Chris Hipkins and Christopher Luxon have agreed the Governor General will be advised to extend the current caretaker government arrangements today until a new Government is formed. 

“Under section 6 of the Constitution Act current Ministers must leave office at 11.59pm, Saturday 11 November," says Hipkins.

"Given the writ has not yet been returned due to recounts and negotiations to form a new Government are progressing, the simplest solution is to roll over the current caretaker arrangements for a little bit longer.

“Following consultation with Christopher Luxon, I have written to the Governor-General to advise her to reappoint the current ministry to operate in caretaker mode until the new government is appointed."

The reappointments will be made on the papers at about 1pm today and there will not be an appointment ceremony.

“Ministers will continue in their existing portfolios, except for Nanaia Mahuta, who will leave office on Saturday as she has not been re-elected," says Hipkins.

As Nanaia Mahuta was not re-elected into Parliament, and if a caretaker minister has stopped being an MP, they can only be a minister for 28 days after.

As foreign affairs minister, Mahuta has been the point person for negotiating the return of 21 New Zealanders and family members trapped in Gaza.

So far, only one of those 21 Kiwis have been granted approval to leave. More than 10,000 people have been killed since the conflict flared between Israel and Hamas a month ago.

“Grant Robertson will be appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister for Disarmament and Arms Control. Willie Jackson will take over Nanaia Mahuta’s delegations as Associate Minister for Māori Development," says Hipkins.

“This solution to a constitutional quirk has been amicably agreed and we continue to consult closely with the incoming Government on all key decisions."