In 1921 he moved to New Zealand and he married Ivy Lily Bradford in Dunedin in 1923; together they had four children (three sons and one daughter).

[5] After the end of World War II he was chairman of the Auckland rehabilitation committee which aided in the provision of employment placings, housing and furniture loans, educational assistance and trade-training subsidies to ex-service personnel, as well as services to widows of service personnel.

[1] Contemporary politician Martyn Finlay said Hackett was an extremely effective representative for his electorate due to his ability to use the life experiences he acquired to relate personally with constituents; "Hackett learnt his trade in the best university of all - that of practical experience on the job.

[11] In 1948, as Minister of Transport, he increased the speed limit on the open road in New Zealand from 40 to 50 miles per hour (which it had been prior to the passing of emergency wartime regulations).

[12] Hackett was opposed to New Zealand joining the International Monetary Fund, arguing that the state should have sole right to govern the country's finances.

[14] Prior to the announcement of the ministry Bill Fox, former vice-president of the Federation of Labour, was widely tipped to become Minister of Labour, but incoming Prime Minister Walter Nash confounded expectations by appointing Hackett (a former unionist) to the portfolio instead.

Hackett also likely received sympathy votes as he was known to have been ill.[6] On 25 July 1962 he was admitted to Auckland Hospital for an operation on his brain, which saved his life.

[18] He did, however, intend to stay in parliament and had already been re-selected to contest Grey Lynn at the upcoming 1963 general election.