Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour has renewed his attack on Labour leader Chris Hipkins, saying the public should question his credibility over past decisions involving Covid 19 vaccines for young people.

Seymour said the issue came down to trust, arguing Hipkins had failed to be transparent about what he knew at the time.

“Chris Hipkins tells us he wants to be the prime minister we should trust him with hard decisions at crucial times, but when he had that over this vaccine issue he tells us that he didn’t see the advice,” Seymour said.

He pointed to conflicting accounts around official briefings and Cabinet papers, saying Hipkins’ explanation “simply defies belief.”

“What’s interesting is we’ve now revealed that on the 21st of December he actually was on TV talking about vaccine safety… and he’s telling us that he never knew any of this. Well he clearly did.”

Seymour said the controversy, while historic, remained relevant.

“The best indicator of future performance is past performance and this is the guy who wants to be the prime minister in the future.”

He also criticised Hipkins’ past conduct in other matters, describing what he called a broader pattern of behaviour.

Despite the renewed focus, Seymour acknowledged the issue had yet to significantly shift polling.

“People are busy running their lives but these things filter through… it will take time.”

Turning to economic pressures, Seymour defended the Government’s targeted cost of living support, contrasting it with Australia’s broader measures.

“We’re just more tapped out as a government… that leaves us with pretty limited room to move,” he said.

He pointed to international concerns about New Zealand’s fiscal position.

“When people around the world who loan money to governments start saying we’re not sure you guys are a good risk… that can mean increased interest rates.

“That’s the kind of targeted, temporary, timely relief that has become our mantra.”

He also rejected calls to make public transport free, arguing it would disproportionately benefit higher income users.

“Why would you do that in a way that’s going to benefit the wealthiest people as well as the people who really need help.”

Seymour was sharply critical of a Parliament steps performance involving Birchville School students, organised by an NZEI leader to promote union priorities.

“It makes me really sad because those children… have a right to an education,” he said. “What they don’t deserve is to be recruited for political purposes.”

He accused some educators of using the classroom to push political views. “There’s a group of people who believe education is an opportunity… to indoctrinate them in a set of adults’ political beliefs. I think that’s completely wrong.”

Seymour said teachers should separate personal beliefs from their professional responsibilities.

“They are paid by the taxpayer to do a job on behalf of these students… they don’t need to bring it into the workplace.”

On media regulation, Seymour signalled support for scrapping the Broadcasting Standards Authority, describing it as outdated.

“It’s just got to go… it’s a dinosaur.”

He said a member’s bill from ACT MP Laura McClure was ready and could be introduced if drawn from Parliament’s ballot.

“If it does then I think it’ll be game on.” Seymour argued the authority no longer served its intended purpose. “If they actually did their job maybe, but they don’t.”

He dismissed concerns about removing oversight, saying the current system had failed to address misinformation.

Finally, Seymour played down concerns about National’s polling under leader Christopher Luxon, insisting the wider centre right bloc remained competitive.

“What matters is the performance of the block overall… we’re still neck and neck.” “My job is to work hard for ACT… to ensure the government is truly on the right, tough on saving taxpayer money and clear about who we are as a people.”