Luxon: High living costs major issue
‘‘I really want the National Party to get out of Wellington and engage with people and find out what’s happening.’’
While he admits he’s a ‘‘big extrovert’’, National Party leader Christopher Luxon says his interest in those he meets goes beyond the political playbook of shaking hands and kissing babies.
‘‘We deeply care about people,’’ Luxon said of the party he has led for less than four months.
It was clear during his twoday stop in New Plymouth that most people knew instantly who Luxon was, and he would take the time to greet them and shoot the breeze.
But when it came down to the nitty-gritty, Luxon said the main concern Taranaki people spoke to him about was the increasing cost of living.
‘‘It’s become the number one issue in New Zealand.’’
Luxon said it was also an issue on the minds of younger people too, which meant when coupled with rising housing costs, they could no longer see a pathway to owning a home in New Zealand and were looking to move overseas.
Elected as MP for Botany in 2020, the father-of-two became National’s leader in November 2021 in the wake of a tumultuous time for the party after its abysmal showing at the previous year’s general election, and a series of very public leadership changes.
Taranaki support for National also took a major hit in 2020, with voters backing Labour in droves.
This trend followed with Glen Bennett taking the New Plymouth seat off National’s Jonathan Young, who had the job for 12 years.
Luxon remained tight-lipped about any details of the candidate who will go up against Bennett in 2023, and said announcements about National electorate candidates would likely happen later this year.
Rebuilding party support remained on Luxon’s agenda, as well as getting an understanding of what New Zealanders cared about.
‘‘I really want the National Party to get out of Wellington and engage with people and find out what’s happening.’’
He said the early focus of his leadership was to get the party to ‘‘play as a team’’ and now he wanted it to be not only an effective opposition, but a generator of ideas to help New Zealanders as well as business.
Recent polls have seen
National’s popularity bounce back, but still lag behind Labour.
Luxon had gained ground in the preferred prime minister stakes, but still had some way to go to pass incumbent Jacinda Ardern.
In a recent address, Luxon called New Zealand a ‘‘society divided’’ citing Covid-19 mandates as one of the drivers.
National supported the end of mandates, as well as an ‘‘aggressive’’ reopening of the borders, including an immediate change for Kiwis stuck overseas and wanting to come home, he said.
During a 15-minute sit-down with Stuff on Friday morning, Luxon said addressing education, health and poverty issues were also a top priority.
Luxon’s New Plymouth schedule including meeting with Tui Ora staff, visiting the Ara Ake new national energy office and talking with the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce.
He also pressed the flesh with shoppers at Centre City on Thursday.
National Party leader