A mandate is no guarantee of a smooth ride for this new Government’s 100-day plan

It is less than a week since ministers were sworn in, but through problems of its own making the Government is enjoying a political honeymoon short enough to almost rival Liz Truss’s 49 days as UK prime minister.

It has been a torrid few days, though the action plan for the first three months released this week recovered some of the initiative.

To be frank, it might be more accurately called 100 days of reaction. Many of the 49 steps in its programme are about getting things undone, with about a third either stopping, repealing, or banning something.

That includes four pieces of legislation that will be passed by Christmas, marking the end of Labour’s Fair Pay agreements, RMA reforms and the clean car discount.

But that is no more nor less than National and its partners promised through the campaign, and they have a clear mandate to implement it.

Unlike previous National leaders including Sir John Key, who initially opposed policies like Working for Families, Kiwisaver and Kiwibank, before accepting them, Luxon is determined to scrap most of the previous administration’s agenda.

His government is aiming to drive home the message that the Ardern-Hipkins government achieved nothing, by leaving them a minimal legacy of policy reform.

Some elements of the 100-day plan scratch the itches of the junior partners.

The stand-out example is the strange pledge to lodge a reservation against

The toxic response from health groups was a sign of what it will also face from the education sector, environmentalists and Māoridom as it implements its policy platform. Waitangi celebrations in February are set to be an early trigger.

adopting amendments to WHO regulations until the Government runs a national interest ruler over them. It does not justify the shroud-waving of some government opponents but, as a measure spawned at the conspiracy end of town, it does send an odd message to the world.

Most of the positive steps in the 100day plan involve starting or introducing, rather than completing, a law change or programme.

It would be harsh to criticise the overall programme on that basis. Many changes will require laws to be drafted, and detailed officials’ advice, which cannot always be rushed.

On that score, whispers are seeping out of ministers’ offices about their disappointment with officials’ advice – in particular that they are dragging the chain on change.

Some of that may be justified – most officials would never win any sprinting medals.