Christopher Luxon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Christopher Luxon
MP
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Campaign portrait, 2023
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| 42nd Prime Minister of New Zealand | |
| Assumed office 27 November 2023 |
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| Monarch | Charles III |
| Governor-General | Cindy Kiro |
| Deputy | Winston Peters |
| Preceded by | Chris Hipkins |
| 15th Leader of the National Party | |
| Assumed office 30 November 2021 |
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| Deputy | Nicola Willis |
| Preceded by | Judith Collins |
| 5th Minister for National Security and Intelligence | |
| Assumed office 27 November 2023 |
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| Prime Minister | Himself |
| Preceded by | Chris Hipkins |
| 40th Leader of the Opposition | |
| In office 30 November 2021 – 27 November 2023 |
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| Prime Minister |
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| Deputy | Nicola Willis |
| Preceded by | Judith Collins |
| Succeeded by | Chris Hipkins |
| Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Botany |
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| Assumed office 17 October 2020 |
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| Preceded by | Jami-Lee Ross |
| Majority | 16,337 |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Christopher Mark Luxon
19 July 1970 Christchurch, New Zealand |
| Political party | National |
| Spouse |
Amanda
(m. 1994) |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | University of Canterbury (BCom; MCom) |
| Known for | Former CEO of Air New Zealand, Former employee of Unilever Canada |
| Signature |  |
Christopher Mark Luxon (/ˈlʌksən/; born 19 July 1970) is a New Zealand politician and former business executive who has been serving as the 42nd prime minister of New Zealand since 2023, previously as leader of the Opposition from 2021 to 2023, and as leader of the National Party since 2021. He has been member of Parliament (MP) for Botany since 2020. He was the chief executive officer (CEO) of Air New Zealand from 2012 to 2019.
Luxon was born in Christchurch and grew up in Howick in East Auckland, before studying commerce at the University of Canterbury. He worked for Unilever from 1993 and held senior roles at Unilever Canada in 2008, joining Air New Zealand as group general manager in 2011 and succeeding as CEO the following year. He won the pre-selection for the safe National Party seat of Botany in East Auckland in 2019, and retained the seat for National at the 2020 general election despite a landslide defeat for the party nationally.
Luxon was often touted as a potential National Party leader during the turbulent time for the party politically in the aftermath of the 2017 general election, even before becoming an MP. He won the leadership unopposed on 30 November 2021, a little more than eight months after he gave his maiden speech, after a party crisis caused the removal of previous leader Judith Collins. Becoming the seventh National Party leader in less than five years, Luxon reorientated the party around the COVID-19 recession and the "cost-of-living crisis", criticising Labour for its leadership. With Labour's landslide defeat, he led his party to win 15 seats and a plurality of 48 at the 2023 general election, following polls narrowing and then strongly favouring National from the middle of the year onwards. Despite enjoying a 12-percentage point swing, National returned the second-lowest vote share of any party that has won a plurality under proportional representation.
Luxon was subsequently sworn in as prime minister on 27 November 2023, and leads the Sixth National Government, with the aid of two parties, ACT New Zealand and New Zealand First.
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Early life
Christopher Mark Luxon was born in Christchurch on 19 July 1970, to a Roman Catholic family of Irish, Scottish and English descent. He lived in Christchurch until the age of seven, when his family moved to Howick in Auckland. His father, Graham Luxon, worked for Johnson & Johnson as a sales executive and his mother, Kathleen Luxon (née Turnbull), worked as a psychotherapist and counsellor. After a year at Saint Kentigern College and another year at Howick College, the family returned to Christchurch and Luxon spent three years at Christchurch Boys' High School. While there, he won the prize for senior debating. He subsequently studied at the University of Canterbury from 1989 to 1992, gaining a Master of Commerce (Business Administration) degree. During his high school and university years, Luxon worked part-time at McDonald's and as a porter at the Parkroyal Hotel.
Business career
Luxon worked for Unilever from 1993 to 2011, starting in Wellington as a management trainee for two years, leaving for Sydney in 1995. He worked his way up in Unilever, working in Sydney until 2000, in London from 2000 to 2003, and then Chicago from 2003 to 2008, becoming "Global Deodorants and Grooming Category" Director. In 2008 when Unilever restructured, he became president of the company's Canadian operations, based in Toronto.
He joined Air New Zealand as group general manager in May 2011 and was named the chief executive officer on 19 June 2012, succeeding Rob Fyfe at the end of that year. During his eight-year leadership, Air New Zealand profits grew to record levels and the company was named Australia's most trusted brand several times. He joined the board of the Tourism Industry Association New Zealand in April 2014.
As CEO, he inherited Air New Zealand's financial interest in Virgin Australia and in 2014 joined its board. After reportedly failing to win board support to sack Virgin Australia CEO John Borghetti, Luxon left the Virgin Australia board and sold Air New Zealand's 25.9 per cent shareholding at a loss to Air NZ shareholders, including the government. On 20 June 2019, Luxon announced that he was resigning from Air New Zealand and hinted at a possible career with the National Party.
In February 2021, it was revealed that while Luxon was CEO of Air New Zealand, its contracting business unit Gas Turbines was assisting Royal Saudi Navy vessels, despite their blocking essential supplies like water, food and medical assistance from Yemen. Luxon claimed to "have no recollection of it" and that "it might've post-dated my time" — the latter claim being disputed by his successor Greg Foran. It was met with criticism from Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and the Green Party's human rights spokesperson Golriz Ghahraman. Luxon later said it "was a mistake" that Air New Zealand did not have a process whereby its chief executive would be told about all military contracts.
Early political career
Member of Parliament
After Jami-Lee Ross resigned from National over accusations of fraud against the party, Luxon secured the National Party candidacy for the Botany electorate, which has always been won by National and was regarded as a safe seat for them, in November 2019. He won in a selection contest with National Party list MP Agnes Loheni, Howick Local Board deputy chair Katrina Bungard, cancer drug campaigner Troy Elliott, and tech businessman Jake Bezzant, who was later selected as National's candidate for Upper Harbour.
| New Zealand Parliament | ||||
| Years | Term | Electorate | List | Party |
| 2020–2023 | 53rd | Botany | 61 | National |
| 2023–present | 54th | Botany | 1 | National
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In Opposition (2020–2023)
Amid a sweep of National seats lost to Labour in the 2020 general election, Luxon won Botany with 52% of the vote. In his maiden speech, Luxon praised Martin Luther King Jr. and Kate Sheppard as part of a defence of Christians such as himself in public life, claiming that being Christian had become an identity that "it has become acceptable to stereotype as being extreme."
He was appointed as the spokesperson for local government, research, science, manufacturing and land information, as well as associate spokesperson for transport in the Shadow Cabinet of Judith Collins.
In April 2021, when Judith Collins's leadership of the party came into question following the election, it was speculated that Luxon could become leader, with Simon Bridges as a main alternative. After the removal of Collins as party leader on 25 November, Luxon was cited as a potential replacement. On 30 November, following Bridges's withdrawal from the running at the National Party leadership election, Luxon was announced as the party's leader.
In early August 2022, Luxon accompanied Prime Minister Ardern, Minister of Arts, Culture and Heritage Carmel Sepuloni and Minister of Pacific Peoples William Sio on a state visit to Samoa to mark the 60th anniversary of Samoa's independence and affirm bilateral relations between the two countries.
Before the 2023 general election, Luxon claimed Chris Hipkins would form a "coalition of chaos" with the Green Party and Te Pāti Māori, the two other left-wing parties in Parliament, the latter of whom he described as "separatist" and "radical".
Prime Minister (2023–present)
On 14 October 2023, Christopher Luxon led the National Party to victory over the Labour Party in the 2023 general election, with 48 seats and 38.1% of the party vote. Luxon retained his Botany electorate seat with 67% of the vote. Coalition negotiations between National, ACT and New Zealand First ended on 24 November, and Luxon was sworn in as prime minister by Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro on 27 November.
Domestic politics
In late November 2023, Luxon announced the Government's 100-day plan, which consisted of 49 economic, cost of living, law and order, and public service issues the coalition government would focus on. In early December 2023, Luxon along with Cyclone Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell and Transport and Local Government Minister Simeon Brown, visited Hawke's Bay to meet with local leaders and local National MPs Katie Nimon and Catherine Wedd to discuss government support for post-flood and Cyclone Gabrielle relief efforts in the region. During the visit, Luxon confirmed that the Government would pause work on restoring the Napier-Wairoa railway line to focus on repairing State Highway 2.
In mid-December 2023, Luxon acknowledged using public funding allocated to his budget as Leader of the Opposition to pay for Māori language (te reo) lessons. Earlier in the month, the National-led coalition government had considered discontinuing incentive payments for public servants to learn the Māori language. Luxon defended using taxpayer money to pay for his Māori language lessons, stating that "developing better skills in te reo was highly relevant to his role as Opposition leader and a potential Prime Minister. Labour leader and Leader of the Opposition Chris Hipkins accused Luxon of hypocrisy while the New Zealand Taxpayers' Union's campaigns manager Connor Molloy urged Luxon to pay back the cost of the lessons.
On 11 February 2024, Luxon and Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell announced that the Government would contribute NZ$63 million to aid the removal of sediment and debris caused by Cyclone Gabrielle in the Hawke's Bay and Gisborne District. On 13 February, Luxon lowered the spending cap on ministerial cars from NZ$85,000 to NZ$70,000 as part of the Government's public sector cost cutting measures. A spokesperson also confirmed that Luxon would not be purchasing a ministerial car himself. Luxon delivered his first State of the Nation address on 18 February, where he blamed the previous Labour Government for the precarious state of the economy. Luxon also stated that his Government would focus on restoring the economy by reducing public spending and "red tape" while also finding a balance between economic growth and environmental protection. That same day, Luxon attended the annual Big Gay Out festival in the Auckland suburb of Point Chevalier but left early after encountering opposition from transgender rights and Palestinian solidarity protesters.
On 2 April 2024, Luxon announced a 36-point full second quarter action plan for the next three months, focusing on the economy and cost of living, law and order, and public services. Notable policies and priorities have included reducing wasteful spending, investing in "frontline" services, legislating on income tax relief, childcare tax credit, improving the rental marketing, and reintroducing charter schools, keeping agriculture out of the Emissions Trading Scheme, reversing the ban on offshore gas and oil exploration, restoring three strikes legislation, reviewing the firearms registry, establishing a Youth Serious Offender Category, improving teacher training and school attendance, and replacing mega polytechnic Te Pūkenga. Green co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick said that the Government's action plan contained no "meaningful solutions" in the Government's "bingo card for environmental destruction and trickle-down economics".
In late April 2024, Luxon stripped Melissa Lee of her Media and Communications ministerial portfolio and Penny Simmonds of her Disability Issues portfolio during a cabinet reshuffle. Lee had faced criticism for her response to Warner Bros. Discovery New Zealand's closure of Newshub while Simmonds had faced criticism over her handling of changes to disability funding and services. Lee was also relieved of her Cabinet position. Luxon appointed Paul Goldsmith to the Media and Communications portfolio, Louise Upston to the Disability Issues portfolio and promoted Climate Change and Revenue Minister Simon Watts to the Cabinet.
At the end of the same month, a 1News-Verian poll was released, showing the National-ACT-New Zealand First coalition government convincingly behind the left bloc of Labour, the Green Party and Te Pāti Māori. The poll put National down 2 points to 36 points, ACT down 1 to 7, and New Zealand First on 4%, below the 5% threshold needed for a party without constituency seats to enter Parliament (but within the margin of error). The poll showed that a fairly comfortable Labour-led government would be formed, with 64 seats. It also cast doubt on the strength of Luxon's leadership compared to that of his coalition partners Winston Peters and David Seymour, with only 51% of respondents believing Luxon was the decision-maker in the government.
A subsequent poll by Talbot Mills for their client Labour put a Labour-led government on the bare majority of 62 seats, while Roy Morgan found 54% of those they surveyed believed New Zealand was heading in "the wrong direction", with just 35% believing it was in the right direction. These result were widely considered to have been unprecedented, or at least highly unusual, for any government so early in its first term. The poll reportedly marked the first time in modern New Zealand history that a government had less popular than all the opposition parties combined within that time frame, according to TVNZ. As early as February, Luxon was noted to have experienced no "honeymoon bump", as newly incumbent prime ministers tend to, especially immediately after successful elections, but rather held steady, according to 1News. Luxon dismissed the polls, saying "what we're here to do is not always easy and nice, but we're here to make the tough and necessary decisions". In June, a poll showed Luxon fall behind opposition leader Chris Hipkins in net favourability for the first time.
On 5 May 2024 Luxon, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown and Mayor of Auckland Wayne Brown jointly announced that Auckland would avoid a 25.8 percent rates increase as part of the Government's Local Water Done Well plan. On 6 May Luxon and Police and Corrections Minister Mark Mitchell announced that the Government would allocate NZ$1.9 billion from the upcoming 2024 New Zealand budget to training 470 new corrections officers and adding 810 beds to Waikeria Prison.
In early August 2024, Luxon and Education Minister Erica Stanford announced plans to introduce a new mathematics curriculum from early 2025 with a focus on raising student standards and achievement. In response, the New Zealand Educational Institute expressed concerns that rapid changes to the maths and literacy curriculum and the short teaching training timeframe would strain the teaching workforce without delivering on its goals.
During Local Government New Zealand's annual conference held on 21 August 2024, Luxon called on local and regional councils to focus on rubbish collection, water infrastructure and other local assets. He also criticised so-called "nice to have projects" such as the Tākina convention centre. Luxon also confirmed that Cabinet had agreed to revise the Local Government Act and scrap the four wellbeing provisions in that legislation.
On 10 November 2024, Luxon delivered the New Zealand Government's national apology to survivors of abuse in state and faith-based care at Parliament, stating "it was horrific. It was heartbreaking. It was wrong. And it should never have happened.." Luxon also announced that the Government was introducing legislation to combat abuse in care including banning strip searches on children and strengthening security checks for people working with children.
On 19 December 2024, Luxon confirmed that he would not be attending events at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds on 4 February 2025, stating that it was his intention to celebrate Waitangi Day around New Zealand with different iwi. National Waitangi Trust chairperson Pita Tipene expressed disappointment with Luxon's decision while Labour leader Chris Hipkins said that Luxon was "running away from problems of his own creation."
Foreign affairs
On 20 December 2023, Luxon made his first state visit as head of government to Sydney where he met Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Luxon's trip to Australia was complicated by the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) Boeing 757 VIP airplane needing repairs. Prior to becoming Prime Minister, Luxon had advocated using commercial aircraft for state visits over ageing Air Force aircraft, which needed repairs and maintenance. During his visit, Luxon affirmed New Zealand's nuclear-free policy but expressed openness to joining the non-nuclear pillar of the AUKUS agreement. He also stated that New Zealand was keen to do its share of "heavy lifting" in the Australia-New Zealand defence relationship. Luxon and Albanese also talked about the contribution of New Zealander Australians to Australia.
On 30 January 2024, Luxon announced that New Zealand would be suspending its annual NZ$1 million aid to UNRWA (the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East) following allegations that several UNRWA workers had participated in the 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel. His announcement followed a decision by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade to review New Zealand's aid to UNRWA. On 29 February 2024, Luxon announced New Zealand's designation of Hamas in its entirety as a terrorist entity.
In mid-April 2024, Luxon undertook a tour of Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines as part of a "very deliberate" foreign policy reset meant to shore up Southeast Asia's strategic and commercial importance to New Zealand. In Singapore, he met with Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his designated successor Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong to discuss bilateral defence, trade and security cooperation. On 16 April, Luxon met with Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin to promote bilateral business links and trade, and encourage travel and tourism in Thailand.
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On 18 April, Luxon along with Filipino-New Zealander MP Paulo Garcia met with Philippines President Bongbong Marcos to discuss bilateral defence, trade, people-to-people, and climate cooperation.
In early June 2024, Luxon visited Premier of Niue Dalton Tagelagi. On 5 June, Luxon announced an agreement to enhance the free association relationship between the two countries and that New Zealand would invest NZ$20.5 million into a new large-scale renewable energy project on Niue.
In mid-June 2024, Luxon and Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro hosted Chinese Premier Li Qiang during his state visit to Wellington and Auckland. During the visit, China agreed to extend visa-free travel to New Zealanders while New Zealand agreed to support Chinese language training and cultural exchange programmes provided by local Confucius Institutes.
In mid-June, Luxon led a business and media delegation consisting of representatives from Air New Zealand, ANZ Bank, Fonterra, Silver Fern Farms, Zespri and Rocket Lab on a state visit to Japan. The RNZAF Boeing 757 jet carrying them sustained two broken fuses while refuelling at Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea. Following the breakdown, Luxon took a commercial flight to Tokyo while Air New Zealand diverted a plane to carry the rest of the delegation to Japan. During his visit to Japan, Luxon met with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and signed a bilateral information security agreement to improve intelligence sharing between the two governments.
On 9 July 2024, Luxon left New Zealand for Washington, D.C. to attend the 2024 Washington summit as an Indo-Pacific ally. The next day, he met members of the US Administration and of Congress including Republican Congressman Michael McCaul, Democratic Congressman Gregory Meeks, Democratic Senators Ben Cardin and Jon Ossoff and Republican Senator Jim Risch. During his trip to the United States, Luxon also committed NZ$16 million to support Ukraine in its war against Russia. On 11 July, he attended a White House dinner and spoke to US President Joe Biden, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Republican Senator Bill Hagerty. Later that day, Luxon met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles during an Indo-Pacific 4 meeting to express solidarity with Ukraine. On 13 July, Luxon visited San Francisco where he met Governor of California Gavin Newsom, ending his five-day tour of the United States.
On 2 September 2024, Luxon arrived in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in a three days official visit where he met with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in discussing strategic partnership. In mid November, Luxon attended the 2024 APEC Summit. On 16 November, he also met with Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss human rights, tensions in the South China Sea and cooperation with the Pacific Islands Forum. The two leaders also discussed their governments' disagreements about New Zealand's involvement in the AUKUS security pact and Chinese missile testing. Luxon also accepted an invitation from Xi to visit China in early 2025. In addition, Luxon met with US President Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken to reaffirm friendly bilateral relations.
Political views
Luxon is an evangelical Christian who is recognised as a social conservative. In his maiden parliamentary speech, Luxon defined himself as centre-right. He has spoken of his preference for delivering strong government. Luxon supports low taxes, making cuts to the Ministry of Social Development, establishing military-style boot-camps for young offenders, and introducing stringent anti-gang legislation, and is strongly opposed to welfare dependency and to co-governance with Māori.
Luxon supported a "no jab, no pay" policy for sanctioning welfare beneficiaries who did not vaccinate their children; however, following his election as leader of the National Party, Luxon said he did not support cutting the benefit of parents who do not vaccinate their children against COVID-19. Luxon has also firmly stood against efforts to reform New Zealand's water system and advocated against affirmative action for Māori and against co-governance – a stand which has led to allegations of race-baiting.
Conversion therapy
In late November 2021, Luxon reiterated support for National's vote against the Conversion Practices Prohibition Legislation Bill, but said the practice was "abhorrent". In early February 2022, Luxon announced that National MPs would be allowed a conscience vote on the conversion practices legislation; abandoning Collins' "bloc-voting" position. Luxon also reversed his earlier opposition to the legislation, stating that he supported New Zealand's LGBT+ community. He also stated that "there will be those with different views for different reasons across Parliament. These sorts of issues are traditionally treated as conscience issues, and we determined as a caucus that this was the appropriate course in this instance." The Bill passed its third and final reading on 15 February 2022. Luxon voted in favour of the Bill's passage.
COVID-19 pandemic responses
On 8 December 2021, Luxon called for the lifting of Auckland's border restrictions with Northland after The New Zealand Herald reported that the Ministry of Health had proposed that the Auckland border should be lifted in tandem with the country's transition into the COVID-19 Protection Framework on 3 December. However, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins had opted to retain the Auckland border until 15 December in order to reduce the risk of community transmissions and boost regional vaccination rates. Luxon has also questioned the effectiveness of the checkpoints led and managed by police in the Auckland–Northland boundary.
On 8 January 2022, Luxon talked to National MP Harete Hipango about a photo that she had posted on social media, which showed her posing with members of the anti-vaccination group Voices for Freedom. Hipango removed the post stating that the anti-vaccination views of the group did not align with that of the National Party. She and Luxon stated they and the National Party strongly support COVID-19 vaccination, and described vaccination as the best protection for people and their families.
In early February 2022, Luxon called for rapid antigen testing to be conducted in schools twice a week for both students and teachers, citing the examples of New South Wales and Victoria. In addition, Luxon advocated reopening New Zealand's borders and ending the managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ) system in favour of home isolation for New Zealanders and travellers who tested negative for COVID-19.
On 9 February 2022, Luxon called for the Government to issue a clear timeline for ending vaccine mandates. In response, Prime Minister Ardern stated that certificates and mandates would only be retained as long as there was a strong public health rationale.
In August 2022, Luxon refused to rule out working with Brian Tamaki, a far-right, anti-vaccine religious leader, and Tamaki's Freedoms New Zealand party, which supported the violent 2022 Wellington protest against COVID-19 mandates. However, Luxon claimed he doubted the party would enter parliament. After controversy ensued, Luxon reversed his position a few days later.
Fertility
Intending to be humorous, on 8 June 2023, Luxon made a remark during an infrastructure conference in Christchurch that suggested New Zealanders should have more babies. He said: "Here is the deal – essentially New Zealand stopped replacing itself in 2016. I encourage all of you to go out there and have more babies if you wish, that would be helpful." In response to media coverage, the deputy leader, Nicola Willis, made clear that National did not have a policy on family sizes and criticised elements of the media for taking Luxon's remarks out of context. Paul Spoonley, a sociology lecturer at Massey University agreed with Luxon's remarks, stating that New Zealand's population growth had reached below replacement level of 2.1, with a birth rate of 1.6.
Foreign affairs
In response to the October 2023 Gaza−Israel conflict, Luxon stated that he was shocked and saddened by Hamas's overnight attacks against Israel. Luxon condemned Hamas' attacks and stated that Israel had a right to defend itself.
Gangs
In mid-June 2022, Luxon announced that the National Party if elected into government would introduce several pieces of anti-gang legislation based on Australian anti-gang legislation. These "zero tolerance" policies have included banning gang insignia in public spaces and social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok, and giving the Police special powers to disperse gang gatherings, and prevent certain gang members from associating with each other or obtaining firearms. Luxon unveiled National's new law and order policies in the midst of rising gang activity and gang warfare in 2022.
In response, Sonny Fatupaito (ariki of Mongrel Mob, Waikato Kingdom) claimed that Luxon's proposed policies would breach human rights legislation and the Treaty of Waitangi while perpetuating racism and racial profiling against Māori and Pasifika. Andrew Cushen, Interim chief executive for InternetNZ stated that "gang posts on social media and extremist material are very different and can't be policed in the same way." And that the policy would be "nearly impossible to police". Criminologist and gangs expert Jarrod Gilbert opined that combating the gangs' criminal activities would work better than targeting the gangs. The Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern stated that similar policies had not worked in other countries. While supporting National's anti-gang policies, the ACT Party's firearms law reform and justice spokeswoman Nicole McKee expressed concern that legitimate firearms owners could be affected by some of the legislation. Former National Party MP and Minister Chester Borrows questioned the effectiveness of National's proposed anti-gang legislation, citing the failure of earlier anti-gang insignia legislation in Whanganui.
Immigration
In 3 May 2023, Luxon acknowledged the historical sensitivity around the dawn raids of the 1970s which disproportionately targeted Pasifika New Zealanders. However, he stated that Immigration New Zealand needed to "reserve the option" to use dawn raids against individuals involved in serious criminal offending or who posed a security risk to New Zealand. Luxon also stated there were 14,000 overstayers in New Zealand. Luxon's remarks came in response to media coverage of the agency's recent dawn raid tactics against visa overstayers, which had attracted criticism from Deputy Prime Minister Carmel Sepuloni for re-traumatising the Pasifika community.
Māori issues
In late January 2023, Luxon stated that National opposed co-governance in the delivery of public services such as health, education and critical infrastructure. He also clarified that National was not opposed to Māori involvement in decision-making and expressed support for "self-driven" initiatives within the Māori community such as Whānau Ora, kohanga reo and charter schools. On 25 January, Luxon stated that the existence of Māori seats "doesn't make a lot of sense" but reiterated an earlier commitment in March 2022 that the National Party would stand candidates in one or two of them.
During Waitangi Day on 6 February 2023, Luxon described the Treaty of Waitangi as a "challenging, imperfect but ultimately inspiring document through which New Zealand had sought to understand what was intended by those who signed it." While acknowledging that the New Zealand Crown had not upheld the Treaty's promises and obligations, he expressed hope that the Treaty settlement process would be completed by 2030.
On 10 May 2023, Luxon ruled out working with Te Pāti Māori (Māori Party) if National formed the next government after the 2023 New Zealand general election. He cited National's disagreement with the Māori Party's support for co-governance in public services and alleged separatism. Luxon also criticised Te Pāti Māori's MPs Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Rawiri Waititi for staging a haka welcoming for Labour MP Meka Whaitiri when Parliament was welcoming the coronation of Charles III.
Monarchy
Luxon has described himself as a "soft republican" and believes that New Zealand will "ultimately" become a republic, but that the change would not happen "in my Government and in my time."
When questioned about the matter of the monarchy of New Zealand in 2022, Luxon stated that he was "comfortable" with the current constitutional arrangement of having the monarch as head of state and that Queen Elizabeth II had given New Zealand "incredible stability" and set an example of "great public service." Following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, Luxon expressed support for King Charles III, stating "I think he will be a very good king, I think he has been preparing for it all his life and no doubt he will take it in a different direction, reflecting his personality." He also expressed doubt on whether the Queen's death would advance support for a New Zealand republic, arguing "I visit two or three towns in New Zealand every week, it just isn't a topic of conversation that comes up. I appreciate at times like this we start thinking about having these conversations but there actually isn't a real desire for the conversation or to make any changes to the constitution arrangements."
In early May 2023, Luxon accepted an invitation from Prime Minister Chris Hipkins to attend the coronation of Charles III as part of the official New Zealand delegation. Hipkins stated it was important to invite the Leader of the Opposition in the months leading up to the 2023 New Zealand general election.
Transgender rights
When asked in March 2023 if anti-transgender activist Posie Parker should be allowed to enter New Zealand, Luxon said that he affirmed people's right to free speech but that he "absolutely" supported the rights of New Zealand's transgender community. In mid-August, Luxon said that he believes there is no need for laws specifying which toilets transgender people can use. During a TVNZ debate with Prime Minister Chris Hipkins in September, he said that the participation of transgender people in sports is an issue that should be left to sporting bodies.
Welfare
In early July 2022, Luxon stated that a future National Government would work with community providers to sponsor job coaches for young people under the age of 25 years who have been on the Jobseeker benefit for three months. Welfare beneficiaries who find a job and stay off the benefit for the next 12 consecutive months would receive NZ$1,000 for staying in the workforce. However, beneficiaries who do not follow their agreed plan will face "sanctions." Luxon claimed that the incumbent Labour Government's policies had caused the number of under 25s on welfare to increase by 34,000 (roughly 40%). In August 2022, Luxon warned young unemployed people their "free ride" under Labour would come to an end if he won the 2023 election, saying: "To young people who don't want to work you might have a free ride under Labour, but under National, it ends". He further stated National would make sweeping cuts to the Ministry of Social Development in favour of privatised employment agencies and "not keep funding failure". He has later described those living in poverty as bottom feeders.
Personal life
Luxon had a Catholic upbringing, describes himself as a Christian or non-denominational Christian, and has been described as an evangelical Christian. He has attended a Baptist church in Auckland as a child, a Presbyterian church in Australia, an Anglican church in England, and non-denominational churches in the United States, Canada and New Zealand. After he returned to New Zealand in 2011 he attended the Upper Room church in Auckland. In 2021 he said he had not attended a church for five or six years.
Luxon met his wife Amanda at a church youth group and they married on 8 January 1994 when he was 23. They have a son and daughter. The couple share the same faith, saying "it quietly guides what they care about".
He says he enjoys DIY, listens to country music and likes to waterski and go fishing.
He is a multi-millionaire who owns seven houses, including a home in Remuera worth $7.68 million. Luxon was apparently unaware of the total value of his properties until Newshub asked him about it directly. He is the second-wealthiest leader of the National Party in history, after John Key, with his combined property portfolio valued at more than $21 million.
In March 2024, Luxon was criticised for claiming a $52,000 living allowance while residing at his own mortgage-free Wellington apartment. He was the first Prime Minister in 34 years to claim what he described as an "entitlement". Later that day, he said that he would pay back the allowance.
In late July 2022, Luxon confirmed he was on a family holiday in Hawaii during the parliamentary recess when a Facebook video post published on 21 July implied he was visiting Te Puke at that time. Luxon attributed the confusion to a delay in his social media team updating his whereabouts over the previous week, which he said was a mistake.
Luxon is a supporter of the Crusaders rugby union team.
See also
In Spanish: Christopher Luxon para niños
