Christopher Luxon, Chris Hipkins sling sledges in fiery return to Parliament 

The Chrises have switched sides and were slinging sledges. Credits: Newshub.

Fifty-three days after Kiwis voted, New Zealand's politicians are getting back to business with the State Opening of Parliament on Wednesday.   

It also was the first time the new Prime Minister went head-to-head with his predecessor in the House in a fiery exchange.   

The day began with a brass band, a parliamentary performance fit for the King - or at least his representative in New Zealand.   

Her excellency Dame Cindy Kiro made a right royal entrance to officially open the 54th Parliament of New Zealand and deliver the Speech from the Throne - the Government's pledge to its people.   

It covered the economy.   

"Overwhelmingly the public's main concern is the high cost of living," she said.   

Also, law and order.   

"Ban gang patches," she said.    

Sometimes it strayed into sounding a little like a National Party social media video.   

"The so-called ute tax," Dame Cindy said.   

When it was put to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon it was just National Party spin, he said: "I'd just say to you it's our Speech from the Throne."  

That Speech from the Throne read by New Zealand's first wahine Māori Governor-General also outlined the Government's race relations aims.   

"The Government believes in equal citizenship... not advance policies that seek to ascribe different rights and responsibilities based on race or ancestry."   

And then there was the debate in the House.   

The Chrises switched sides and were slinging sledges.  

"What we heard was a plan to take New Zealand backwards," said Labour leader Chris Hipkins.  

"The most shambolic beginning of any Government in New Zealand history," he said.  

Luxon asked why Hipkins was still there "after squandering and decimating an absolute majority".   

Hipkins said he didn't think he had seen "anything so pathetic" as Luxon "literally sprinting out the door of Parliament to fly back to Auckland because he had been summoned by Winston Peters".   

Luxon likened Hipkins to an "arsonist" that "just simply loiters around the scene of the crime".   

Hipkins called that "inflammatory".   

However. the strongest speech of the day and response to the Opposition criticism came from a new face.   

"A part-Māori boy raised in a state house by a single parent on the benefit," said new National MP James Meager.    

"Now a proud National Party MP in a deeply rural farming electorate in the middle of the South Island. But there is no contradiction there."       

He said the left "do not own Maori", "the poor" or "the workers".   

Te Pati Maori's parliamentary protest on Tuesday called the King "Harehare", making headlines worldwide.   

"It is arguable whether the term was taking the 'P-I-S-S' or whether it was a genuine thing," said New Zealand First MP Shane Jones.   

While Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi contended "Harehare" is another name for King Charles, New Zealand First has complained to the Speaker - calling on them to be forced to retake the oath.   

"They should be told to do it like everybody else. You're not writing the rules all by yourself when you've only been here five minutes," said deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters.   

The Parliament's barely been open for five minutes but, already, they're putting on a hell of a show.