Chris Hipkins wasted his State of the Nation speech by not announcing any new policy

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon gave his own State of the Nation speech to the same Auckland Chamber of Commerce that Hipkins later addressed, and also announced no new policy. Nicola Willis called Hipkins' speech a "lump of jelly filled with platitudes and sentiment, but no concrete plans."

David Seymour, who was not asked to present to the Chamber and instead held an ACT Party rally, described it as "featherweight", but his own policy announcement at his rally was limited to wanting smaller government.

Hipkins said he had restated Labour's priorities but did not want to make promises he would have to change before Budget 2026.