The Governor-General has delivered the Speech from the Throne at the State Opening of the Parliament.
The Speech from the Throne is written by the Government, setting out its agenda for the following parliamentary term.
This is then read by Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro in front of New Zealand's top officials, including the Prime Minister, MPs, senior judges, diplomats, and other dignitaries.
These live updates have finished.
11:45am - Bishop has now moved for business from the previous Parliament to be reinstated. He says some of the legislation is okay and some of the legislation isn't in response to a jibe from Labour leader Chris Hipkins.
Bishop explains that the Government is proposing to reinstate every item from the previous Parliament so Members can have a good look at what should be proceeded with and what should be discharged. He believes this is the correct constitutional approach.
The full list of items being reinstated can be found here. The motion is agreed to.
The Leader of the House then moves to make a number of organisations "public organisations" for the purposes of Parliament's Standing Orders. It is agreed to.
That brings to an end the House's business for now. It will return at about 2pm.
11:40am - Leader of the House Chris Bishop has moved for National's Barbara Kuriger be the deputy Speaker of the House, and for National's Maureen Pugh and Labour's Greg O'Connor to be the assistant Speakers. All motions have been agreed to.
11:35am - MPs have now returned to the House of Representatives. The Speaker says he has been handed the text of the Speech of the Throne to present to the House.
The House business is now underway. We will keep the livestream going above.
11:27am - This is the final excerpt from the Speech from the Throne. With it now finished, the Governor-General is leaving Parliament. MPs will then return to the House.
"Finally, the Government should not – and will not – focus its efforts only within New Zealand’s borders.
"The world is increasingly complex and contested. There are risks to be managed, but also opportunities for New Zealand to make the most of, to ensure our country makes more of its potential.
"This requires New Zealand to have an active foreign, defence and trade policy agenda:
- that enhances our security
- that signals that New Zealand is open for business and outwardly engaged
- that makes us a participant in major global and regional developments, not a spectator, and
- that sees us working tirelessly to grow trade and prosperity.
"The coalition Government is committed to getting offshore and raising our profile on the world stage. The Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and other Ministers will strengthen relationships with key partners, advance New Zealand’s interests and promote our businesses offshore.
"The Government will be bold in defending New Zealand’s interests, and vigilant in the protection of the values of democracy, freedom, and security.
"Perhaps New Zealand’s strong sporting traditions help New Zealanders to be generous in defeat, and humble in victory. Whatever the reasons, few countries in the world change governments as smoothly as New Zealand does. It is something of which New Zealand, as a nation, can be justifiably proud.
"It has put the Government in a good position to start on its 100-day plan of action. The 100-day plan is a forerunner of three years of action because New Zealanders voted for change, and the Government will be tireless in executing it.
"It has started work and will hold itself accountable for delivering results that make a positive difference.
"No reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā tātou katoa."
11:25am - Excerpt from the Speech from the Throne on citizenship:
"The Government believes in equal citizenship with all citizens sharing the same rights and obligations.
"The Government will work to improve outcomes for all New Zealanders with public services delivered to people according to their need, and not advance policies that seek to ascribe different rights and responsibilities based on race or ancestry.
"A Treaty Principles Bill will be introduced and supported to a select committee for the public to have their say.
"Waitangi Tribunal legislation will be amended to refocus the scope, purpose and nature of the tribunal’s inquiries back to the original intent of that legislation.
"The Government will also review legislation – except where it relates to full and final Treaty settlements - that includes reference to the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi. Reference to the principles will be replaced with words that explain what Parliament intends, in the context of that legislation, or will be removed."
11:23am - Excerpt from the Speech from the Throne on the primary sector and emissions:
"As mentioned earlier, across government, red tape will be cut in order to get things moving and to remove costs that have been imposed for little or no gain.
"Cutting red tape will unleash the investment in renewable energy that is needed for the country to meet its emissions reduction targets, aid primary sector production and improve the productivity of small businesses.
"The Government will reduce the regulatory burden on farmers, who are spending an increasing amount of their time on paperwork. The implementation of new Significant Natural Areas will cease and existing Significant Natural Areas will be looked at as part of the reform of the Resource Management Act.
"The National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020 will be replaced to ensure a local approach, allowing district councils more flexibility in managing environmental limits.
"The Government will lift the effective ban on gene editing and genetic modification and encourage the use of these technologies. This will mean the advantages of technological progress, for example in reducing the production of methane by farm animals, will be available in New Zealand, just as it already is in many other countries.
"The ban on live animal exports will be reversed, while ensuring the highest standards of animal welfare.
"By December 31 this year, the Government will end the clean car discount scheme and, with it, so-called ute tax which has been particularly unfair on the rural sector and tradespeople.
"The Government is committed to New Zealand meeting its greenhouse gas emissions targets. To encourage more renewable energy production, the Government will fast track consents. Consents will no longer be required for upgrading transmission lines and infrastructure.
"The Government will undertake a cost benefit analysis on investing in a nationwide electric-vehicle charging network. The provision of more charging stations will encourage more people into electric vehicles, which will help reduce New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions from transport.
"To further reduce emissions, by 2030 the Government will implement a fair and sustainable pricing system for on-farm agricultural emissions. As part of the Emissions Trading Scheme, 100 per cent recognition of on-farm sequestration will be introduced.
"The Government will limit the conversion of productive farmland to forestry for carbon farming purposes."
11:18am - Excerpt from the Speech from the Throne on Housing, Infrastructure and Transport:
"Successive governments have struggled to make housing more affordable for more New Zealanders, with house prices and rents rising particularly quickly over the last six years. The Government will require councils in major towns and cities to zone for 30 years of housing demand because getting more houses built is essential to having a more affordable housing market.
"The Natural and Built Environment and Spatial Planning Acts will be repealed and replaced with genuine reform that will make it easier to build.
"The Medium Density Residential Standards rules will become optional for councils, with councils required to ratify any use of the measures, including in existing zones.
"Turning to social housing, the performance of Kāinga Ora is a concern. There will be a review of its finances, procurement, development and asset management practices.
"The lives of some neighbours of some Kāinga Ora properties are being made miserable because of inadequate action against anti-social behaviour by some Kāinga Ora tenants. Under the new Government, there will be appropriate consequences for tenants who engage in repeated anti-social behaviour.
"New Zealand has a significant infrastructure deficit and needs to improve the way it funds, procures and maintains infrastructure.
"The Government will set up a National Infrastructure Agency. It will coordinate government funding, connect domestic and offshore investors with New Zealand infrastructure projects, and improve funding, procurement and delivery.
"As part of amending the Resource Management Act 1991, the Government will make it easier to consent new infrastructure including for renewable energy, building houses, and enhancing the primary sector – including fish and aquaculture, forestry, pastoral, horticulture and mining.
"There will be a fast-track one-stop-shop established for the consenting and permitting process for regional and national projects of significance.
"The Government will deliver marine farming permits of longer duration to provide investment certainty, and remove regulations that impede the productivity and potential of the seafood sector.
"The Government will partner with local government to create long-term City and Regional deals so there is an agreed, visible pipeline of priority projects underway across the country. Public/Private partnerships, tolls and other funding mechanisms will be considered to speed infrastructure delivery.
"As promised, the Government will repeal the Three Waters legislation and restore council ownership and control with stronger central government oversight, and strict rules for water quality and ongoing investment.
"The Government will invest in better transport infrastructure including progressing 13 new Roads of National Significance, with a focus on unlocking land for new housing developments and easing congestion in Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington, Hamilton and Tauranga.
"The Government commits to a four-lane highway alternative for the Brynderwyns in Northland, and it will investigate the use of private finance to accelerate construction.
"The Government will establish a Regional Infrastructure Fund with $1.2 billion in capital funding over the Parliamentary term.
"Major public transport upgrades will be delivered to reduce congestion in Auckland and provide people with more options for moving around the city.
"There will also be upgrades to transport infrastructure in Ashburton, Queenstown, Otago and Southland."
11:13am - Excerpt from the Speech from the Throne on welfare, work and seniors:
"Having 11 per cent, or one in nine New Zealanders of working age on a main benefit, means too many people are dependent on the effort of their fellow citizens instead of being self-supporting. The Government will encourage those who are able to work, to do so. The Government will uphold New Zealanders’ rights and expect individuals to demonstrate that they understand their responsibilities.
"The welfare system will be focussed on helping get Jobseekers who are assessed as being able to work, into jobs. There will be sanctions for those who refuse to do their bit.
"90-day trials for all businesses will be brought back to encourage employers to give workers a go.
"The Fair Pay agreement legislation will be repealed because employers and their teams are best able to negotiate for their own circumstances.
"Turning to superannuation, the age of entitlement for New Zealand Superannuation will remain at 65.
"The universal winter energy payment will be maintained. The Building Act and resource consent system will be amended to make it easier to build granny flats or other small structures up to 60sqm."
11:12am - Excerpt from the Speech from the Throne on health:
"The health system and the health workforce have been under enormous pressure and more support is required for the frontline.
"To encourage more graduate nurses and midwives to stay in New Zealand, the government will establish a system to pay their student loan repayments, up to $4,500 year for five years, in exchange for them agreeing to work here for at least five years.
"To further boost the health workforce, the Government will increase the number of doctors, psychiatrists and clinical psychologists being trained.
"The Government will undertake a cost benefit analysis on the proposed third medical school, based at Waikato University.
"To support the health workforce in hospital emergency departments, security will be increased.
"Cancer patients have better survival rates in Australia than in New Zealand. To help narrow that gap and to improve management of breast, ovarian, bowel, and prostate cancer, the Government will invest $280m over four years to fund 13 cancer treatments recommended by the New Zealand Cancer Control Agency.
"Free breast cancer screening will be extended up to 74 years of age.
"Pharmac will be required to take the voice of patients into account in making decisions, and its funding model will be reformed.
"Approvals for new medicines will be made easier by requiring Medsafe to approve within 30 days new pharmaceuticals approved by at least two overseas regulatory agencies recognised by New Zealand.
"To support mothers and babies, a new entitlement will be introduced to enable every mother of a new baby to have three days in-patient post-natal care.
"The Government will fund the Gumboot Friday/I am Hope charity with $6 million a year, ensure Plunket is adequately funded to do its job properly, allow appropriately qualified pharmacists to prescribe certain treatments, and permit the sale of cold medication containing pseudoephedrine.
"The Māori Health Authority will be disestablished. There will be no co-governance of public services and emphasis will shift to the frontline rather than the back office. Services will be delivered on need, using a range of effective providers, including iwi and community groups who have the best reach into the communities they serve. "
11:09am - Excerpt from the Speech from the Throne on education:
"Education is essential for opening up young people’s life opportunities, but current school achievement rates are worryingly poor. For example, half of Year 10’s do not meet the basic literacy and numeracy standards the OECD says are needed to succeed in further learning, and in life.
"This Government will not stand by as cohorts of young people see their life horizons shrink because of a lack of schooling.
"The Government will require every primary and intermediate class to be taught an hour of reading, an hour of writing and an hour of maths, every day, because a good grasp of the basics is the essential foundation on which to build further education.
"To help teachers, the curriculum will be rewritten with clear requirements on what needs to be covered each school year in reading, writing, maths and science, and the curriculum will be focused on academic achievement, not ideology. Student progress will be regularly assessed. Cellphones will be banned in classes. Every child will be taught to read using a structured literacy approach.
"Partnership schools will be reintroduced and state schools will be allowed to become partnership schools. Further options to increase school choice and expand access to integrated and independent schools will be explored.
"In tertiary education, Te Pūkenga will be disestablished with control over polytechnics restored to the regions they serve.
"The first-year fees-free policy for tertiary education will be replaced with a final-year fees-free-policy, but not before 2025."
11:06am - Excerpt from the Speech from the Throne on public services:
"While spending on public services has increased in recent years, and the head count in government departments has grown, the delivery of public services has, in too many cases, declined. This decline is seen in measures that matter to individuals, and to our country.
"Targets will be set for important measures - like wait times in hospitals and waiting times for cancer treatment. These will help focus resources on the Government’s priorities, which are achieving better results in the things that matter to New Zealanders’ daily lives.
"The pay of public sector chief executives and their deputies will be linked to outcomes to encourage high performance and ensure accountability."
11:05am - Excerpt from the Speech from the Throne on law and order:
"New Zealanders are wearied and worried by brazen offending, particularly against retailers. All New Zealanders are paying for this offending but those working in fear are bearing the highest personal cost.
"The explosion in gang numbers is concerning communities everywhere.
"The Government believes a good education is the best way for young people to have better life opportunities than the mayhem and brutality offered by gangs and criminal offending.
"To support Police and ensure New Zealanders are safer, the Government will train no fewer than 500 new frontline Police within the first two years.
"The Government will introduce legislation to provide Police with additional powers to tackle gangs.
"That legislation will:
- Ban gang patches and insignia in public places
- Give Police the power to issue dispersal notices requiring gang members to immediately leave a public area
- Allow Police to issue Consorting Prohibition Notices to stop known gang offenders committing serious offences
- Give Police power to issue Firearms Prohibition Orders making it illegal for a gang member with serious convictions to enter certain premises where firearms are present, and give Police increased search powers for people who are subject to such an Order.
"Too often, sentences do not reflect the gravity of offending so the Sentencing Act will be amended to ensure appropriate consequences for offenders. This will include making gang membership an aggravating factor in sentencing.
The “three strikes” rule for serious repeat criminals will be restored, with a tighter definition of offences that qualify as strikes.
"To deter young people from a life of crime, the Government will create a new Young Serious Offender category and establish Young Offender Military Academies to help young offenders turn around their lives.
"Additionally, over the term of this Parliament, the Government will increase the number of trained Youth Aid officers and will consider a Youth Justice Demerit Point system.
"Funding will be increased for the Department of Corrections to ensure there is sufficient prison capacity and, where appropriate, prison officers will be equipped with body cameras and protective equipment.
"Firearms legislation will be reviewed, including rewriting the Arms Act 1983 for greater protection of public safety and to simplify regulatory requirements. The Firearms Registry will be reviewed to see whether it is improving public safety."
11:03am - Excerpt from the Speech from the Throne on the cost of living:
"Overwhelmingly, the public’s main concern is the high cost of living.
"Reducing wasteful spending will contribute to taking pressure off inflation. Tax relief targeted at middle and lower-income workers will be of practical help to households. It will meet the Government’s objectives of encouraging people into employment, and people enjoying more take-home pay in return for their effort.
"The Government will provide income tax relief to compensate for the increase in the cost of living, increase Working for Families tax credits, introduce the FamilyBoost tax credit to support young families with the cost of childcare, and widen eligibility for the independent earner tax credit.
"These changes will see a median wage earner better off by at least $50 a fortnight - and more for many with children.
"Mortgage interest deductibility for rental properties will be restored.
"To further help with the cost of living, the Government will cancel planned fuel tax increases by freezing them for three years, while also removing the Auckland Regional Fuel Tax.
"Funds raised from the Emissions Trading Scheme will be paid back to taxpayers through a climate dividend. They will no longer be used to unnecessarily subsidise the climate initiatives of profitable companies that should be making these investments themselves.
"The Government will re-write the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act to protect vulnerable consumers, without unnecessarily limiting access to credit.
"A select committee inquiry will be held into banking competition and the Government will explore options to strengthen the powers of the Grocery Commissioner to improve competitiveness in the sector. "
11am - Excerpt from the Speech from the Throne on the economy:
"To lift New Zealand’s productivity and economic growth, and in order to increase opportunities and prosperity for all New Zealanders, managing a strong economy will be a key focus for the next three years.
"Restoring discipline to government spending will help the Government achieve its fiscal plan and ensure that public money is being spent effectively, using rigorous cost benefit analysis, where applicable.
"The Government will reduce Core Crown expenditure as a proportion of the overall economy – with savings in government agencies targeted to deliver tax relief for hard-working, low-and-middle-income workers.
"These savings will be informed by the increase in back-office head counts in each agency since 2017, but Ministers will be expected to work with individual chief executives to achieve their respective savings targets.
"With the Official Cash Rate hitting its highest point since 2008, creating stress and worry for many mortgage holders and businesses, the Reserve Bank Act’s dual mandate has patently not worked at containing inflation. The Government will amend it within 100 days so monetary policy is quickly returned to having a single focus on price stability.
"Red tape is adding costs to businesses that get passed on to consumers. A new government department, reporting to the Minister for Regulation, will be established to assess and improve the quality of new and existing legislation and regulation. A Regulatory Standards Bill will be passed to ensure regulatory decisions are based on principles of good law-making and economic efficiency.
"As part of restoring fiscal discipline, the Government has already axed the expensive Lake Onslow pumped hydro scheme, and the Government will also stop work on Industry Transformation Plans, the costly Income Insurance Scheme, Auckland’s Light Rail project, and Let’s Get Wellington Moving."
10:55am - Excerpt from the Speech from the Throne:
"In October’s 2023 general election, New Zealanders voted for change – not just a change of government, but a change of policies and a change of approach. Following constructive negotiations to form a strong and stable government, a coalition between the New Zealand National Party, ACT New Zealand and the New Zealand First Party was agreed with a commitment to deliver that change.
"This is the first time since New Zealand’s Mixed Member Proportional electoral system came in nearly 30 years ago, that there has been a three-way coalition government.
"It took office on Monday last week when I swore in the Prime Minister, the Right Honourable Christopher Luxon, and the ministry.
"The Government enjoys the confidence of a clear majority of members in the 123-seat House of Representatives, but it is the people outside Parliament who will be the Government’s priority in decisions made over the next three years."
10:50am - MPs are now in the Legislative Council Chamber for the speech. In the front row are senior members from each party as well as the Speaker.
The Prime Minister delivers the Governor-General the Speech from the Throne, which she is now reading.
10:45am - The Governor-General has now entered the Legislative Council Chamber for the Speech from the Throne. I will bring you highlights from the speech here, while you can also watch it above.
Dame Cindy Kiro asks the Black Rod to summon the House of Representatives for the speech. The Governor-General never enters the House herself. The Black Rod uses her rod to knock on the door to the House and tells Members that the Governor-General has commanded their attendance in the Legislative Council Chamber. They all follow her back for the speech.
10:40am - The Governor-General has now entered Parliament alongside the Black Rod. They are making their way to the old Upper House, the Legislative Council Chamber, where she will deliver the Speech from the Throne.
10:30am - MPs have gathered in the House ahead of the Governor-General reading the Speech from the Throne in the Legislative Council Chamber. New Speaker Gerry Brownlee is telling MPs about his confirmation at Government House on Tuesday afternoon.
10:25am - The Governor-General is being welcomed to Parliament.
10:20am - The New Zealand Herald of Arms Phillip O'Shea and Usher of the Black Rod Sandra McKie have moved to Parliament's forecourt.
Shortly afterwards, Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro arrives.
10:10am - A marching band is currently playing on the forecourt of Parliament. Members of the Royal New Zealand Navy, New Zealand Army, and the Royal New Zealand Air Force are also outside forming a guard of honour.
The Governor-General is expected to be leaving Government House shortly on her way to the State Opening.
10:05am - A number of famous faces have already arrived at Parliament, including former Prime Ministers Jenny Shipley, Jim Bolger and Geoffrey Palmer.
Newshub has also spotted the likes of Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau, Solicitor-General Una Jagose, and former Speaker David Carter.
10am - Kia ora, good morning and welcome to Newshub's live updates of the State Opening of Parliament, which will feature the Governor-General delivering the Speech from the Throne.
After MPs were sworn in on Tuesday, the focus now moves to the Governor-General. The Speech from the Throne will set out what the Government sees as its priorities for the following term. It will likely reflect the points made in the Government coalition agreements and in its 100-day plan. But there is always a chance for a surprise as well.
Later, MPs will return to the House for business, which is likely to include the first maiden speeches.
