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Labour leader Chris Hipkins said he has been spending a lot of time lately packing boxes as he prepares to depart office.\xa0

\u201cMy boxes are all packed, we\u2019re ready to go,\u201d Hipkins told Newstalk ZB\u2019s Mike Hosking.\xa0

Hipkins said the transition phase is a little bit frustrating.\xa0

\u201cI can\u2019t really embrace the position of opposition, and I can\u2019t embrace the position of Government,\u201d said Hipkins.\xa0

\u201cWe\u2019re just here keeping the fire burning.\u201d\xa0

He said yesterday\u2019s cabinet meeting only touched on the Israel and Gaza conflict and what New Zealand\u2019s stance is.\xa0

He said the position was that Israel needs to comply with international humanitarian law, but they \u201cabsolutely\u201d had the right to defend themselves against Hamas.\xa0

Hipkins said the country\u2019s stance is very similar to Australia\u2019s which was shared in a joint letter from the country\u2019s former Prime Ministers.\xa0

He said he would have no problem if New Zealand\u2019s former Prime Minister group wanted to form a statement as well.\xa0

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