It's a year today since the Labour-led Government took office, a year marked by policy initiatives on a number of fronts and several political controversies for Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's coalition.
New Zealand First held the balance of power after the election, and following negotiations, leader Winston Peters announced his party would form a coalition government with Labour, while Green Party leader James Shaw said his party would give confidence and supply to the Government.
Among policy moves in the last year, the Government has established a $1 billion Regional Development Fund, made the first year of tertiary education or training free and scrapped National Standards for literacy and numeracy and primary school league tables.
On the economy, the Government cancelled the National-led Government's proposed tax cuts and set up a Tax Working Group which has released an interim report proposing options for taxing capital gain.
Ms Ardern and Deputy Prime Minister Peters both say one year on the coalition has gone "better than expected".
It is just over a year ago that Winston Peters made the announcement to go with the Labour Party. (Source: Other)
"I think the fact in that short space of time we've been able to tick off so many of those agenda items for all parties I think is something I personally feel very proud of," Ms Ardern told 1 NEWS.
Asked about any points of contention within the coalition, Ms Ardern said: "It's not rocket science. And equally it's iterative - communication is key. We just talk it out, work it through."
"There is always a solution. It just takes time to find, " she added.
Mr Peters addressed the PM with the comment: "I have not heard reports of you losing your rag. And I haven't lost mine.
"In the end, nobody wants to be in Opposition. You want to make a change. And frankly, the level of social and economic need in this country was so great, it befits us all… to try and get it fixed."
But the year hasn't been all plain sailing for the Government.
It was confronted in March with allegations of multiple sexual assaults and under-age drinking at a Young Labour Summer School at Waihi.
Transport Minister Phil Twyford resigned his Civil Aviation portfolio after making an unauthorised phone call on a domestic flight.
And two ministers are gone - Clare Curran over failing to disclose meetings and Meka Whaitiri over manhandling and bullying a new staff member.
National Party leader Simon Bridges says it has been a year of economic mismanagement and disarray.
The Labour-Led Government taking office has caused "a freefall in business confidence, a surge in industrial action and a massive increase in the cost of living," Mr Bridges said.
"Under this Government the economy is slowing, the cost of living is now rising faster than wages, petrol has increased to record highs because this Government keeps piling on new taxes," he said.
Rents are increasing because of "ill-thought out housing policies," the number of people on the benefit has increased by 9000 and job creation has plummeted from 10,000 a month to 4000, Mr Bridges said.
The Government has established 180 working groups and reviews, costing up to $250 million, "because it came to office so unprepared and that is leading to real uncertainty," Mr Bridges said
"It also committed $2.8 billion to make tertiary education free for first year students but attracted no new students as a result, and has broken a number of election promises."
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