Luxon draws crowd in New Plymouth

NEW Plymouth: Leader Christopher Luxon hastily added a second session to National’s Get New Zealand Back on Track roadshow in New Plymouth yesterday as party faithful spilled out into the carpark of the Plymouth Hotel.

Hundreds of largely Pa¯keha¯ aged 60plus turned out to hear the National Party leader outline his vision for the country’s future.

In an hourlong address, Mr Luxon revisited some nowfamiliar touchstones — government spending and centralisation, the cost of living crisis, the housing shortage and education. But getting tough on crime got the biggest reaction.

‘‘We’ve got to restore law and order and personal accountability in this country, right? Because we have lost the plot big time,’’ Mr Luxon said to rousing applause.

And then it was over to audience questions.

Reece had gender issues on his mind.

‘‘It’s about the agenda that’s being pushed and certainly the sexualisation of some of the curriculum, also the pushing of puberty blockers. You’re a Christian man. You should be able to speak to that.’’

And Mr Luxon did.

‘‘So, the first thing I’d say on the education side is that issues of sexuality and stuff are I think issues for parents to talk about and their families to talk about.

‘‘We want the teachers’ focus 100% on, as I said, the basics of maths, reading and science.’’

Merv championed a return to offshore oil and gas exploration and found a friend in Mr Luxon who also pointed out that National shared the Government’s desire to move towards a carbon neutral economy.

One woman’s gripe was about children having to learn te reo.

The response: ‘‘So first and foremost you’ve got to recognise the average age of New Zealanders is 38 and most of us actually came through learning a bit of te reo or a little bit with the national anthem or other things.’’ Cue groaning and cries of ‘‘no’’. Mr Luxon persisted.

‘‘All I’m saying is that is the reality of New Zealand where people are at, but I appreciate many people in this room haven’t learned te reo.

‘‘But I personally I’m trying to learn because I actually want to learn and that should be up to me as a free choice.’’ — RNZ