The Prime Minister concedes he could have used better words to describe past business delegations.
Before setting off to Japan, Chris Luxon told Newstalk ZB the calibre of contingents had been lacking in recent years describing them as watered down to the 'C-list'.
ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says it was a mistake for Luxon to insult his own voting base ahead of his own business delegation.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Barry, so seeing your political correspondence with us. Now, hey Barry,
good afternoon, Heather. What do you make of Chris Luxe?
And see list of comments.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
I'll tell you what now he'll be wishing he never
made them, because look, this is to me an example
of an apprentice prime minister. You don't look at former
trade missions and say that you know they are ce
list because you're insulting the people went on them, and
(00:28):
you may be praising the one he's got with them
at the.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
Moment, you're insulting your own voters at.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Well, indeed you are. And look, I've got to say
that he was in a tight spot and he had
to justify what he thinks are good trades people. But look,
I went on many trade missions over the years that
I was working out of Parliament, went on all of
Jacinda Durn's trade missions, and I used to sit in
(00:53):
the seat look as scarce at the people that were
on them, thinking what are you doing here? What they
would doing there? And what some on his trip will
be no doubt doing there as well, is that they
get on a plane with the Prime Minister and are
able to get his ear and socialize with him and
I've got to say, looking at Jasinda Durn's trade missions,
(01:16):
there were many in that category signing very little business.
This one, you've got to say to Japan has signed
significant business, but it's been overshadowed by a broken down
plane and his se list to comments. So he'll be
reflecting on that now as they board the plane to
(01:36):
come home tonight. Before he left, though, he's meeting with
the Japanese Prime Minister. I think as we speak, but
Luxon now conceides he could have expressed himself in a
better way.
Speaker 3 (01:46):
I could maybe could have expressed it in a different,
little better way. But what I'm saying to you very
clearly is that when we come to these delegations, I
am putting huge effort into it to make sure that
I've got the business delegation right, We've got the media
delegation right, and we've actually got the political delegation and
the political engagement right. I'm really proud of actually what
we delivered in Southeast Asia on that trip. I'm very
proud of what we've delivered in this engagement with Japan,
(02:09):
which is an important relationship. And so when I look
at this delegation that we have been able to form.
We have New Zealand's leading cheers and CEOs here. We
have a huge number of them, the biggest number that
we've ever brought to Japan before. And we actually are
getting the business done exactly as I wanted us to
be able to do.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
There was no questions please. That was from a former
press secretary of John Keyes. No more questions. But look,
you know he was in the tight spot. And I've
got to say much of that stand up from journalists
were more worried about one in particular about not being
able to ask questions of the Chinese premiere when he
(02:47):
was here last week. Now, this was put to Laxon
in Japan, for goodness sake, Does that come up now? Well,
because apparently she was pushed to one side by officials.
Speaker 1 (02:57):
Well the one in Australia.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
Yeah, no, no, this is traveling with John Key on
this particular trade mission. I was sorry John Key, Chris
Laxon because she had been pushed around. He said, laya complain.
I'm totally unaware of that. Of course he would be
as well. But the media rather than worrying about themselves,
and he said he's got the right mix of the media. Well,
(03:19):
in the end, it's the media that want to go
on them, and he accepts whoever comes up, but for
them to complain about it. Every time I was told
we weren't allowed to ask a question of a visiting dignitary,
of course you'd hear the raspy voice from behind yelling
out a question.
Speaker 1 (03:36):
You just disobey the rules.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
Of course you disobey the rules. It's a press conference.
And I remember one asking him, this is why he's,
no doubt called sleepy Joe. When Joe Biden was here
the final final question of the press conference and we
were told we weren't allowed to ask questions of the
Vice President of the United States, I yelled out a
question and Joe Biden walked down from the pody came
(04:00):
up and said I can't hear what did you say?
And there microphone, microphone was back up on the podium.
Speaker 1 (04:07):
That breaking the rules.
Speaker 4 (04:08):
That's why I just Sinda famously talks about how much
she loved you when when she was the prime minister.
What do we do about the MPs right, because there
is this call to allow the security guards at Parliament
to arrest and so on.
Speaker 2 (04:21):
Well, there's not a great problem at Parliament. Let's face it.
You know there's been the odd breach of security there,
but not a lot. I mean it used to be
we used to call them Dad's Army, the security at Parliament.
Now they're much younger and they're probably much fitter. But
it's not over to the Speaker to say you can
(04:41):
now have the ability to arrest and detain people. That's
got to be through an Act of Parliament and the
police are the only people. Or I guess you can
do a citizen's arrest. Give it a go, see how
you get on. But no, I don't think that'll happen.
But I think you know, the biggest risk we saw
at Parliament. May remember it in twenty and seventeen mid
(05:03):
twenty and seventeen a cop left a loaded gun on
a bathroom at Parliament. He kept his job and no
charges were late following an investigation. So that would have
been a danger. But that is the police. So Jerry
wants the DPS, which is there to look after the
Prime Minister and ministers that feel they need it. The
(05:23):
biggest problem, I guess is out in the electorates. But
I heard Jenny Anderson on Mike Hoskins this morning, saying
that they have these little buttons they can carry around.
One press of the button and the cops are alerted. Well,
it seems.
Speaker 1 (05:38):
Pretty good to me, but Barry, to be fair, somebody
comes in with a weapon, you have to press the
button and wait for the cops. That's a while.
Speaker 2 (05:44):
Well, yeah, I guess it is. But I suppose you know,
you go, well, it hasn't happened, and I guess they're vulnerable,
But then aren't we all vulnerable.
Speaker 4 (05:55):
And all classick key we attitude right there, right.
Speaker 1 (06:00):
Appreciate it very so for seeing your political correspondence.
Speaker 4 (06:03):
For more from Hither Duplessy Alan Drive, listen live to
news Talks it'd be from four pm weekdays, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
Barry, so seeing your political correspondence with us. Now, hey Barry,
good afternoon, Heather. What do you make of Chris Luxe?
And see list of comments.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
I'll tell you what now he'll be wishing he never
made them, because look, this is to me an example
of an apprentice prime minister. You don't look at former
trade missions and say that you know they are ce
list because you're insulting the people went on them, and
(00:28):
you may be praising the one he's got with them
at the.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
Moment, you're insulting your own voters at.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Well, indeed you are. And look, I've got to say
that he was in a tight spot and he had
to justify what he thinks are good trades people. But look,
I went on many trade missions over the years that
I was working out of Parliament, went on all of
Jacinda Durn's trade missions, and I used to sit in
(00:53):
the seat look as scarce at the people that were
on them, thinking what are you doing here? What they
would doing there? And what some on his trip will
be no doubt doing there as well, is that they
get on a plane with the Prime Minister and are
able to get his ear and socialize with him and
I've got to say, looking at Jasinda Durn's trade missions,
(01:16):
there were many in that category signing very little business.
This one, you've got to say to Japan has signed
significant business, but it's been overshadowed by a broken down
plane and his se list to comments. So he'll be
reflecting on that now as they board the plane to
(01:36):
come home tonight. Before he left, though, he's meeting with
the Japanese Prime Minister. I think as we speak, but
Luxon now conceides he could have expressed himself in a
better way.
Speaker 3 (01:46):
I could maybe could have expressed it in a different,
little better way. But what I'm saying to you very
clearly is that when we come to these delegations, I
am putting huge effort into it to make sure that
I've got the business delegation right, We've got the media
delegation right, and we've actually got the political delegation and
the political engagement right. I'm really proud of actually what
we delivered in Southeast Asia on that trip. I'm very
proud of what we've delivered in this engagement with Japan,
(02:09):
which is an important relationship. And so when I look
at this delegation that we have been able to form.
We have New Zealand's leading cheers and CEOs here. We
have a huge number of them, the biggest number that
we've ever brought to Japan before. And we actually are
getting the business done exactly as I wanted us to
be able to do.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
There was no questions please. That was from a former
press secretary of John Keyes. No more questions. But look,
you know he was in the tight spot. And I've
got to say much of that stand up from journalists
were more worried about one in particular about not being
able to ask questions of the Chinese premiere when he
(02:47):
was here last week. Now, this was put to Laxon
in Japan, for goodness sake, Does that come up now? Well,
because apparently she was pushed to one side by officials.
Speaker 1 (02:57):
Well the one in Australia.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
Yeah, no, no, this is traveling with John Key on
this particular trade mission. I was sorry John Key, Chris
Laxon because she had been pushed around. He said, laya complain.
I'm totally unaware of that. Of course he would be
as well. But the media rather than worrying about themselves,
and he said he's got the right mix of the media. Well,
(03:19):
in the end, it's the media that want to go
on them, and he accepts whoever comes up, but for
them to complain about it. Every time I was told
we weren't allowed to ask a question of a visiting dignitary,
of course you'd hear the raspy voice from behind yelling
out a question.
Speaker 1 (03:36):
You just disobey the rules.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
Of course you disobey the rules. It's a press conference.
And I remember one asking him, this is why he's,
no doubt called sleepy Joe. When Joe Biden was here
the final final question of the press conference and we
were told we weren't allowed to ask questions of the
Vice President of the United States, I yelled out a
question and Joe Biden walked down from the pody came
(04:00):
up and said I can't hear what did you say?
And there microphone, microphone was back up on the podium.
Speaker 1 (04:07):
That breaking the rules.
Speaker 4 (04:08):
That's why I just Sinda famously talks about how much
she loved you when when she was the prime minister.
What do we do about the MPs right, because there
is this call to allow the security guards at Parliament
to arrest and so on.
Speaker 2 (04:21):
Well, there's not a great problem at Parliament. Let's face it.
You know there's been the odd breach of security there,
but not a lot. I mean it used to be
we used to call them Dad's Army, the security at Parliament.
Now they're much younger and they're probably much fitter. But
it's not over to the Speaker to say you can
(04:41):
now have the ability to arrest and detain people. That's
got to be through an Act of Parliament and the
police are the only people. Or I guess you can
do a citizen's arrest. Give it a go, see how
you get on. But no, I don't think that'll happen.
But I think you know, the biggest risk we saw
at Parliament. May remember it in twenty and seventeen mid
(05:03):
twenty and seventeen a cop left a loaded gun on
a bathroom at Parliament. He kept his job and no
charges were late following an investigation. So that would have
been a danger. But that is the police. So Jerry
wants the DPS, which is there to look after the
Prime Minister and ministers that feel they need it. The
(05:23):
biggest problem, I guess is out in the electorates. But
I heard Jenny Anderson on Mike Hoskins this morning, saying
that they have these little buttons they can carry around.
One press of the button and the cops are alerted. Well,
it seems.
Speaker 1 (05:38):
Pretty good to me, but Barry, to be fair, somebody
comes in with a weapon, you have to press the
button and wait for the cops. That's a while.
Speaker 2 (05:44):
Well, yeah, I guess it is. But I suppose you know,
you go, well, it hasn't happened, and I guess they're vulnerable,
But then aren't we all vulnerable.
Speaker 4 (05:55):
And all classick key we attitude right there, right.
Speaker 1 (06:00):
Appreciate it very so for seeing your political correspondence.
Speaker 4 (06:03):
For more from Hither Duplessy Alan Drive, listen live to
news Talks it'd be from four pm weekdays, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
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