![]() Responsible minister Kelvin Davis during a debate about the matter in the House used his speech to target Luxon, calling him "Mr Tesla" - a reference to Luxon's reported use of the Clean Car Discount, which he opposed, in purchasing a new vehicle. ![]() On Wednesday it was revealed the agency had removed two staff members from residences after "serious allegations" of "inappropriate sexual behaviour". Hipkins said the situation with Oranga Tamariki was serious, and should be taken seriously. Asked about China's form of government - a one-party state - Hipkins said it was a matter for the Chinese people. ![]() He was also expected to depart for a trip to China on Sunday, meeting with President Xi Jinping and other top officials. Hipkins was touring around the Hutt Valley on Thursday morning, opening the NZ Campus for Innovation and Sport in Upper Hutt before visiting a new public housing development in Epuni with local MP Ginny Andersen. "We've already set the date, the wheels are already in motion, there'll be an election on October the 14th." He played down the likelihood of a snap election. Minsiters certainly know what my expectations are." "I deal with issues on a day-to-day basis as I encounter them. Hipkins said he had a talented Cabinet and a talented pool of backbenchers, and the reason he did not lift someone new to Cabinet was because of the nearing election date. So I like to be able to answer that, if I can." No promotions "On occasion I have called her to find out what she knew about a particular situation, because often ask me what she knew about a particular situation. He said he was encouraged by opposition leader Christopher Luxon's comments that he agreed there could be further change, and could mean changes could be made relatively quickly.Īsked if his conversations with predecessor Jacinda Ardern included topics like Wood and Stuart Nash - whose transgressions occurred during her tenure as prime minister before being made public during Hipkins' - he said they do "on occasion". On that idea, Hipkins says changes to the Cabinet Manual are generally made over a period of time, and are usually done in a non-partisan process so that would usually require consultation with the opposition. He had also sought advice on bringing in additional rules similar to Australia's, which would mean ministers could no longer own shares unless it was public superannuation funds or an arrangement where the minister had no control or visibility over investment decisions. Hipkins on Wednesday announced five changes to tighten the requirements for ministers to disclose potential conflicts of interest. "Human beings make mistakes, but clearly if Michael wants to continue in politics he will need to address what clearly has been a real blind spot for him and something that hasn't been acceptable." Michael Wood. Photo: RNZ / Samuel RillstoneĪs for Wood's future in politics, the prime minister was keeping the door open. I think I'm giving him the courtesy of giving him a little bit of space - obviously yesterday would have been a very difficult day for him." Hipkins said he had not spoken to Wood since the resignation was announced. ![]() "The reason that we have a declaration system is because as much as anything else… it brings any potential conflicts to the minister's own attention so that they know that they're there and can manage them." "Obviously we don't have someone checking over their shoulder in every decision that they make," Hipkins said on Thursday. The National Party has been pointing to a recent string of ministers' mishaps as proof the "wheels are falling off" the government, with leader Christopher Luxon calling Hipkins "weak". Hipkins announced Wood's resignation on Wednesday, revealing the then-Immigration Minister had undisclosed shares in telecommunications and banking companies which raised conflict of interest concerns relating to recent decisions. Hipkins was speaking to media in the Hutt Valley, after Wednesday's resignation of Michael Wood as a minister. A day after the losing another Cabinet minister, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has said the ultimate responsibility for declaring and managing interests is up to each individual minister.
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