You’ve been Robbed: Grip and grinning

There's always a surprise or two around every corner in Parliament.

For one group of visitors this week, they got a treat in the form of the Prime Minister of New Zealand. After an official announcement about re-introducing the Three Strikes policy, and a mild grilling from the journalists inside, Christopher Luxon walked out of the Beehive Theatrette and was greeted by a tour group having a look around Parliament.

Luxon is not the type of person to just walk on by with a wave, almost always he will stop and engage with people he sees. Ever the master of the small talk, he made the group feel welcome with his businessman-type energy.

His focus on introducing himself to children makes me chuckle a bit, as the awkward handshakes ensue. With a slightly terrified look on the young lady's face, he proceeded to ask her how the ‘'new’' mobile phone ban in schools was for her, prefacing it as a great idea before letting her answer. Perhaps the prime minister is conducting a personal survey to see if the mobile phone ban is working as intended.

A few days later, the prime minister also was delayed for another announcement as he stopped to greet another tour group, enroute to the theatrette this time.

More children, more handshakes, more surveyance.

The reality of being able to get so up-close and personal with leaders is quite a rare thing for most countries, but it is good to see that, with a bit of luck and being in the right place at the right time, you may bump into one of the decision-makers roaming the halls of power.