Christopher Luxon says he’s expecting a “pretty seamless transition” as Winston Peters hands over the deputy prime minister role to David Seymour this week.
The Prime Minister spoke live to Newstalk ZB Wellington Mornings host Nick Mills today as he reaches the halfway point of his three-year term as leader.
Luxon was sworn in as Prime Minister in November 2023, after National secured 38% of the vote at the general election. He negotiated a three-way coalition agreement with New Zealand First and ACT.
As part of that agreement, the leaders of the two parties, Winston Peters and David Seymour, are sharing the deputy prime minister role for half of the parliamentary term each.
This week marks the midpoint for the three-year parliamentary term.
Peters has been serving as deputy prime minister with Seymour set to take over this Saturday.
When asked how he felt he was tracking in the job, Luxon said he was “absolutely loving it” but acknowledged it was a tough time for the country.
“It’s essentially like the recession of the early 90’s. We inherited a hell of a mess and we’re happy to fix it up and sort it out.”
Luxon said he and his wife continue having date nights on Fridays despite the demands of the job, and had just been to the movies together to see Mission Impossible.
“I really want Amanda and the kids to be able to carry on their life without being defined too much by what I do.”
He said there was “no question at all whatsoever” that he would do it all again if he had the chance to start over.
“I kind of knew what I was getting into . . . the hard stuff comes to your desk. If it’s easy, it gets solved somewhere else in the system.”
When asked whether he was spending too much time appeasing coalition parties, Luxon said they were doing something that had never been done before.
Mills asked whether Luxon’s party would be more effective if they could work without the coalition parties, and Luxon said that was not how New Zealand worked with the electoral system.
He said it was “okay” and “normal” to not agree on everything with partners, but in the majority of cases they were aligned in what they wanted to do.
Asked about the handover from Peters to Seymour as deputy prime minister, Luxon said he expects it to be a “pretty seamless transition”.
He said Peters and Seymour were different people with different personalities, and Luxon’s job was to make that work.
Christopher Luxon, David Seymour and Winston Peters after signing their coalition agreement in November 2023. Photo / Mark Mitchell
Mills asked Luxon what he thought was going wrong with Wellington, referencing public sector job cuts and the appointment of a Crown Observer at Wellington City Council.
Luxon referred to other major cities that were making bids for big events, such as Sail GP in Auckland and the supercars in Christchurch. He criticised a bike lane being built on Molesworth St.
“You’ve got way too much ideology and party politics in your local government.
“Wellington should be more than just a public service town. We’ve just gone and invested $500 million in film rebates in this country.”
He said there was ambition and aspiration in Wellington, but there needed to be a council that did the basics well, such as managing water.
He said Wellington Water was a “total basket case”.
Luxon wouldn’t be drawn on who he thought should be the capital’s next Mayor, instead saying “whoever is the next mayor needs to have a vision where it’s going to, they need to get the finances under control.
“It’s a big city, it’s an important city to New Zealand. I live here, I love this place, it’s got so much potential.”
Luxon then turned
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
You're listening to the Wellington Mornings podcast with Nick Mills
from News Talk said, B.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
That's a little bit of home from Kayleie Bell, right,
Honorable Prime Minister Christopher Luxe.
Speaker 3 (00:30):
So you're popping along to that? You quite like that?
Speaker 2 (00:32):
I did like that.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
Yeah, that's New Zealand country music. Kayleie Bell. She's big
in Australia, beg in the US, probably not that well
known in New Zealand. But all from timoron from memory.
So amazing young woman.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
Ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to DJ Christopher Luxeon.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
Good to be with you, Nick. It's great to be
with you.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
Lovely to have you here. Let's talk about the timing
of this because this is about the halfway point. Well
it is a halfway point because you're swapping deputy shortly
this week, so halfway point. I really want to ask
you how you do it? How are you feeling? Are
you okay? Are you enjoying it? Oh?
Speaker 3 (01:05):
Absolutely love the job. You know personally, at a personal level,
it's a huge responsibility, but it's hugely rewarding as well.
You get to see amazing New Zealanders each and every
day doing incredible things. Tremendous privilege to do the job.
It's been a very tough type, no doubt about it.
I was with economists this morning, and you know, we're
looking at the numbers and it's been essentially like the
recession of the early mid nineties, and we inherit a
(01:28):
hell of a mess and we're having to fix it
up and sort it out. And that just means you've
got to think deeply about the problem that you've encountered
or you've inherited, and then what's the common sense solution
to sort of work your way through it.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
So, no, it's the family. How the family react. Still
fish and chips on a Friday, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (01:44):
Yeah, I mean, still date night on Saturday night, we're
off to We went to see Mission Impossible, Amanda and
I and at the Westfield, So that was great. But no, look,
I mean, honestly, from a family life point of view,
I mean, I've done a lot of extreme jobs in
my past, and Amanda had her career as well, and
so and we're overseas and so we're very tight folsome
and to be honest, for us, in terms of our
(02:04):
internal family dynamic, nothing's really change that much. And I
really want a mander and the kids to be able
to carry on their life without it being defined too
much by what I do. But having said that, they're
happy to get engaged when they need to as well.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
An honest answer here, and I'll be able to tell
by body language if it's not. If you had your
time again, would you have done it? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (02:21):
Absolutely, no question, Oh, no question at all, Yeah, no
question whatsoever.
Speaker 2 (02:25):
I can tell listeners that he was very determined when
he said that.
Speaker 3 (02:28):
Yeah, I was quite unfortunate because you know, obviously, you know,
John Key was a good, good mate and I saw
him do the job up close. I also cheered just
into his business advisory counselors or her do the job
up close for a period of time as well. So yeah,
I kind of knew what I was getting into. And
it's been everything. You know. It's the hard stuff comes
to your desk, right, I mean, if it's easy, it
(02:49):
gets solved somewhere else in the system. But do you
deal tough decisions?
Speaker 2 (02:52):
Do you feel that you're spending too much time? And
a CEO, I'm talking to you as CEO to CEO,
Are you spending too much time appeasing the coalition partners?
Are you. Is it stopping you from being yourself and going.
Speaker 3 (03:05):
No, I mean coming I said from day one. Look,
we're doing something that's never been done before in New
Zealand politics. We've got a three party coalition government. It's
not unusual. I mean, go look at Western Europe that
has an MMP system. You see often four or five
even up to ten party.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
My question is would you be actually more effective if
you could just run it yourself and just.
Speaker 3 (03:26):
Go, oh, well, I'm sure, I'm sure, But that's not
the system that we have. And the New Zealand public,
rightly or wrongly, have chosen MMP as the system that
they want us to deal with. And so, you know,
they vote on an election day. We talk about driving
party votes, you know, because that gives you more stronger
and stable government. But ultimately then they give us a
result on election nine and it's up to us to
find a way to make it work. And so and
(03:48):
then when you form a coalition government and the same way,
you know, I had to you know, reinvigorate and turn
around the National Party given when I came on board
it was at our low point and we've had to
form a team. We do the same in the coalition
as well. So it doesn't mean we agree on everything,
as you can see from time to time, and that's okay,
you know, that's quite normal and mature m MP environments. Majority.
(04:10):
We you know, we're very aligned on what we're trying
to do.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
Personally, I felt that the relationship between you and Winston's
been great. I've really enjoyed.
Speaker 3 (04:17):
I really, I really enjoy working with him. I really do.
I think, you know, I find him. He's a relational guy,
you know, and he's got experience and wisdom. You know,
we might say things differently, but you know, I've really
enjoyed working with him and I'll continue to do so.
Speaker 2 (04:34):
Now it changes this weeker, yeah, a lot.
Speaker 3 (04:37):
We changed Deputy Prime minister. But you know in New Zealand,
you know that's it's it's going to be pretty seamless.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
Really, I mean, will you be able to control David Seymour?
Will you be? I mean he's going to be a
lot different to Winston Peters.
Speaker 3 (04:50):
Well, well, I mean they're different people in different personalities
and they you know, they operate in different ways. And
you know, my job is to make it work and
so that's what I do. I do that, as I said,
within the National Party, I do it with the Coalition.
But I just say to you, look, you know what
is the deput promise role. It's there to the acting
Prime Minister when I'm incapacitated out of the country, right
And you know we've had moments when both Winston and
(05:12):
I have been out. David's been done a great job,
so you know, I think it'd be a pretty seamless drend.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
We have seen it with Winston though he has taken
on a very senior leadership role within your coalition, hasn't he.
I mean, and very effectively internationally and nationally.
Speaker 3 (05:27):
I think you know you're seeing a big step up
in our foreign affairs activity. You know, Winston's a key
part of that, so is you know, Todd McLay, Frankly
on trade, Judith on defense, and myself, you know, building
those leaders to leader connections at the top to top
level as well. So you know, the four of us
work together very very well as a team. We meet
regularly and we've deliberately tried to lift the intensity and
(05:47):
the agency of those relationships for sure.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
Oh yeah, before I'm going to get into Wellington stuff,
because you're in a Wellington Show and it's great to
have you here, and so I want to talk about
Wellington issues. But oh yeah, today twenty five points or
fifty points Christian hawksby what a great name for it for?
Is it a great movie star? David? I mean, is
he going to be bold? Do you reckon you might go?
I mean you already know. You don't try to tell
(06:09):
me you do.
Speaker 3 (06:10):
No, no, no, we have an independent reserve bank, so
as you know the.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
Day, you don't know.
Speaker 3 (06:15):
I have my reckons, as I reckon what he will
do like everyone else in the country. But I don't
officially know. No, I don't know. I don't know. I
don't find out until two o'clock. So but you know,
I just think you've seen commentators say, you know, they're
expecting a further cut, which I think would be you know,
which you'll see.
Speaker 2 (06:28):
But do you think he's bold enough to go fifty?
Speaker 3 (06:31):
Well, I mean, everyone have their reckons, and I'm not
going to get into that game, and it's not appropriate
that I do give them the position I hold. But
I just say to you what's important here and is
that you've got to have monetary policy working with fiscal policy.
And that was the problem that we had out of
the previous administration. Both were printing cash and spending money
like nothing, and then they applied the banks at the
(06:52):
Reserve Bank and took the interest rates up. I meanwhile,
you still had the money, you know, and deficits being
incurred through the Labor government's fiscal policy. We've now got
those two things together and that's what you want to see, actually,
the monetary and fiscal policy working together to deal with
the impacts that we've had to deal with.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
With respect. You will, I mean you must. I've got
to go to an am break, but you will be disappointed.
But doesn't go twenty five.
Speaker 3 (07:13):
I think all commentators are expecting a further cut, as
you'd recently expected.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
Her right Honorable Prime Minister Christopher Luxan in the studio,
I want extent on Wellington. Yeah, don't look at me
like that.
Speaker 3 (07:24):
Well, I just want to confirm are you running for
me or not?
Speaker 2 (07:26):
No, I'm not running for me. Don't look at me
like why are you looking at me like that? When
I say I'm going to ask you questions about Wellington
because you know I'm a Wellington businessman and up under
the table starving at hard need a meal and you
didn't even bring a cup sandwich with you. It's tough.
It's tough here on Wellington. The economy's slow. We're grinding,
we're trying, we're trying to be population. We've got to
(07:47):
trying to get the population going. We've got a stagnant population,
public service cuts. I mean, we're doing it tough.
Speaker 3 (07:53):
Yeah, look, I mean I think well officially, i'd say,
because yeah, I lived here in the what early mid nineties,
you know, I came out of university, you meant, and
I moved here newly married, and what a great city
it was, you know, like it was absolutely brilliant. I mean,
it was pumping. There was lots of smart young people here,
There was people being highly innovative, lots of culture going on,
and it was a different city from anything else that
(08:15):
was possible in New Zealand. Right, it really had its
mojo going. And we want to see it coming back, right,
We want to see that. And I think you know
the reality is that you know, you've you've you know,
you've got a charter course of actually what do you
want to Wellington? And we want to see it growing.
We want to see it doing incredibly well. We've got
amazing Do we.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
Need the public service numbers up to mactually make Wellington
grow it? Because I mean, that's that's where we're hurting,
isn't it.
Speaker 3 (08:37):
Well No, I disagree. I think you've I think you've
lost your way. If I'm really honest, I think you
know you've got way too much ideology and party politics
and your local government. I think you need to focus
on actually common sense solutions to problems that people are
experiencing in the region, take responsibility for it and sort
it out for people. That's really what I think the
job of all politicians, central, all local government's about is
just solving problems and making sure you set things up
(09:00):
for a better future.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
But we have suffered under the fallout, haven't we?
Speaker 3 (09:04):
And as more to come, well, there's there's been, you know,
but Wellington should be more than just a public service town.
Speaker 2 (09:10):
The capital city, aren't we? Sure?
Speaker 3 (09:12):
But you also but we also had you know, we've
got We've just gone and invested five hundred and something
million dollars in film rebates in this country. And you know,
when you think about the glory days of you know,
Wetter and you think about the amazing businesses like Sheersa's
and Zero's and you know, I was out on the
hut recent. I think amazing manufacturing businesses that are out there.
You know, there's ambition and aspiration in Wellington and it's
(09:34):
got to be unlocked and actually, you know, put moving forward.
But you've also got to have a council that does
the basics well, like I mean, manage the water. Get
you know, you don't need to labor a Green Party
policy to work out how the bins are going out
or being collected. You know, that's pretty basic stuff.
Speaker 2 (09:46):
So I do want to get to our council because
I do want to get your thoughts on what we
can do better with that. But the O Techy Expressway,
there's been a lot of disappointment over the last few days.
I don't know whether you picked up on it or not.
You've cut the budget and put a roundabout instead of
they over and you've gone from four lanes to two laness.
Lots of business people out there that felt the that
was really needed. We as a region felt that it
(10:09):
was really needed. But it's a cost cutting exercise, isn't it.
Speaker 3 (10:12):
Well no, it's about well first and almost we're doing it,
you know, the last lot talked a lot but didn't
do much at all, frankly, or it didn't had a
lot of phantom projects with you know, bumpstickers and post
it notes, but nothing actually happening. So we're doing it.
It's quite right that we look at it to make
sure that we're getting maximum value for money out of it.
But also it's something that's out for consultation now and
(10:33):
we'll hear the news of the community and what they
think about all of that. So you know, there's no no, no,
but it's quite right that the that the nz TA
look at it and make sure that we're getting good
value for money for you know, and is it going
to meet the purpose? And so let's get that process
run through and see we get.
Speaker 2 (10:48):
To So as Prime Minister, when you you spend a
lot of time in Wellington, let's be fair. So you're
still you know, still sleeping the nights here, you're still
wandering the streets. What's going wrong? What do you think
is wrong with Wellington? Well?
Speaker 3 (11:01):
Look, I mean, you know you got crush It that's
made a big play for the supercars, you know, and
you know, which has been great. You've got Auckland making
a big play for sale GP. What's Wellington doing? You know,
like I mean, you know, there's this is an awesome city.
You know, it was a great city and it can
be and it should be. We want it to be firing,
pumping and doing well. It's it's more than just a
(11:21):
public service town. It's more than just the capital city.
It's got real strings to its bow in terms of
technology and creative industries and all those sorts of things.
That's what we should be doing. But I remember actually
being here. I think you remember the supercars used to
be here in Wellington at one point. You know, there's
probably too many Jutta bar seven stuff going on. Severs
was amazing, right, that was incredible, you know, it was
(11:42):
an incredible tournament.
Speaker 2 (11:43):
So now we're left with well yeah, but but but but.
Speaker 3 (11:46):
I mean, what what is Wellington doing to attract events here?
What are they doing to attract businesses here? You know,
the other day across Molesworth Street to go up to
the supermarket and you know, literally half of Molesworth Streets
being turned into a bike lane. A lot of businesses
you can't park outside of now because we've got a
whole bunch of Pilava in the middle of the city.
So honestly, you got to ask the question, what are
(12:07):
we doing to attract businesses here? What are you doing
to attract events here? What is the version vision for
where the city can go? And it's got an exciting future,
but you've got to plant. And if you're all in
the myopia of the squabbles internally and nothing's actually happening,
well life moves on and people have got choices as
to where they put their businesses, they've got choices as
to where they see in their events. We want Wellington
in the mix.
Speaker 2 (12:27):
Okay, great segue, because I want to talk about the
council because last time that we spoke, which was quite
a while ago, you said that you weren't interested in
putting anyone from the government into to intervene wed it.
We've now got an observer.
Speaker 3 (12:39):
Yeah, we put an observer in.
Speaker 2 (12:41):
Yeah, we've got issues in our council, haven't we. Yeah?
Speaker 3 (12:44):
But I mean I just put it to you. You know,
in local government, that's for local people to determine who
they want representing them.
Speaker 2 (12:50):
So there should be no government involvement in it all.
Speaker 3 (12:53):
No, No, we've put a Crown observer in because we've
been concerned about a few things. We didn't put the crowd.
You were asking me the question last time about crowd management.
That's a different step again. But the Crown observer is
the first step. But the issue here is that, you know,
you've also got a population that doesn't always vote in
local body elections. You know, if you've only got thirty
five to forty percent voter turnout and sixty percent of
(13:13):
people aren't voting, they are unconsciously choosing, rightly or wrongly,
that this is the bunch of people they want representing
them in local government. So my message is to put
some responsibility on individuals to say you get you know,
you've got to shape what you want and you've got
to have candidates and the other actually want to solve
problems and do public service and focus on the people
of Wellington, not not on themselves.
Speaker 2 (13:33):
Do you feel the observers done made any difference whatsoever?
Do you think it's done anything for us?
Speaker 3 (13:37):
Well, I think it's you know, given us some you know,
we need to make sure that we've got a council
that is, you know, financially literate making good investment decisions.
But again you know, we have local government for a reason,
and it is for local communities, and we believe in
devolution and we believe in localism and it's up for
them to step up to the plate and deliver for
the region rates.
Speaker 2 (13:57):
In the city. And I've heard you talk several times
about the rates around the country. Rates are a major
issue here. We have people that cannot afford to live
in their been done on, worked all their lives, got
a freehold home in Kindala or wade Stout, cannot afford
to live in their homes. They're selling and moving to
the smallert cities because they can't afford the rates.
Speaker 3 (14:16):
Yeah, but here's a good example, right look at the
compare and contrast of Auckland and Wellington. Auckland was proposing
something like a twenty four to twenty five percent rate rice.
It basically separated its water care assets into a council
controlled entity and there was a number of options and
they chose one which we were very supportive of. That
all of a sudden freed up eight hundred million dollars
worth of capital for being investment and other infrastructure, and
(14:38):
the council loaded its rates increased to six and a
half percent or something. So you know, again look at
Wellington Water, you know, a total basket case right in
terms of not managed, not structured in the right way,
not set up as a council controlled organization. We haven't
had the Wellington district councils come forward with a regional
city deal at this point, you.
Speaker 2 (14:56):
Know, although they have voted for it, haven't they have.
Speaker 3 (14:58):
Lovely But you know, so there's lots of other Yeah,
we've got lots of other district councils collaborating well with
really well developed strategies that are coming to the government
thoughts and ideas, and we'll pick up and work with
the first, first and best stressed. And so you know,
it's in their hands to choose how they want it
to be. And if you just want to make everything
ideological and party political rather than actually in local government,
(15:19):
I think your job is not that. I think your
job is actually do the basics, brilliantly, collect the rubbish,
fix the pipes, make sure it's got good amenities and
make sure you're solving problems for you.
Speaker 2 (15:30):
Can I ask you your thoughts on party politics and council.
Speaker 3 (15:33):
Yeah, well, I mean we don't run national party, Folken
and local government. As you know, I think those are
decisions for local people to make. We have a local
government set up. We have sixteen hundred plus i think
elected officials across this country and a lot of district
councils and regional councils on top, and then we have
central government as well. Ultimately, you know, that's for local
people to make those decisions as to who's representing them.
(15:55):
You know, Wellington's got lots of smart people in it,
It's got amazing businesses, it's got a really great proposition
that's there and it can have a great future. But
they've got to choose to happen to their future, not
have it happen to them.
Speaker 2 (16:06):
What are your thoughts on Andrew Little running for mere Well.
Speaker 3 (16:08):
I don't I don't pass comment on anyone who's standing
for mayoral candidates because I don't think you need a
prime minister endorsing candidates or not. I think that's really
a decision for local people. But again I just say
you need to, you know, need to focus on the
basics and not the do the must do as well,
not the nice to do stuff at the moment, get
the get the house in order, financially and stop the
(16:29):
party political ideological stuff.
Speaker 2 (16:31):
Can the government do anything to prevent the current council
and the current mayor for signing off huge, big contracts.
I mean, you would know that the Golden Mile is
contentious as hell here in Wellington. Is there anything that
we can do to say, hey, you've got an election
in six months, please don't sign one hundred million dollar
contracts now and leave it to the next council because
(16:51):
you've spent a bit of the show already talking about
you what you inherited.
Speaker 3 (16:56):
Yeah, look, I mean you know the pathway for central
governments because we're there to look after New Zealand inc.
And New Zealand is a central government. You know, as
I kept saying, we elect local government, you've got to
hold the local government politicians to account for actually saying
what are you doing given all the innate, brilliantness that's
in Wellington? And how do you get it realized? That's
up to them to deliver that. You know, we can
(17:17):
put a Crown observe. What are the options for me
in central government? Crown Crown observer, crowd manager, statutory management
right or commissioner?
Speaker 2 (17:25):
Does it concern you? I mean that's I mean, I
know what you're saying. I'm not going to argue with you,
but I'm just saying, does it concern you that that
could happen?
Speaker 3 (17:34):
Well Well, I mean, we will do what we need
to do if we seek utter dysfunction in the place.
But I guess, but I just put it back. I
actually want people taking some responsibility in Wellington for what
you've got happening here in Wellington. It's our big it's
a big city. It's an important city to New Zealand.
I lived here. I love this place. It's got so
much potential. But you know, other cities are moving forward
(17:55):
and things are happening, and and said, the focus is internal,
it's my opic. It's on themselves rather than on the
people of Wellington. And I can tell you I met
people of Wellington every day every week. I came from
a brick this morning. And business people, you know, they've
got ambition and aspiration and positivity and can do and
they want to get the joint on the road as well.
So whoever is the next mayor needs to have a
(18:16):
vision of where that's going to. They need to get
the finances under control, they need to think and be
very financially literate because there's lots of different ways you
could structure it and to get growth back into the place.
And it's got a great future. But that's for the
people of Wellington to step up to the plate and
actually show up at an election, vote, find good candidates, get
good people into those jobs, and deliver for the city.
Speaker 2 (18:38):
Can I finish by asking you about the sad news?
I mean, I don't know whether you've been seeing the
silly thing called play it run it straight? This thing now,
I mean, we just lost a young life, Ryan, nineteen
year old in Palmeston. Have you got any advice to
people that are running these organized so called sport. I
don't want to call it sport, you know, yeah, I
(18:59):
mean I know you know that that would be hurting you. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (19:02):
Look, it's incredibly tragic for for the young person involved,
for their family, for their friends. I mean, it's just
an absolute tragedy. It's a good reminder to people to
take personal responsibility, for individual responsibility, to think about the activity.
But I'd also to say to adults and sports influencers
and celebrity influencers or whatever it is that's sort of
(19:23):
driving this trace, that actually, well, they should be thinking
and reflecting very strongly about it now. But it's not
something you can practically bean at a government level. But
it's just calling for people to exercise individual responsibility, but
also for the adults involved in all of this to
think very deeply about what they're doing.
Speaker 2 (19:41):
Thank you, Thank you for taking good out of your
busy schedule.
Speaker 3 (19:46):
I really appreciate confirmed as you're not running for mayor, beg.
Part of what we've confirmed is you're not running for mayor.
Speaker 2 (19:50):
Well, we would confirmed that a while ago, but you
know you already concerned that I was running for labor.
That was the only thing that concerned you. Less be fair,
you were concerned about me running for me. It was
just that you thought I was right.
Speaker 3 (20:02):
I said it before, But I think Welling's got a
great future. But you know, we've got to get the
show on the road now, and you know you've got
to stay focused on doing the basics well and get
the party political ideological stuff out of it and focus
on common sense solutions for people.
Speaker 2 (20:16):
Do you think we can do it?
Speaker 3 (20:17):
Of course we can. There's so much talent in this city.
There's I've got to be talented people, people want to
step up to the place.
Speaker 2 (20:23):
And actually, you know, we've got three thousand people from
overseas working for WET.
Speaker 3 (20:27):
It's all I mean, honestly, it's amazing. Like I was
with Sir Richard Taylor recently, he's got his unleashed experience
up in Auckland, and you know, it's just a phenomenal organization, right.
I mean, we've just gone and back the film industry
with a massive subsidy. You know, I think five hundred
and seventy seven million dollars from memory and you know
that's awesome. But think about all the ancillary businesses that
(20:47):
can come off the back of that sort of investment
and what Wellington was doing can do. It's pretty exciting.
So look, you know, we get the future we deserve, right,
and we deserve the best. So let's go for it.
Speaker 2 (20:58):
Appreciate it, Appreciate your time, right, Honorable Prime Minister Crystal
A Luxan joining us on Wellington Mornings.
Speaker 1 (21:05):
For more from Wellington Mornings with Nick Mills. Listen live
to news talks It'd be Wellington from nine am weekdays,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Wellington Mornings podcast with Nick Mills
from News Talk said, B.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
That's a little bit of home from Kayleie Bell, right,
Honorable Prime Minister Christopher Luxe.
Speaker 3 (00:30):
So you're popping along to that? You quite like that?
Speaker 2 (00:32):
I did like that.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
Yeah, that's New Zealand country music. Kayleie Bell. She's big
in Australia, beg in the US, probably not that well
known in New Zealand. But all from timoron from memory.
So amazing young woman.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
Ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to DJ Christopher Luxeon.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
Good to be with you, Nick. It's great to be
with you.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
Lovely to have you here. Let's talk about the timing
of this because this is about the halfway point. Well
it is a halfway point because you're swapping deputy shortly
this week, so halfway point. I really want to ask
you how you do it? How are you feeling? Are
you okay? Are you enjoying it? Oh?
Speaker 3 (01:05):
Absolutely love the job. You know personally, at a personal level,
it's a huge responsibility, but it's hugely rewarding as well.
You get to see amazing New Zealanders each and every
day doing incredible things. Tremendous privilege to do the job.
It's been a very tough type, no doubt about it.
I was with economists this morning, and you know, we're
looking at the numbers and it's been essentially like the
recession of the early mid nineties, and we inherit a
(01:28):
hell of a mess and we're having to fix it
up and sort it out. And that just means you've
got to think deeply about the problem that you've encountered
or you've inherited, and then what's the common sense solution
to sort of work your way through it.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
So, no, it's the family. How the family react. Still
fish and chips on a Friday, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (01:44):
Yeah, I mean, still date night on Saturday night, we're
off to We went to see Mission Impossible, Amanda and
I and at the Westfield, So that was great. But no, look,
I mean, honestly, from a family life point of view,
I mean, I've done a lot of extreme jobs in
my past, and Amanda had her career as well, and
so and we're overseas and so we're very tight folsome
and to be honest, for us, in terms of our
(02:04):
internal family dynamic, nothing's really change that much. And I
really want a mander and the kids to be able
to carry on their life without it being defined too
much by what I do. But having said that, they're
happy to get engaged when they need to as well.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
An honest answer here, and I'll be able to tell
by body language if it's not. If you had your
time again, would you have done it? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (02:21):
Absolutely, no question, Oh, no question at all, Yeah, no
question whatsoever.
Speaker 2 (02:25):
I can tell listeners that he was very determined when
he said that.
Speaker 3 (02:28):
Yeah, I was quite unfortunate because you know, obviously, you know,
John Key was a good, good mate and I saw
him do the job up close. I also cheered just
into his business advisory counselors or her do the job
up close for a period of time as well. So yeah,
I kind of knew what I was getting into. And
it's been everything. You know. It's the hard stuff comes
to your desk, right, I mean, if it's easy, it
(02:49):
gets solved somewhere else in the system. But do you
deal tough decisions?
Speaker 2 (02:52):
Do you feel that you're spending too much time? And
a CEO, I'm talking to you as CEO to CEO,
Are you spending too much time appeasing the coalition partners?
Are you. Is it stopping you from being yourself and going.
Speaker 3 (03:05):
No, I mean coming I said from day one. Look,
we're doing something that's never been done before in New
Zealand politics. We've got a three party coalition government. It's
not unusual. I mean, go look at Western Europe that
has an MMP system. You see often four or five
even up to ten party.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
My question is would you be actually more effective if
you could just run it yourself and just.
Speaker 3 (03:26):
Go, oh, well, I'm sure, I'm sure, But that's not
the system that we have. And the New Zealand public,
rightly or wrongly, have chosen MMP as the system that
they want us to deal with. And so, you know,
they vote on an election day. We talk about driving
party votes, you know, because that gives you more stronger
and stable government. But ultimately then they give us a
result on election nine and it's up to us to
find a way to make it work. And so and
(03:48):
then when you form a coalition government and the same way,
you know, I had to you know, reinvigorate and turn
around the National Party given when I came on board
it was at our low point and we've had to
form a team. We do the same in the coalition
as well. So it doesn't mean we agree on everything,
as you can see from time to time, and that's okay,
you know, that's quite normal and mature m MP environments. Majority.
(04:10):
We you know, we're very aligned on what we're trying
to do.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
Personally, I felt that the relationship between you and Winston's
been great. I've really enjoyed.
Speaker 3 (04:17):
I really, I really enjoy working with him. I really do.
I think, you know, I find him. He's a relational guy,
you know, and he's got experience and wisdom. You know,
we might say things differently, but you know, I've really
enjoyed working with him and I'll continue to do so.
Speaker 2 (04:34):
Now it changes this weeker, yeah, a lot.
Speaker 3 (04:37):
We changed Deputy Prime minister. But you know in New Zealand,
you know that's it's it's going to be pretty seamless.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
Really, I mean, will you be able to control David Seymour?
Will you be? I mean he's going to be a
lot different to Winston Peters.
Speaker 3 (04:50):
Well, well, I mean they're different people in different personalities
and they you know, they operate in different ways. And
you know, my job is to make it work and
so that's what I do. I do that, as I said,
within the National Party, I do it with the Coalition.
But I just say to you, look, you know what
is the deput promise role. It's there to the acting
Prime Minister when I'm incapacitated out of the country, right
And you know we've had moments when both Winston and
(05:12):
I have been out. David's been done a great job,
so you know, I think it'd be a pretty seamless drend.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
We have seen it with Winston though he has taken
on a very senior leadership role within your coalition, hasn't he.
I mean, and very effectively internationally and nationally.
Speaker 3 (05:27):
I think you know you're seeing a big step up
in our foreign affairs activity. You know, Winston's a key
part of that, so is you know, Todd McLay, Frankly
on trade, Judith on defense, and myself, you know, building
those leaders to leader connections at the top to top
level as well. So you know, the four of us
work together very very well as a team. We meet
regularly and we've deliberately tried to lift the intensity and
(05:47):
the agency of those relationships for sure.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
Oh yeah, before I'm going to get into Wellington stuff,
because you're in a Wellington Show and it's great to
have you here, and so I want to talk about
Wellington issues. But oh yeah, today twenty five points or
fifty points Christian hawksby what a great name for it for?
Is it a great movie star? David? I mean, is
he going to be bold? Do you reckon you might go?
I mean you already know. You don't try to tell
(06:09):
me you do.
Speaker 3 (06:10):
No, no, no, we have an independent reserve bank, so
as you know the.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
Day, you don't know.
Speaker 3 (06:15):
I have my reckons, as I reckon what he will
do like everyone else in the country. But I don't
officially know. No, I don't know. I don't know. I
don't find out until two o'clock. So but you know,
I just think you've seen commentators say, you know, they're
expecting a further cut, which I think would be you know,
which you'll see.
Speaker 2 (06:28):
But do you think he's bold enough to go fifty?
Speaker 3 (06:31):
Well, I mean, everyone have their reckons, and I'm not
going to get into that game, and it's not appropriate
that I do give them the position I hold. But
I just say to you what's important here and is
that you've got to have monetary policy working with fiscal policy.
And that was the problem that we had out of
the previous administration. Both were printing cash and spending money
like nothing, and then they applied the banks at the
(06:52):
Reserve Bank and took the interest rates up. I meanwhile,
you still had the money, you know, and deficits being
incurred through the Labor government's fiscal policy. We've now got
those two things together and that's what you want to see, actually,
the monetary and fiscal policy working together to deal with
the impacts that we've had to deal with.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
With respect. You will, I mean you must. I've got
to go to an am break, but you will be disappointed.
But doesn't go twenty five.
Speaker 3 (07:13):
I think all commentators are expecting a further cut, as
you'd recently expected.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
Her right Honorable Prime Minister Christopher Luxan in the studio,
I want extent on Wellington. Yeah, don't look at me
like that.
Speaker 3 (07:24):
Well, I just want to confirm are you running for
me or not?
Speaker 2 (07:26):
No, I'm not running for me. Don't look at me
like why are you looking at me like that? When
I say I'm going to ask you questions about Wellington
because you know I'm a Wellington businessman and up under
the table starving at hard need a meal and you
didn't even bring a cup sandwich with you. It's tough.
It's tough here on Wellington. The economy's slow. We're grinding,
we're trying, we're trying to be population. We've got to
(07:47):
trying to get the population going. We've got a stagnant population,
public service cuts. I mean, we're doing it tough.
Speaker 3 (07:53):
Yeah, look, I mean I think well officially, i'd say,
because yeah, I lived here in the what early mid nineties,
you know, I came out of university, you meant, and
I moved here newly married, and what a great city
it was, you know, like it was absolutely brilliant. I mean,
it was pumping. There was lots of smart young people here,
There was people being highly innovative, lots of culture going on,
and it was a different city from anything else that
(08:15):
was possible in New Zealand. Right, it really had its
mojo going. And we want to see it coming back, right,
We want to see that. And I think you know
the reality is that you know, you've you've you know,
you've got a charter course of actually what do you
want to Wellington? And we want to see it growing.
We want to see it doing incredibly well. We've got
amazing Do we.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
Need the public service numbers up to mactually make Wellington
grow it? Because I mean, that's that's where we're hurting,
isn't it.
Speaker 3 (08:37):
Well No, I disagree. I think you've I think you've
lost your way. If I'm really honest, I think you
know you've got way too much ideology and party politics
and your local government. I think you need to focus
on actually common sense solutions to problems that people are
experiencing in the region, take responsibility for it and sort
it out for people. That's really what I think the
job of all politicians, central, all local government's about is
just solving problems and making sure you set things up
(09:00):
for a better future.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
But we have suffered under the fallout, haven't we?
Speaker 3 (09:04):
And as more to come, well, there's there's been, you know,
but Wellington should be more than just a public service town.
Speaker 2 (09:10):
The capital city, aren't we? Sure?
Speaker 3 (09:12):
But you also but we also had you know, we've
got We've just gone and invested five hundred and something
million dollars in film rebates in this country. And you know,
when you think about the glory days of you know,
Wetter and you think about the amazing businesses like Sheersa's
and Zero's and you know, I was out on the
hut recent. I think amazing manufacturing businesses that are out there.
You know, there's ambition and aspiration in Wellington and it's
(09:34):
got to be unlocked and actually, you know, put moving forward.
But you've also got to have a council that does
the basics well, like I mean, manage the water. Get
you know, you don't need to labor a Green Party
policy to work out how the bins are going out
or being collected. You know, that's pretty basic stuff.
Speaker 2 (09:46):
So I do want to get to our council because
I do want to get your thoughts on what we
can do better with that. But the O Techy Expressway,
there's been a lot of disappointment over the last few days.
I don't know whether you picked up on it or not.
You've cut the budget and put a roundabout instead of
they over and you've gone from four lanes to two laness.
Lots of business people out there that felt the that
was really needed. We as a region felt that it
(10:09):
was really needed. But it's a cost cutting exercise, isn't it.
Speaker 3 (10:12):
Well no, it's about well first and almost we're doing it,
you know, the last lot talked a lot but didn't
do much at all, frankly, or it didn't had a
lot of phantom projects with you know, bumpstickers and post
it notes, but nothing actually happening. So we're doing it.
It's quite right that we look at it to make
sure that we're getting maximum value for money out of it.
But also it's something that's out for consultation now and
(10:33):
we'll hear the news of the community and what they
think about all of that. So you know, there's no no, no,
but it's quite right that the that the nz TA
look at it and make sure that we're getting good
value for money for you know, and is it going
to meet the purpose? And so let's get that process
run through and see we get.
Speaker 2 (10:48):
To So as Prime Minister, when you you spend a
lot of time in Wellington, let's be fair. So you're
still you know, still sleeping the nights here, you're still
wandering the streets. What's going wrong? What do you think
is wrong with Wellington? Well?
Speaker 3 (11:01):
Look, I mean, you know you got crush It that's
made a big play for the supercars, you know, and
you know, which has been great. You've got Auckland making
a big play for sale GP. What's Wellington doing? You know,
like I mean, you know, there's this is an awesome city.
You know, it was a great city and it can
be and it should be. We want it to be firing,
pumping and doing well. It's it's more than just a
(11:21):
public service town. It's more than just the capital city.
It's got real strings to its bow in terms of
technology and creative industries and all those sorts of things.
That's what we should be doing. But I remember actually
being here. I think you remember the supercars used to
be here in Wellington at one point. You know, there's
probably too many Jutta bar seven stuff going on. Severs
was amazing, right, that was incredible, you know, it was
(11:42):
an incredible tournament.
Speaker 2 (11:43):
So now we're left with well yeah, but but but but.
Speaker 3 (11:46):
I mean, what what is Wellington doing to attract events here?
What are they doing to attract businesses here? You know,
the other day across Molesworth Street to go up to
the supermarket and you know, literally half of Molesworth Streets
being turned into a bike lane. A lot of businesses
you can't park outside of now because we've got a
whole bunch of Pilava in the middle of the city.
So honestly, you got to ask the question, what are
(12:07):
we doing to attract businesses here? What are you doing
to attract events here? What is the version vision for
where the city can go? And it's got an exciting future,
but you've got to plant. And if you're all in
the myopia of the squabbles internally and nothing's actually happening,
well life moves on and people have got choices as
to where they put their businesses, they've got choices as
to where they see in their events. We want Wellington
in the mix.
Speaker 2 (12:27):
Okay, great segue, because I want to talk about the
council because last time that we spoke, which was quite
a while ago, you said that you weren't interested in
putting anyone from the government into to intervene wed it.
We've now got an observer.
Speaker 3 (12:39):
Yeah, we put an observer in.
Speaker 2 (12:41):
Yeah, we've got issues in our council, haven't we. Yeah?
Speaker 3 (12:44):
But I mean I just put it to you. You know,
in local government, that's for local people to determine who
they want representing them.
Speaker 2 (12:50):
So there should be no government involvement in it all.
Speaker 3 (12:53):
No, No, we've put a Crown observer in because we've
been concerned about a few things. We didn't put the crowd.
You were asking me the question last time about crowd management.
That's a different step again. But the Crown observer is
the first step. But the issue here is that, you know,
you've also got a population that doesn't always vote in
local body elections. You know, if you've only got thirty
five to forty percent voter turnout and sixty percent of
(13:13):
people aren't voting, they are unconsciously choosing, rightly or wrongly,
that this is the bunch of people they want representing
them in local government. So my message is to put
some responsibility on individuals to say you get you know,
you've got to shape what you want and you've got
to have candidates and the other actually want to solve
problems and do public service and focus on the people
of Wellington, not not on themselves.
Speaker 2 (13:33):
Do you feel the observers done made any difference whatsoever?
Do you think it's done anything for us?
Speaker 3 (13:37):
Well, I think it's you know, given us some you know,
we need to make sure that we've got a council
that is, you know, financially literate making good investment decisions.
But again you know, we have local government for a reason,
and it is for local communities, and we believe in
devolution and we believe in localism and it's up for
them to step up to the plate and deliver for
the region rates.
Speaker 2 (13:57):
In the city. And I've heard you talk several times
about the rates around the country. Rates are a major
issue here. We have people that cannot afford to live
in their been done on, worked all their lives, got
a freehold home in Kindala or wade Stout, cannot afford
to live in their homes. They're selling and moving to
the smallert cities because they can't afford the rates.
Speaker 3 (14:16):
Yeah, but here's a good example, right look at the
compare and contrast of Auckland and Wellington. Auckland was proposing
something like a twenty four to twenty five percent rate rice.
It basically separated its water care assets into a council
controlled entity and there was a number of options and
they chose one which we were very supportive of. That
all of a sudden freed up eight hundred million dollars
worth of capital for being investment and other infrastructure, and
(14:38):
the council loaded its rates increased to six and a
half percent or something. So you know, again look at
Wellington Water, you know, a total basket case right in
terms of not managed, not structured in the right way,
not set up as a council controlled organization. We haven't
had the Wellington district councils come forward with a regional
city deal at this point, you.
Speaker 2 (14:56):
Know, although they have voted for it, haven't they have.
Speaker 3 (14:58):
Lovely But you know, so there's lots of other Yeah,
we've got lots of other district councils collaborating well with
really well developed strategies that are coming to the government
thoughts and ideas, and we'll pick up and work with
the first, first and best stressed. And so you know,
it's in their hands to choose how they want it
to be. And if you just want to make everything
ideological and party political rather than actually in local government,
(15:19):
I think your job is not that. I think your
job is actually do the basics, brilliantly, collect the rubbish,
fix the pipes, make sure it's got good amenities and
make sure you're solving problems for you.
Speaker 2 (15:30):
Can I ask you your thoughts on party politics and council.
Speaker 3 (15:33):
Yeah, well, I mean we don't run national party, Folken
and local government. As you know, I think those are
decisions for local people to make. We have a local
government set up. We have sixteen hundred plus i think
elected officials across this country and a lot of district
councils and regional councils on top, and then we have
central government as well. Ultimately, you know, that's for local
people to make those decisions as to who's representing them.
(15:55):
You know, Wellington's got lots of smart people in it,
It's got amazing businesses, it's got a really great proposition
that's there and it can have a great future. But
they've got to choose to happen to their future, not
have it happen to them.
Speaker 2 (16:06):
What are your thoughts on Andrew Little running for mere Well.
Speaker 3 (16:08):
I don't I don't pass comment on anyone who's standing
for mayoral candidates because I don't think you need a
prime minister endorsing candidates or not. I think that's really
a decision for local people. But again I just say
you need to, you know, need to focus on the
basics and not the do the must do as well,
not the nice to do stuff at the moment, get
the get the house in order, financially and stop the
(16:29):
party political ideological stuff.
Speaker 2 (16:31):
Can the government do anything to prevent the current council
and the current mayor for signing off huge, big contracts.
I mean, you would know that the Golden Mile is
contentious as hell here in Wellington. Is there anything that
we can do to say, hey, you've got an election
in six months, please don't sign one hundred million dollar
contracts now and leave it to the next council because
(16:51):
you've spent a bit of the show already talking about
you what you inherited.
Speaker 3 (16:56):
Yeah, look, I mean you know the pathway for central
governments because we're there to look after New Zealand inc.
And New Zealand is a central government. You know, as
I kept saying, we elect local government, you've got to
hold the local government politicians to account for actually saying
what are you doing given all the innate, brilliantness that's
in Wellington? And how do you get it realized? That's
up to them to deliver that. You know, we can
(17:17):
put a Crown observe. What are the options for me
in central government? Crown Crown observer, crowd manager, statutory management
right or commissioner?
Speaker 2 (17:25):
Does it concern you? I mean that's I mean, I
know what you're saying. I'm not going to argue with you,
but I'm just saying, does it concern you that that
could happen?
Speaker 3 (17:34):
Well Well, I mean, we will do what we need
to do if we seek utter dysfunction in the place.
But I guess, but I just put it back. I
actually want people taking some responsibility in Wellington for what
you've got happening here in Wellington. It's our big it's
a big city. It's an important city to New Zealand.
I lived here. I love this place. It's got so
much potential. But you know, other cities are moving forward
(17:55):
and things are happening, and and said, the focus is internal,
it's my opic. It's on themselves rather than on the
people of Wellington. And I can tell you I met
people of Wellington every day every week. I came from
a brick this morning. And business people, you know, they've
got ambition and aspiration and positivity and can do and
they want to get the joint on the road as well.
So whoever is the next mayor needs to have a
(18:16):
vision of where that's going to. They need to get
the finances under control, they need to think and be
very financially literate because there's lots of different ways you
could structure it and to get growth back into the place.
And it's got a great future. But that's for the
people of Wellington to step up to the plate and
actually show up at an election, vote, find good candidates, get
good people into those jobs, and deliver for the city.
Speaker 2 (18:38):
Can I finish by asking you about the sad news?
I mean, I don't know whether you've been seeing the
silly thing called play it run it straight? This thing now,
I mean, we just lost a young life, Ryan, nineteen
year old in Palmeston. Have you got any advice to
people that are running these organized so called sport. I
don't want to call it sport, you know, yeah, I
(18:59):
mean I know you know that that would be hurting you. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (19:02):
Look, it's incredibly tragic for for the young person involved,
for their family, for their friends. I mean, it's just
an absolute tragedy. It's a good reminder to people to
take personal responsibility, for individual responsibility, to think about the activity.
But I'd also to say to adults and sports influencers
and celebrity influencers or whatever it is that's sort of
(19:23):
driving this trace, that actually, well, they should be thinking
and reflecting very strongly about it now. But it's not
something you can practically bean at a government level. But
it's just calling for people to exercise individual responsibility, but
also for the adults involved in all of this to
think very deeply about what they're doing.
Speaker 2 (19:41):
Thank you, Thank you for taking good out of your
busy schedule.
Speaker 3 (19:46):
I really appreciate confirmed as you're not running for mayor, beg.
Part of what we've confirmed is you're not running for mayor.
Speaker 2 (19:50):
Well, we would confirmed that a while ago, but you
know you already concerned that I was running for labor.
That was the only thing that concerned you. Less be fair,
you were concerned about me running for me. It was
just that you thought I was right.
Speaker 3 (20:02):
I said it before, But I think Welling's got a
great future. But you know, we've got to get the
show on the road now, and you know you've got
to stay focused on doing the basics well and get
the party political ideological stuff out of it and focus
on common sense solutions for people.
Speaker 2 (20:16):
Do you think we can do it?
Speaker 3 (20:17):
Of course we can. There's so much talent in this city.
There's I've got to be talented people, people want to
step up to the place.
Speaker 2 (20:23):
And actually, you know, we've got three thousand people from
overseas working for WET.
Speaker 3 (20:27):
It's all I mean, honestly, it's amazing. Like I was
with Sir Richard Taylor recently, he's got his unleashed experience
up in Auckland, and you know, it's just a phenomenal organization, right.
I mean, we've just gone and back the film industry
with a massive subsidy. You know, I think five hundred
and seventy seven million dollars from memory and you know
that's awesome. But think about all the ancillary businesses that
(20:47):
can come off the back of that sort of investment
and what Wellington was doing can do. It's pretty exciting.
So look, you know, we get the future we deserve, right,
and we deserve the best. So let's go for it.
Speaker 2 (20:58):
Appreciate it, Appreciate your time, right, Honorable Prime Minister Crystal
A Luxan joining us on Wellington Mornings.
Speaker 1 (21:05):
For more from Wellington Mornings with Nick Mills. Listen live
to news talks It'd be Wellington from nine am weekdays,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
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