Prime minister Jacinda Ardern has said her government will pare back its policy agenda to “focus on the economy”, after months of poor polling and increased pressure over living costs in New Zealand.
After a successful 2020 election, Ardern’s Labour party held a single-party majority in parliament this term, giving extensive freedom to the government’s policy agenda. With a tough election year ahead, however, the prime minister has indicated the government would reprioritise and cut spending, rather than push forward all of its policy plans.
