SOONER BECAUSE THE CAMPAIGN STARTS A FEW MONTHS OUT SO THERE ISN'T A LOT OF TIME FOR PEOPLE TO NECESSARILY SEE THAT FINANCIAL CHANGE WHEN THEY GO TO FILL UP THEIR CAR OR PAY THEIR MORTGAGE. SO THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH RUNWAY TO SHOW THAT THEY CAN DELIVER A POLICY I'D LIKE TO SEE POLICY FROM BOTH PARTIES. LEADERSHIP CHANGE, LET'S GO FOR A POLICY ELECTION. BE WE HAVE NO IDEA WHO THE DEPUTY PM IS GOING TO BE. LABOUR IS GOING TO NOW LOOK AT THEIR TICKETS OR THEIR TOP FEW AND MAKE SURE THEY HAVE MAORI REPRESENTATION. HAVING THE FIRST PACIFIC WOMAN DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER IS GOING TO BE REALLY MEANINGFUL FOR THE PACIFIC COMMUNITIES WHO MIGHT EVEN BE A GROUP THAT NATIONAL TRYING TO PIVOT TOWARDS, SO THAT IS GOING TO BE A METAPHOR THING, BUT THAT WILL BE ONE OF THE THINGS WE WAIT AND SEE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. WE WILL HAVE ALL THE REACTION TONIGHT ON NEWSHUB LIVE AT 6PM AND OF COURSE WILL HAVE CONTINUING COVERAGE ON THROUGHOUT THE DAY ON NEWSHUB.CO.NZ. I'M LAURA TUPOU, GOOD AFTERNOON. CAPTIONS BY SALLY HARPER AND JESSIE PURU. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR.