Labour leader Chris Hipkins has criticised the new Government's call on transport, as well as reflected on the year he became prime minister and lost the job – and offered a glimpse into his holiday plans.
Hipkins' final Breakfast interview of 2023 followed Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced changes to speed limit policy yesterday.
"Our coalition Government wants to see a transport system that boosts productivity and economic growth and allows New Zealanders to get to where they want to go, faster and safer," he said.
Hipkins criticised the new speed limit policy, arguing the reductions would have saved lives.
"Ultimately, I think the proof will be in the pudding," he said. "It will be interesting to see whether Waka Kotahi follow the new directive.
"Waka Kotahi make speed limit decisions independently of government.
"Ministers don't set speed limits, the experts at Waka Kotahi do that."
Changes made this week remove mandatory requirements for road controlling authorities to implement speed management plans, Brown said yesterday. Under the Labour Government, transport officials had pushed ahead with plans to institute slower speed limits on state highways and local roads.
"Simply increasing the speed limit without increasing road safety actually increases risk to all motorists," Hipkins said.
"More innocent people could end up being injured or – in the worst case scenario – dying on our roads.
"If we ultimately want to be able to drive faster on our roads, then we have to invest in making sure that the roads are safer."
Highlights and low moments from 2023
Hipkins was asked to reflect on the year – in which he both become prime minister and lost the job.
"It's been quite a year for me," he said. "Quite a lot's happened during that period of time.
"The highlights and the lowlights for me are often interlinked.
"During the cyclone [Gabrielle], I went and visited those cyclone-affected regions and I saw some shocking scenes but I also some of the best of Kiwis. I saw Kiwis just going out of their way to help their fellow citizens through a major crisis," Hipkins said.
Summer plans
The Labour leader also offered a glimpse into his plans for the holiday season.
"Hoping to spend a bit of time at the beach, just chilling out and building sand castles with the kids and what-not.
"Maybe a little bit of a roadie along the way."
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