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Christopher Luxon speaks to media from the Long Bay Housing project
NOW PLAYING • Focus Live: Christopher Luxon speaks to media
Christopher Luxon speaks to media from the Long Bay Housing project
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has marked off his third action plan which was largely focused on law and order – and unveiled a new 43-item to-do list.
Luxon is speaking from 4pm at a Long Bay housing project. His media conference will be streamed at the top of this page.
These live updates are now over. Thanks for tuning in.
Pinned
30 September, 03:23 am
Du Val and ferries
On Du Val, Luxon said he felt for the impacted investors.
On the lack of mention of new ferries in the fourth plan, Luxon said the Government would have more to say by the end of the year.
Pinned
30 September, 03:17 am
Luxon says NZ 'needs gas'
On reversing the oil and gas ban, Luxon said the Government wanted the repeal to happen as quickly as possible.
"We are a government that cares about the environment," he said.
"New Zealand needs gas."
He said he wanted wind and solar farms built but on the other hand, New Zealand either needed to import coal or produce gas.
"In a year like we have had this year, our lake levels are low, the wind doesn't blow the sun doesn't shine as much (we can then be) in trouble."
Pinned
30 September, 03:13 am
Capital gains tax
Asked if he should have paid a capital gains tax on his recent apartment sale, he said "no" because New Zealand does not have have a capital gains tax.
"My point is we don't believe in a capital gains tax," he said, adding it was a disincentive to people who made wealth.
He said there have been "basic elemental maintenance" made to Premier House.
Asked if it felt like "home sweet home," he said it was the place he "operated from" when he was in Wellington.
Pinned
30 September, 03:10 am
Fourth plan focuses on infrastructure
Luxon said the fourth plan will focus on infrastructure.
On the Dunedin hospital, Luxon said the Government was being transparent around the issue.
He said they were committed to building a new hospital but it needed to be done within budget.
"Our focus is making sure we get it back within (budget)."
Pinned
30 September, 03:08 am
Luxon announces new action plan
Luxon has announced the end of his third quarter plan and the beginning of his fourth and final plan for the year.
"There will be no slowing down as we approach the end of the year," he said.
The third plan was focused largely on law and order. This included the passing of four law and order related laws.
Pinned
30 September, 02:42 am
Luxon due to speak
Christopher Luxon is in Auckland where he will speak to reporters following a visit to a housing development.
He’s expected to speak around 4pm. His media conference will be streamed at the top of this page.
Today marks the last day of the Government’s third quarterly action plan. One item remains on the to-do list – the Government’s response to the ministerial inquiry into school property – with decisions on this expected in the coming week.
The Government’s final plan of the year, which runs from October 1 to December 31, includes passing the Fast-track Approvals Bill and Resource Management Amendment Bill.
Luxon said the final action plan for the year would focus on the Government’s core economic and law and order priorities as well as delivering improved public services.
Other items on the Government’s fourth quarter plan include passing legislation to remove agriculture from the Emissions Trading Scheme and to reverse the oil and gas ban.
The plan also includes establishing the National Infrastructure Agency and to take Cabinet decisions on the future of the greyhound racing industry.
In the past, Luxon has released the next quarterly plan at around the same point the previous one ends.
While Prime Ministers usually reside in Premier House while in Wellington, Luxon had been staying in his apartment, pointing to the need for superficial refurbishments at the official residence.
Christopher Luxon speaks to media from a Long Bay Housing project. Photo / Sylvie Whinray
Online property records show Luxon’s two-bedroom apartment in the Kate Sheppard complex opposite Parliament sold on September 8 but is still pending settlement.
On Sunday, the Government signalled major change was coming for the “cumbersome” building consenting system, saying it was considering options to replace the 67 consenting authorities around the country.
Among the proposed options were to establish regional building consenting authorities or to create a single point of contact for builders to submit plans to.
Julia Gabel is a Wellington-based political reporter. She joined the Herald in 2020 and has most recently focused on data journalism.
