As expected, Mr Hipkins was rapidly and enthusiastically confirmed as Labour Party leader at a special caucus meeting in Wellington yesterday.
The sole candidate for the job following Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s surprise resignation on Thursday, Mr Hipkins and his caucus made every effort to project a united front yesterday.
They also wasted little time in endorsing Mr Hipkins’ nominee as deputy prime minister, Kelston MP Carmel Sepuloni, before the country’s new leaders held their first press conference soon afterwards.
‘‘This is the biggest privilege and biggest responsibility of my life," Mr Hipkins said.
‘‘I am energised and excited by the challenge that lies ahead ... Covid-19 and the global pandemic created a health crisis and now it has created an economic one and that is where my government’s focus will be."
Ms Sepuloni, the first Pasifika woman to reach such political heights, said she felt humbled to have been asked to take on such an important role.
‘‘It is very hard to fathom that a working class girl from Waitara, who turned Westie, that that person can become the deputy prime minister of New Zealand."
Although Ms Sepuloni is the incoming deputy prime minister she will not be deputy leader of her party: that role remains that of Te Tai Tokerau MP Kelvin Davis.
Finance Minister Grant Robertson retains his portfolio and will also be Leader of the House, although Mr Hipkins confessed during his press conference that he had not yet told Mr Robertson about that.
Beyond that, Mr Hipkins would not address other portfolio designations.
On Wednesday, after being officially sworn in, Mr Hipkins will chair his first Cabinet meeting.
Mr Hipkins will not significantly progress his reshuffle until Friday, when he will meet individually with ministers and prospective ministers.
Napier MP Stuart Nash (police) and Jan Tinetti (education) will be acting ministers in Mr Hipkins’ two portfolios until the reshuffle is settled, which Mr Hipkins said would be next week.
Problem portfolios he will need to think deeply about will be health, local government and police.
Mr Hipkins will also need to consider whether retiring ministers Poto Williams and Dunedin MP David Clark and minister outside Cabinet Aupito William Sio should stay in the executive or make way for fresh faces.
Southern Labour MPs may be in the running for improved roles: Invercargill list MP Liz Craig, already a parliamentary private secretary for health, could be considered for an associate position, and it would be no surprise if Dunedin list MP Rachel Brooking was asked to assist Environment Minister David Parker to progress reform of the Resource Management Act.
Although he paid tribute to the leadership of his ‘‘very good friend" Jacinda Ardern, Mr Hipkins also signalled that there would be a change in Labour’s direction under his leadership.
‘‘I know that some New Zealanders feel that we are doing too much too fast and I have heard that message," he said.
‘‘Over the coming week Cabinet will be making decisions on reining in some programmes and projects that aren’t essential right now. We will be focused on middle and low income New Zealanders and the small businesses that are doing it tough to get by."
Although Mr Hipkins again did not identify any specifics, the planned merger of TVNZ and RNZ and water management reform, both of which have proven to be highly controversial, are almost certain to come under close scrutiny.
‘‘We will be making decisions on refocusing on some of the most pressing priorities and also getting some new work under way on policies that will make a real difference to Kiwis over the longer term."
Mr Hipkins said his government would focus on ‘‘the right now and the bread and butter issues" affecting people.
"You shouldn’t have to be on a six-figure salary to afford to buy a new house, to support your children and to have enough to retire on," he said.
National leader Christopher Luxon congratulated Mr Hipkins and Ms Sepuloni on their new roles, but wasted little time before going on the attack.
‘‘New Zealanders need more than a change in Labour leadership. They need a National government that gets things done," he said.
"Chris Hipkins has been part of a government that has utterly failed to deliver."
