Podcast appearances and mentions of chris luxon

Prime Minister Chris Luxon's trip to China looks to be successful so far as it reaches its conclusion today. Chris Luxon is due to meet President Xi Jinping this afternoon after 871 million dollars of commercial agreements have been signed so far between Kiwi businesses and our Chinese counterparts. New Zealand China Council executive director Alistair Crozier told Andrew Dickens that today's meeting between leaders will be more than pleasantries. He says there is a lot to discuss, and it will come down to a respectful exchange of views. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An International Relations Expert says the Prime Minister will set the record straight in China regarding the pause on Cook Island aid funding. Foreign Minister Winston Peters has put millions of dollars in developmental aid on hold - saying trust needs to be restored. The island nation signed a comprehensive strategic partnership with China, without reference to New Zealand, despite our two countries' official special relationship. International Relations Expert Robert Patman says the timing of his current visit to China, isn't great. He says he's sure Luxon will make the point the Cook Islands were informed well before this visit. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister has laid out his goals ahead of his visit to China. Chris Luxon is about to leave for Shanghai with a business delegation, before making his way to Beijing to meet with President Xi Jinping. Luxon says he also wants to broaden the countries' trade relationship with a focus on red meat, tourism and education. LISTEN ABOVE OR WATCH BELOW See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister says his upcoming trip to China is about more than bolstering trade links. Chris Luxon will be meeting with President Xi Jinping and other key members of the Chinese Government while in Beijing next week. After meetings wrap up in Shanghai, Luxon will be heading to the NATO summit in Europe. NZ Herald political editor Thomas Coughlan explained why Luxon's carrying out these trips - and what they could mean for New Zealand. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mike Hoskings and Prime Minister Chris Luxon sat down in the studio this morning for a discussion on electricity and gas in New Zealand. “The oil and gas ban was one of the dumbest, most insanest moves I've seen happen.” said the PM this morning. According to Luxon, New Zealand must steer back away from coal in favour of gas as a source of energy. “We're the only country I'm aware of in the world that's actually transitioning from gas to coal.” Which Luxon said is “twice as bad as gas.” The PM says his plan for future-proofing New Zealand's energy grid is essential for supporting planned datacenters and other high-energy usage projects. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, former Labour Minister Stuart Nash and Jack Tame from ZB's Saturday Mornings and Q&A joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! The Government wants state owned enterprises to pick up its game - or else? Chris Luxon has ruled out asset sales this term, but do we think they're on the horizon? The Privacy Commissioner has given the thumbs up to Foodstuffs' facial recognition software. Would we mind if this technology was rolled out nation-wide? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister's brushing off criticism from Wellington's mayor. Speaking to Newstalk ZB today, the PM hit out at the city's cycleway rollout and water management - saying other cities are moving forward. Tory Whanau says Luxon should focus on coalition issues and the problematic Government's school lunch roll out, not punching down on the capital. Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls unpacked Tory Whanau's response. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It is suggested Peter Dutton in Australia lost the election because of his nuclear issue and work from home policies. I personally think he lost because they ran a hopeless campaign. But it is more than possible that he floated a couple of ideas that the voter simply could not stomach. I am wondering if Chris Luxon is heading in a similar direction here with superannuation. Nuclear makes sense. Working from home hinders productivity. But the voter is always right and being a voter beats logic. Will the voter be right here on superannuation? Are there enough New Zealanders who have landed on the simple truth that 65-years-old, as a pension age, is no longer sensible, nor affordable? $28 billion is the bill each year, and growing. That seems worse now because we are broke. But even in good times it's a stunning amount of money. National will take it to the vote next year. They may be saved from themselves by NZ First, if they are still in the mix, because it will be a bottom line. But we reach the interesting point where logic and emotion collide. For many, superannuation is untouchable. It's a lifetime's worth of work. "i paid my taxes" they say, even though that line isn't actually real because we spent your taxes years ago and then borrowed a bit more to keep the lights on. 65-years-old is the new 50-years-old and, post-Covid, older workers have never been in more demand. The days of being out to pasture are increasingly gone. 65-years-old is not old. Imagine a day where you enter the workforce knowing you need to take care of yourself. Yes, if you strike trouble the pension is a welfare payment, not an entitlement. But we either have to change the narrative and mindset from entitlement to welfare, or we need to up the age. In upping the age over time, even giving years worth of notice, it's still a very big call. It underlines our desire for free stuff, or perceived free stuff. Once you set a precedent with money it is fantastically hard to undo. But Luxon, apparently, is keen to give it a crack. He calls it a no brainer. First clue - there aren't many who think it's a no brainer. Labour learnt the hard way over the capital gains tax. Luxon may be about to learn something similar.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Let's talk about this business with the pension age. Chris Luxon has said today twice that he wants the pension age to go up to 67. He said it once on Kerre's show this morning, and then at a post-budget lunch speaking to business leaders, he repeated it and he told them that this is basically going to be election policy for National next year. Now, regardless of how you may feel about this, I mean, you'd have to be coming around to the realisation, wouldn't you, that we are inching closer and closer to this thing actually happening. Especially after the changes that the government made to our KiwiSaver retirement funds yesterday. It's not long now. I think that the government will have completely wound down its government support of KiwiSaver, and then it's gonna come after the pension next, isn't it? This is where I think it gets tricky, because this is not just about money for people. This is emotional. Let me lay out the emotional argument for you as it plays out in my head, OK? It goes like this: Don't touch my pension. You can touch anything else. Do not touch my pension. I don't care if they take away every other piece of welfare that is available to me and other people. In fact, I would actually welcome it, because I think there is way too much welfare in this country for the middle class who don't actually need it. You get a best start payment for having a newborn. You're having a baby. They give you money. You get the winter energy payment. You get Working for Families, which I think is a crime. You get the subsidised childcare for sending your kid to kindy. You get free tertiary education for the 3rd year, God only knows why. Free government money for your KiwiSaver. Now, as far as I'm concerned, there's way too much of that stuff going on. They can take all of that away. If they don't want to take it away, they can means test it so that actually the most, and only the most needy in this country get it. But I will do everything I can to stop them touching my pension. Because I have earned that money. This is not a question about whether I need that money, it is that I have earned that money. I, like you, have contributed huge amounts of tax to this country, and actually I have not claimed very much back for myself. It's certainly not anywhere near how much I have put in. The only thing that stops me from being very sour about how much money they take out of my pay packet every year and the wasting of that money and the bludging by some on that money is the knowledge that when I hit 65 and want to retire, I will get a little bit back. Call it a goodwill gesture from the government, if you like, a government who I have helped prop up just like you have for donkeys' years, by the time that money comes into my bank account. So, good luck to Chris Luxon getting this one across the line. I think it's going to be one of the hardest fights to win because of the emotional argument that I have just laid out for you. I think they might find it easier to take away a lot of other welfare first. And unless they take away a lot of other welfare first, I am not budging on the pension.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister's keen to raise the retirement age -- but it's not possible in coalition with New Zealand First. The Government is halving its KiwiSaver contribution rate -- and canning if people earning more than 180-thousand dollars. The default rate of worker and business contributions to KiwiSaver will rise over time. Chris Luxon told Kerre Woodham pushing out the retirement age to 67 makes sense. He says Labour doesn't think it's a good idea, and New Zealand First does not want to move that forward. Luxon also spoke about the cuts the government made to make funding available elsewhere. Budget 2025 includes 21 billion dollars of cost-savings - 13 billion of that from the controversial change to pay equity law - raising claim thresholds. Prime Minister Chris Luxon told Kerre Woodham these are difficult choices, but there's no way they could afford that. LISTEN ABOVE OR WATCH HERE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chris Luxon says Labour is spreading lies about Government pay equity changes. Legislation rushed through under urgency last week cancels ongoing claims of gender-inequity in pay - and raised the bar for applying. Opposition leader Chris Hipkins spoke on social media saying the Prime Minister's taking money out of women's pay packets. Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls says Chris Hipkins has dug his heels in over his position - but it feels like a leap. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister won't comment on the resignation of New Zealand's second most powerful cop, Jevon McSkimming. The Deputy Police Commissioner had been on suspension since December - but Police Minister Mark Mitchell has now confirmed he's resigned with immediate effect after new serious allegations. Mitchell says the Prime Minister had already been considering recommending the Governor General immediately remove McSkimming from office. Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With two weeks left to go until Budget day, Chris Luxon addressed a crowd at a BusinessNZ event in Auckland today. Luxon reiterated that the Government won't be splashing the cash this year - and claimed the Finance Minister was right to promise it won't be a Budget lolly scramble. Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls says this wasn't the kind of pre-Budget announcement that would make the nation sit up and take notice - and that was by design. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister says it's too early to understand the potential impact of tariffs on New Zealand films. Donald Trump has most recently written he'd like100 percent tariffs on all movies produced outside the US. Chris Luxon says he's seen the social media post, but we'll need to know a lot more. Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls says Chris Luxon has expressed interest in getting more Bollywood productions to come to New Zealand. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ACT's leader says now is a good time for the Government to think about its organisation. David Seymour wants a limit on Cabinet Minister numbers - with none outside Cabinet, and only one associate minister for finance. Seymour says there are currently ministers with seven different departments, and departments answering to 19 ministers. He says he doesn't expect change pre-election - but believes Chris Luxon gets his viewpoint. "Chris cut his teeth as a manager - and I'm sure that it's something that, without speaking for him, he will intuitively get." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Jack Tame, host of Saturday Mornings and Q&A and Jordan Williams from the Taxpayers' Union joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Labour wants Chris Luxon to tell Winston Peters to back off after the latter had a fiery interview on RNZ this morning - and his threat to cut RNZ's funding off. Was he right? Was it appropriate? New Zealand is pledging more money and support for Ukraine - do we agree with this move? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister departs today for the United Kingdom, before travelling to Gallipoli in time for ANZAC Day. Trade, security and the current geopolitical climate are on the agenda, when Chris Luxon meets with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. Luxon says he'll discuss what more the pair can do to support the rules-based trading system, a chat coming off the back of phone calls to world leaders amid Donald Trump's tariffs. NZ Herald political reporter Jamie Ensor says the pair will likely discuss how to strengthen their trade partnership. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says it is the agriculture sector that's pulling New Zealand out of a recession. Luxon spoke about the success agriculture was seeing on a trip to Taranaki on Thursday where he met with local businesses and trades. He said agriculture was the 'backbone of New Zealand' and praised how much it generated for the nation. The Country's Jamie Mackay explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister's dismissing suggestions of tension with his deputy over US tariffs and trade. Winston Peters last week said Chris Luxon was premature in calling other leaders - and yesterday labelled some language used around trade 'hysterical'. But Luxon says all the Ministers responsible, which includes Peters, are aligned on the fact a trade war would be bad for New Zealand. NZ Herald political editor Thomas Coughlan says the trade issue has generated a bipartisan response, but it's unwise to draw too much attention to it. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Monday, 14 April 2025, Heather is back from maternity leave! The Finance Minister gets a grilling over tariffs and wool. NZ Herald political editor Thomas Coughlan on whether the stoush between Chris Luxon and Winston Peters is a media beat-up or real. A driving instructor tells Heather why he doesn't think the Government should get rid of the second practical driving test. Plus, the Huddle on the new Polkinghorne doco and whether it's okay to sleep in separate beds than your partner. Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Foreign Minister Winston Peters sent a blunt message to the Prime Minister as Donald Trump's tariffs continue to spark uncertainty around the world. Peters indicated Chris Luxon was premature in joining global talks calling for free trade, in opposition to the tariff rollout. NZ Herald political editor Claire Trevett says Peters expecting Luxon to follow his lead was unusual - but a courtesy call was warranted. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Treaty Principals Bill is on its way to the gallows as the select committee came back Friday and suggested it wasn't getting its support. It was voted past first reading but it wont get past round two. What I learned out of it was several things. 1) This country is not up for much of a debate around complex or big ideas. We are myopic in our approach. We hate and we love and middle ground is irrelevant. There was a venom and aggressiveness to a lot of submissions. 2) From those who submitted that actually knew what they were talking about, as opposed to merely having an opinion, it very quickly became clear there is massive disagreement over interpretation. These were scholars and lawyers and historians, in other words, "experts". They couldn't agree. That to me was the big clue. If the “learned” can't agree, surely that means we need something, legally speaking, to define what we are dealing with. There is a major case in Christchurch at the moment between Ngai Tahu and the Crown over water rights. It is in the court because there is nothing definitive in law as to what the Treaty does, and doesn't, do. We seem to accept that Parliament is the ultimate court, yet on the Treaty we appear happy to litigate for decade after decade, have a tribunal that is wildly tainted and nothing like a proper court, and each and every time we dabble in this area you and I are picking up the tab. The other outworking of course is the ongoing grief and angst. This is a very divided nation. This is not a harmonious nation with an agreed legal stance around the Treaty. But putting it out to a vote the way Act wanted was a mistake It's too important for that. Pik N Mix democracy never works. The other thing I learned politically is it should never have seen the light of day if it wasn't going all the way. This goes to the Chris Luxon negotiation skills. It should have been either dead before it started, or it got the full treatment. What we got was a half-baked, deeply divided mess that ended up achieving nothing. Even those who argue it started the debate are wrong. Because if it's floated for another day we won't carry on where we left off. We will have to start all over again.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister says confirmation we're relaunching Indian trade talks came soon after he'd touched down in New Delhi. On the campaign trail, Chris Luxon pledged a deal with India within his first term. He's noted there'll be many rounds of negotiations, but this news is a huge win and a breakthrough in New Zealand's economic agenda. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper is unsure how far these discussions will go at this stage. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The economy, trade, and talks will be top-of-mind as the Prime Minister lands in India today. Christopher Luxon's being joined by a large business and community delegations, alongside three Ministers - as he aims to strengthen the two countries' relationships. The PM's due to meet India's Prime Minister and pitch for increased trade and business opportunities. Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls unpacks the likliehood of a trade deal being reached between both nations. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's been a very busy and important week for the Prime Minister. There was a reason he championed the Investment Summit and made himself available to attendees to a degree unusual for a Prime Minister at events like this. Plain and simple, he desperately needs it to be successful. He has staked his leadership on growing our economy, which includes creating an infrastructure pipeline and attracting the overseas finance to help get things done. It's going to take time to evaluate the summit's success, but the Prime Minister would have been buoyed to hear the Italian tunnelling company behind Auckland's massive Interceptor wastewater project say it will keep workers and machinery in New Zealand now the Government has outlined a proposed pipeline of infrastructure projects. That's an early win. And wins are what the Prime Minister and coalition need. Two polls this week showed support for Labour is higher than National, and Labour leader Chris Hipkins is overtaking Luxon as preferred Prime Minister. It's not just the National Party who will be concerned. The Taxpayers Union Poll saw ACT drop 2.3 to 7.7 percent and NZ First drop 1.3 to 5.1 percent. I know there's a lot of scepticism about polls. It's not as if Labour are presenting an alternative invigorating vision that's dragging voters over. The concern for the Government is they don't seem to need to; there's some wisdom in Labour sitting back and letting the Government lose support all on their own. The declining trend in popularity and the Prime Minister's inability to get traction will irk the hard-working coalition. Especially because they are undoubtedly hard working. But for voters, it only counts if it leads to results. The Prime Minister can't be panicked – he doesn't have time – but the pressure is on. Last night, Christopher Luxon headed off on his first visit to India as Prime Minister in an attempt to deliver another election promise by securing a free trade agreement during his first term in Government. Apparently, the best we can expect is to establish a timeframe for when they begin formal negotiations. Luxon needs to come home with this at a minimum. Next week also sees Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters in the US, discussing New Zealand's relationship with the Trump administration. Peters will meet with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other US political contacts to discuss a wide range of international issues – including, no doubt, tariffs. Peters is the man for the job, but once again the pressure is on. As the Prime Minister and Government are learning, results take time. But voters are not as patient as they used to be – and their politics are centred on the cost-of-living and making ends meet. While there is no imminent danger to leadership, the polls are a flashing light that without some big wins soon, they may run out of time. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on the Sunday Panel, Capital editor Ben Thomas and editor and journalist, Jo McCarroll joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Chris Luxon hasn't had a good couple of weeks - and it's being reflected in the latest batch of polls. What does this mean for the Prime Minister? Is he in danger of being rolled? Finance Minister Nicola Willis is also considering upping KiwiSaver contributions in a bid to better support New Zealand's growing aging population. Do we think these changes are needed? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister's yet again been forced to defend David Seymour over the school lunches saga in the House. The Opposition was relentless at Question Time today - with Chris Hipkins taking aim at the Government over the school lunch programme. Yet again, it was up to Chris Luxon to fend off the the attacks. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper unpacks today's events. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour has overtaken National - and Chris Hipkins has leap-frogged Chris Luxon as preferred Prime Minister in a new poll. The Taxpayers' Union-Curia Poll has Labour on 34.1 percent and National on 33.6 percent - leaving the coalition unable to form a Government. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says Luxon doesn't appear to be bothered by this data - and he's focused on getting the economy sorted ahead of the 2026 election. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Despite some less-than-ideal poll figures, Minister Nicola Willis doesn't believe Kiwis have lost faith in the Government. The latest Taxpayers Union-Curia Poll has Labour on 34.1 percent, overtaking National on 33.6 percent. Chris Hipkins is also ahead of Chris Luxon as preferred Prime Minister. Nicola Willis says there's plenty of polls left between now and the 2026 election - and she's focused on results. "My focus is never on a poll, it's always on how we can deliver for New Zealanders. And New Zealanders are letting us know loud and clear that they want us focused on reducing their cost of living, growing this economy, delivering better education and health services." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Trish Sherson from Sherson Willis PR and Child Fund CEO Josie Pagani joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Another new poll shows the Government is losing popularity - and Chris Hipkins has overtaken Luxon as preferred Prime Minister. Should the coalition be worried? Will this hurt Chris Luxon in 2026? Canada's new Prime Minister, Mark Carney, is not holding back when it comes to attacking Donald Trump and his tariffs. Will this help him in the next federal election? Will this encourage Trump to back off? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Monday, 10 March 2025, Chris Hipkins has overtaken Chris Luxon in the latest political poll - and we'll dig into what's going on with the PM's popularity. Who is Mark Carney? Ryan Bridge tells you everything you need to know about Canada's new PM. Ryan asks Finance Minister Nicola Willis when she found out about Adrian Orr's shock resignation. Plus, the road cone scandal that has us all riled up. Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today's surprise resignation by Reserve Bank Governor Adrian Orr has left experts with plenty of questions. Neither the Prime Minister nor Finance Minister are giving any details of why the most powerful, non-elected person in Government has abruptly quit. Not only have Nicola Willis and Chris Luxon gone to ground - the Reserve Bank will not answer media questions about the departure. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper suspects Adrian Orr may have found other opportunities elsewhere - and aimed to leave while the economy was recovering. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new deal will put New Zealand at the top of Vietnam's diplomatic relationships list. Prime Minister Chris Luxon has signed the comprehensive strategic partnership in Ha Noi. Just 10 other countries have signed such a deal with Vietnam. Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls says the details of the arrangement are still coming to light, but it could potentially mean extra security for New Zealand. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to Te Radar, Winston Peters, Bruce Cotterill, Emma Higgins, and Chris Luxon. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's renewed calls to evaluate Destiny Church's charitable status and tax treatment after their actions last weekend. Followers of Destiny Church - the religious movement spearheaded by Hannah and Brian Tamaki - stormed an Auckland library on Saturday to protest a drag king reading to children. Followers of the church then disrupted Auckland's rainbow parade - actions Auckland's mayor calls thuggery. Prime Minister Chris Luxon says they intimidated public officials - and the Government will be investigating their status, and tax treatment in due course. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says Destiny Church acted disgracefully, and a review needs to take place. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister has copped some backlash over the state of the economy during his morning media round. This follows two disappointing showings for the coalition in the polls, with Chris Luxon's standing as preferred Prime Minister taking a hit. Luxon has stayed optimistic - and Infometics Principal Economist Brad Olsen is hopeful things will turn around later in the year. "Those interest rates are coming down - but it takes a bit of time for everyone to re-fix onto them. And at the same time, data out recently showed that the unemployment rate has been going up. So I do think we're in that odd period...but there are those greener shoots showing through." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two new polls show a shift in the political mood - but National's Nicola Willis isn't too worried about these results. Both the Taxpayers' Union-Curia poll and the 1 News Verian poll - out today - show Labour, the Greens and Te Pati Māori would have the seats to form a Government. Both also have Chris Luxon losing support in the preferred Prime Minister stakes. But Willis says polls move around - pointing out that there are differences between today's two. "Overall, the message that I'm hearing very loudly from New Zealand is - they've been though a tough time economically and they really want to see us focused on making them and their family feel more financially secure, and that's what we're doing." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour is cautiously optimistic a new poll might spell trouble for the coalition. The Taxpayers' Union-Curia poll earlier today showed it could not form a Government - pushed by drops in support to ACT and NZ First. Leader Chris Hipkins says it shows the country's heading in the wrong direction. "We know we've got a lot of work to do - we've still got a year and a half to go, so polls at this point are interesting. And it's nice to be doing well in them and we've still got a fair amount of water to flow under the bridge." Chris Luxon's taken a hit - down 3.8 points in preferred Prime Minister rankings to 20.7 percent - while the Labour's Hipkins rose 2.3 points to 17.6 percent. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister has taken aim at the chief executives of New Zealand's largest banks saying it was 'utterly unacceptable' that some were withdrawing banking services from petrol stations and mines. Chris Luxon joined Mike Hosking earlier today to explain that the banks needed to keep funding businesses Kiwis need to keep moving forward - and expressed concern at rural petrol stations in particular losing their funding. Massey University banking expert Claire Matthews says the Government has the option to put regulations in place to reverse these changes - but warned this choices comes with consequences. "If the Government starts telling the banks what they have to do, then it's very much open to the banks to say - actually, it's too complicated, you're dictating too much what we can and can't do... the reality is, the New Zealand market is not that important to us, we're going to withdraw." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister's revealed he'll be spending this year's Waitangi Day in the South Island. Chris Luxon is not visiting the Treaty Grounds this week - he's instead sending a Ministerial delegation including Erica Stanford, Tama Potaka, Paul Goldsmith and Mark Mitchell. Luxon's office has this morning revealed he'll celebrate the public holiday with Ngāi Tahu, at Banks Peninsula's Onuku Marae. Luxon's previously said not all Prime Ministers commemorate the day at the Waitangi grounds - and he plans to go to different marae across the country over the course of his tenure in office. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says it would be a better look if Luxon fronted up. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Children's Minister says saving Barnados' helpline for under-12s was a mutual decision reached with the Prime Minister. The 0800 What's Up support line and multiple other services were at risk of closure after the Government directed Oranga Tamariki to find savings last year. Now, Minister Karen Chhour has pressed pause on Oranga Tamariki reviewing such contracts. She says she didn't act because Chris Luxon became involved - but because the agency contacted her with concerns. "I'm glad they reached out, that's what I've been asking agencies to do over the last year - if you have a concern about something, reach out to me and I'll look into it." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government and Opposition have butted heads on the first day in Parliament. The Prime Minister boasted of the Government plans to boost economic growth - while Labour slammed its achievements and pointed to record departures from the country. Chris Luxon is calling it 'the party of no' - which said no to tax relief, gene technology, and backing farmers. Later, opposition leader Chris Hipkins claimed Luxon was in favour of saying no to delivering new ferries, a new Dunedin hospital, and affordable water reform. Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls says Chris Luxon fired back at Hipkins' outfit choices and lack of organisation. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on the Sunday Panel, Newstalk ZB host Roman Travers and editor and journalist Jo McCarroll joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the week - and more! Prime Minister Chris Luxon took aim at New Zealand's 'culture of saying no' as part of last week's State of the Nation address? Does he have a point? Meanwhile in the US, Donald Trump has returned to the White House and signed a slew of executive actions in his first few days in office. What do we make of the last few days? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister isn't concerned opening up to more mining could harm New Zealand's reputation. More mining and drilling is on the cards under a new Government focus on economic growth, outlined today. Chris Luxon explained we need critical minerals to build more roads and he wants quarries closer to where those roads are being built. Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls says Luxon's committed to the development of more EVs and solar panels - and those resources need to come from somewhere. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Experts are wondering about the future of New Zealand's health sector after the Prime Minister made some changes in Cabinet. Chris Luxon stripped Shane Reti of his Health Minister portfolio and handed the role over to Simeon Brown instead. Meanwhile, Nicola Willis is picking up a new Economic Growth role, and Chris Bishop became the Minister for Transport. NZ Herald deputy political editor Thomas Coughlan unpacks what this could mean for the health system. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister's revealed he will not be at the historic Treaty grounds for Waitangi Day celebrations next year. Chris Luxon says he'll instead take part in celebrations elsewhere around the country. It's understood Luxon will be sending Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka and a couple of other Ministers to the Treaty Grounds to represent the Government. Newstalk ZB political correspondent Barry Soper is unsurprised by this development, given the contentious Treaty Principles Bill. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today marks the first anniversary of the National-led coalition's swearing in. Ben Thomas, Annabelle Lee-Mather and Toby Manhire parse the prime minister's sit-down interviews to mark the occasion, from the lessons to the communications to the big rocks and boiling of the ocean. How has he performed, is David Seymour right about the "disproportionate" impact Act has achieved and why is Winston Peter talking about being married to the Act leader? Plus: last week witnessed a huge turnout as the Hīkoi mō te Tiriti arrived at parliament. What did that say about the state of Crown-Māori relations? And how about those haka that reverberated around the world, from Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi Clarke and TJ Perenera? All that, a word on the introduction of the gang patch ban, and we pay tribute to former minister and MP for Auckland Central Nikki Kaye, who has died aged 44. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of New Zealand's largest-ever protest movements has concluded in Wellington. Tens of thousands of Kiwis took to the streets to oppose a government bill to re-define the Treaty of Waitangi, and how it is interpreted in law. - Десятки тысяч новозеландцев вышли на улицы, чтобы выступить против правительственного законопроекта о переосмыслении Договора Вайтанги и его юридической интерпретации.

One of New Zealand's largest-ever protest movements has concluded in Wellington. Tens of thousands of Kiwis took to the streets to oppose a government bill to re-define the Treaty of Waitangi, and how it is interpreted in law.

My friend loaded about a year's worth of our text history into Google's AI (privacy, what privacy?) — and instructed the AI to create a podcast about me based on those texts. That's what today's podcast is — just a couple of AI people talking to each other about me, based on nothing but a text thread between me and my friend. It's truly awful and I told Aaron as much. On top of this Joshua Drummond shares his latest big of art around New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.webworm.co/subscribe