Politics

NZ First set for regional portfolio, environment for Greens

08:32 am on 25 October 2017

Portfolios will play to ministers' strengths, with Greens taking an environmental focus and New Zealand First overseeing the regions, incoming Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says.

Labour faces several hurdles in getting all its policies in place in time, with portfolios for specific ministers set to be announced today.

Speaking to Morning Report's Susie Ferguson, Ms Ardern said she did not think New Zealand First had a proportionally greater share of ministerial responsibility compared to the number of votes.

"In terms of positions, Labour has 21 ministerial posts, our support parties have seven. I think that's fair and proportionate."

She also said some portfolios had greater importance than others.

"Not all portfolios are born equal ... not to diminish their importance, issues like internal affairs are smaller, more discreet portfolios."

She had allocated roles based on the strengths and focus of the individual ministers, she said.

"What I focused on when I did the allocation was playing to the strengths of the ministers that we have. So with the Greens of course you'll see a strong environmental focus, with New Zealand First you'll see a strong focus on regional development."

While Labour was looking at bringing up the minimum wage as a priority, there would be a move to help smaller business as well, she said.

"I will be asking the tax working group to do a specific piece of work around ways we can ease the burden particularly around small businesses."

Ms Ardern said what she didn't announce yesterday was the other piece of work that she'll be looking to do.

"One of the things that I will be asking that tax working group to look at is Australia's stepped tax regime has operated.

"Of course they have a slightly lower corporate tax rate for companies and businesses that have lower turnover."

Another main focus would be on foreign ownership, and she was now in the position of being able to access official advice on the policy.

"Right now I'm looking at all the options and how to make that policy a reality."

"We've always said that our view is that we need to stop those sales of existing homes to foreign buyers," she said.

She agreed it would work similarly to Australia's restrictions forcing overseas buyers to commit to new builds.

Labour would be moving quickly to put its policy into place, but could not yet say how soon that would be.

"We'll be looking at our legislative programme but the priority will be our hundred-day plan."

"I currently haven't formulated a legislative programme. We haven't yet been sworn in but we are working as quickly as we can."