Seventeen months in, and here we are. A new year, a familiar government, and the same old grumblings from every corner of the country. You can almost set your watch by it - the election of 2023 brought a coalition of National, ACT, and New Zealand First into power with grand promises and a to-do list longer than Queen Street queues at rush hour. Now, as we round the corner into 2025, it's time to ask: what's been done, what's been botched, and what's still gathering dust?

First, the big-ticket item: tax cuts. Promised with much fanfare and, if I recall correctly, a rather optimistic belief in economic miracles. Yet here we are, 17 months later, and no one has seen a cent of relief. The government blames an economic slowdown, a widening budget deficit, and the stubborn realities of governing, but for the average New Zealander, all that matters is that the money isn't in their pocket. Inflation hasn't exactly been kind, and despite assurances that tax relief is still on the table, it's looking more like a dog-eared menu option that never quite makes it to the table.
Meanwhile, in the housing sector, landlords have had a bit of a win. Interest deductibility is back, and the pet bond scheme has been rolled out, allowing renters to keep pets with a bit of financial security for landlords. A good move? Perhaps. But it does little to address the broader issue of skyrocketing rents and housing affordability. If anything, the government seems to have taken a "let's not rock the boat' approach to property – better for those who own, less thrilling for those still trying to get a foothold.
On the law and order front, the coalition came in swinging. Gang patches are out, and a heavy-handed approach to organised crime has been ushered in with new legislation restricting public gatherings of gang members. The government claims it's restoring law and order, but civil liberties groups are grumbling about overreach. Meanwhile, the promised 500 new police officers are filtering into the force – an admirable effort, though one suspects the demands on our frontline services will continue to outstrip supply.
Transport, as always, is a battleground of its own. The grand experiment of widespread speed limit reductions under Labour has been put into reverse, with highways and major roads returning to their pre-reduction limits. But the pace of this change has been frustratingly slow. Despite the bold campaign promises, progress has been sluggish, with many roads still waiting for their limits to be restored. Supporters argue this restores efficiency, critics warn of safety concerns – it's a debate with no winners, only more heated letters to the editor.
And then there's the elephant in the room – the Treaty of Waitangi. The government's push to redefine the Treaty principles in legislation has been met with fierce opposition, leading to mass protests and significant division across the country. The Treaty Principles Bill has passed its first reading but is stalled in committee, bogged down in legal and political wrangling. A promise made, a fight brewing, but no clear path forward. For all the talk of tidying up governance and clarifying Treaty obligations, the risk here is alienating an entire segment of the population without achieving anything of substance.
The same can be said for co-governance, which has been steadily dismantled across public services. The Māori Health Authority is gone, Three Waters has been restructured, and the government's stance is clear: one system for all. Whether that means a better system remains to be seen. If anything, it has ignited a debate that won't die down any time soon.
On the business and infrastructure side, the scrapping of environmental restrictions to encourage oil and gas exploration has delighted some and horrified others. The delays to agricultural emissions pricing were predictable but don't exactly scream forward-thinking policy. The much-touted $1.2 billion Regional Infrastructure Fund? Still waiting for action. That's been the theme for much of this administration – big ideas, bold moves, but plenty left in the "pending' pile.
Then, of course, there's the repeal of Smokefree legislation, a decision met with near-universal head-scratching. For a government claiming to be pro-health and pro-common sense, rolling back measures aimed at reducing smoking rates felt like a step backwards. But hey, at least the cigarette industry is happy.
So, where does that leave us? Seventeen months in, this government has certainly made its mark. Some campaign promises have been kept, especially where law and order and deregulation are concerned – but others have stalled, faced backlash, or have yet to deliver the tangible benefits that were promised. The next steps will be crucial. If the economy continues to stutter, if tax relief remains a pipe dream, if Treaty debates deepen divisions rather than resolves them, this coalition could find itself on increasingly shaky ground.
For now, we wait. We watch. And, as always, we argue. New Zealand wouldn't have it any other way.