PM's Press Conference 14/5/18: Acting Up

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was join by Deputy Winston Peters at her post-cabinet press conference this afternoon to discuss arrangements for his Acting Prime Minister role during her maternity leave.

Prime Minister Ardern has released a letter setting these out. She described them as the standard arrangements under the cabinet manual and said the letter was in response to media interest in the matter. Determined questioning ensued the letter, its contents, and other aspects of Peters' role.

Ardern also discussed plans for budget week and announced that, in response the requests for charity donations as presents for the upcoming royal wedding, the Government would make a $5000 donation to NZ charity Pillars.

Questions covered Winston Peters' upcoming trip to China as Minister of Foreign Affairs, the spread of Mycoplasma bovis and the Government response, the Government position on Official Information Act reform and transparency, Tokoroa pokie machines, the bombing in Indonesia, and the Budget, including the relative impact on the poor of taxes on cigarettes and petrol, as well as fee-free university study.

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