Podcast appearances and mentions of christopher luxon

The Prime Minister has fronted the media, with a full-throated defence of both the governments economic response to the Iran War and his leadership. He said the media went a bit bananas last week about his leadership following Friday's disastorous poll which had his National party languishing on 28 percent - but he insists he's not going anywhere. Deputy political editor Craig McCulloch spoke to Lisa Owen.

Luxon - 1, media - 0. After no small effort on the media's part to drum up a crisis on a bad poll, there's two important points and we can put this whole nonsense to bed. 1) Luxon doesn't have a coup brewing. Despite all the detractors' best efforts, there is no one counting numbers. The nearest they have managed to get is Chris Bishop, who was more interested in being in India over the weekend than lining up a new job for the new week. Also, we don't vote for Prime Ministers. They are not presidents. We vote for parties and policies and results. If you like National you don't not vote National because the leader isn't to your taste. 2) The revelation from the Curia poll, that on one hand they tried to tell you how unpopular Luxon was with a net negative rating of -19. It turns out Bishop is about as bad on -14. Erica Stanford is -16. Everyone is underwater. Chuck in Winston, Seymour, and Hipkins, you'll see no one is in positive territory and that tells you a couple of things as well. We live in an era where likeability is irrelevant because we hate everyone. Post-Covid we have never got over the funk, so as much as you want to bang on about Luxon not connecting, according to the numbers, no one connects. It's all over the world. Trump is underwater, Starmer is underwater, Albanese is underwater and Macron is underwater. Chris Minns who runs New South Wales is popular currently because of his handling of Bondi. Apart from that pick a politician because we hate them all. In the likeability numbers, the likes of which we see in the TV1 poll, if Hipkins was 50% and Luxon was 20% then that's an issue. But they aren't. They both have been stuck at about 20% forever and all the others are below that. That's why none of this matters. In the past the polls have shown an answer, a suitor, a name that drives a bit of fizz. We have no such names. Now, you can debate the merits or otherwise of great leaders with great personalities, or lack of them. But we are where we are and none of the current lot will go down as Churchill's, to paraphrase Trump. And Churchill, by the way, for a lot of the time wasn't popular either. So let's see this nonsense for what it is: we are voting on the economy, not show-men. There is no coup, this is but one poll. Mountain versus molehill. A waste of time. Let's all try and do a lot better. There is too much at stake. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight, on The Panel, Wallace Chapman is joined by panellists Leonie Freeman and Richard Pamatatau. First up, The Panel crosses live to Doha and Al Jazeera: what is the sense of those working there on how long this Middle East war will continue? then the Panel discusses the new Supreme Leader of Iran, Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei. Then, Christopher Luxon starts a new week with the spectre of nightmare poll results breathing down his neck. Where to for him here? Will he survive to the election?

The latest Taxpayers' Union poll is out and it is a total horror show for the National Party. At just 28 percent, we are looking at the very real possibility of a one-term government. Duncan breaks down why Christopher Luxon is digging his heels in despite the "death rattle" coming from the Beehive. We ask if the caucus has the guts to make a move before it is too late. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Christopher Luxon is at risk of sounding a bit like Joe Biden. You'll remember the former US president bungled that election debate with Donald Trump and then people started calling for him to go and he said he wasn't standing down. Christopher Luxon sounded a bit like that when he was on Newstalk ZB on Friday afternoon and this morning. He said he was “absolutely not” considering standing down. That the only thing he was thinking about was the future of our kids and grandkids. I think he's absolutely right not to be thinking about standing down. Not that I think his colleagues won't try to roll him. That could happen. And, when I heard him on Friday, I wondered whether his denial of having any thoughts about standing down was a message for us or a message for his caucus. I'm in no doubt he was talking to his colleagues. Telling them very publicly that he's not going anywhere. He said he has no idea where the talk about him considering his future came from. He also said “hand on heart” he will still be Prime Minister and leader of the National Party when this year's election comes around. So not considering his future in the slightest. Nor should he. While I don't think he's anywhere near the best prime minister we've ever had nor the best leader National has ever had, he's not the worst of a pretty average bunch. Over the weekend, a poll came out saying that 51 percent of people want to see a new leader of the National party. But that same poll showed that the likes of Erica Stanford's star has faded a bit with voters. The other thing too with her and other names mentioned, such as Mark Mitchell is that, while they have impressed people with their portfolio work, do you reckon they'd be any good at being across everything? Could you imagine Mark Mitchell or Erica Stanford talking about inflation with any great authority? Chris Bishop would probably be the most credible on that front. Another reason why I think Luxon should stay, is that this is his moment to show that he can hold a steady course when things hit the fan. It's his chance to show that he can keep a team together when things are going a bit pear-shaped. Reason number three: the last thing this country needs right now is more turbulence. There's enough going on. Changing prime minister is way different than Labour changing leader back in 2017 when it was in Opposition. If Chrisopher Luxon is the leader he seems to think he is, then he'll ignore all that noise. Not for his sake. But for the sake of the country. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister's leadership within his own party is being questioned after he didn't fare well in a Taxpayers' Union poll this week. It has National down 2.9 points to 28.4% - but most notably, it suggests that the centre-left bloc could form a government in November. It'll be very tight though, with 61 seats for the left and 59 for the right. Luxon sits at 21% for preferred prime minister, while Hipkins is at 22.7%. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

OPINION: Luxon should not bow down to negative polls. What a weekend it's been for Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. And strangely enough, the whole situation really kicked off right here on this show on Friday morning with a little chat with Nicola Willis. The results of the poll were out, people were talking about miserable they were, the Nicola Willis interview kicked it off. It started the conversation again — a question about pressure and about how bad a poll has to be before a change in leadership is talked about — and then suddenly it grew legs. By the afternoon it was on national television, it was on Heather du Plessis-Allan's show, and the Prime Minister himself was fronting it. And he said it clearly - he is absolutely not stepping down. Now I've got to tell you something honestly — all Friday afternoon I kept thinking to myself, good. I hope he doesn't quit. Because look around the world right now. Everywhere you go, people are unhappy with the leader they've got. Why? Governments are being hammered by economic pressure, global instability, wars, the aftershocks of the pandemic, and recession. It's not exactly an easy time to be in charge of a country. The latest polling hasn't been kind to Luxon. A Freshwater Strategy poll reported by The Post shows 51% of voters say he should be replaced as National Party leader, while only 36% believe he should stay. Now, another survey from Curia Market Research put the New Zealand National Party at 28.4% support, its lowest level under Luxon. So yes, there's pressure. But here's the thing that really struck me over the weekend — most of that push for change isn't coming from National voters. The polling shows 67% of National supporters still back Luxon, and 60% of ACT voters support him too. The loudest calls for him to go are coming from Labour, Green, and Te Pāti Māori supporters. Which raises a pretty obvious question. Why on earth would a governing party sack its leader because the opposition wants them gone? Of course they want them gone, they'' want anyone gone. And then we get into the horse-race stuff. If Luxon were pushed out, the poll says Chris Bishop would be the most preferred replacement on 18%, followed by Nicola Willis on 11%, Erica Stanford on 10%, and Mark Mitchell on 9%. But here's my view. Changing Prime Minister in the middle of a tough economic recovery is exactly the kind of instability New Zealand does not need right now. We've come through COVID. We've been through inflation. We've had interest rates crushing households. We've had a recession. We've had tariffs. Globally we're watching wars in the Middle East and instability all over the world. This is not the moment for political musical chairs. So, my message to Christopher Luxon is pretty simple this morning. Don't quit. Don't wobble. Don't let the noise get to you. I want you to - front up. Stand up. Be stronger. New Zealand doesn't need another leadership drama right now. What it needs is steady leadership — even if it's not perfect — while the country gets itself back on track. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Well, it was an interesting end of the week when it comes to domestic politics. With rumours swelling on Friday that the Prime Minister was considering his future over the weekend, he had to act quickly. There was absolutely no way he could go into the weekend with even the hint of speculation he was considering his future. When a sitting Prime Minister signals they are “considering their future”, it is almost always politically damaging. In parliamentary systems like ours, leadership authority depends heavily on perceived confidence and control. Once a leader questions themselves publicly it rapidly weakens their position with the party and the electorate. Honesty and transparency in this case doesn't buy sympathy, it is more likely to create a trigger moment that encourages internal challengers. Be anything but unequivocal on Friday and the Prime Minister may as well have poured himself a Coke No Sugar and started planning a nice winter getaway. The sudden announcement he would appear on Heather de Plessis-Allan Drive just after 5pm on Friday evening was unusual enough to raise an eyebrow. But he was turning up to do exactly what needed to be done to remain credible - to get ahead of the story. He explained to Heather why he decided to appear - to set the story straight. After some easily clipped soundbites from his party deputy Nicola Willis, who told ZB's Wellington Morning host Nick Willis that it hadn't been a “great week for the Prime Minister”, Christopher Luxon made it very clear that he has the full support of his team and caucus. Since then, everyone has been very well behaved. Over the last few days, I've been reflecting on what a tough gig it is. There's quite a lot of luck and timing involved in being a successful Prime Minister. A successful career in politics isn't just about talent and ability, or the possession of that rare relatable charisma - it also comes down to what the country and the world throws at you. And - let's not forget - what the previous Government left you. Look around the world and most leaders are dealing with the same issues we have - a slow economic recovery, the high cost of living, housing, a weird international trade environment, and much more. We haven't seen much alternative policy from opposition parties to show us there are other, more likely to be successful, scenarios under alternative leadership that we're currently missing out on. The reality is that the recovery was going to be difficult for whoever was in charge. But it's especially difficult for a leader who takes on a cheerleading role with the vigour Luxon does. There's a disconnect between the aspirational words and the reality of a Government that's cutting rather than growing as much as we'd like, and when signs the economy is finally turning the corner are likely to squashed by conflict in the Middle East. The only thing keeping Luxon in play is his ability to control his troops, the party's desire to avoid the instability that comes with changing leadership, and the lack of an obvious replacement who could win an election. But history tells us that if the polls continue to trend downwards for the Nats, the Prime Minister may be organising that mid-winter break before you know it. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pressure's mounting on Christopher Luxon after a horror poll has his party slumping three points to its lowest level since the Judith Collins era. The Taxpayers' Union Curia poll released today has National on 28.4 percent, six points behind Labour. Support for the Greens, ACT, and Te Pati Māori have grown. Former National Party MP Simon O'Connor spoke to Lisa Owen.

The Prime Minister says he is not considering stepping down after a sobering poll result that has the National party dropping into the twenties. Senior national ministers defended Christopher Luxon as news of the Taxpayers Unions Curia poll landed today. Labour says it shows the Prime Minister is out of touch, but the Deputy Prime Minister says the coalition has a plan to fix the economy. Political reporter Lillian Hanly has more.

The National Party is in a total tailspin. With a new poll putting them at just 28.4 percent, Christopher Luxon is reportedly heading home to contemplate his future. Former National Minister Maurice Williamson joins Duncan to discuss why the party has lost its way, the "ghastly" alternative, and whether Luxon can actually survive the weekend as Prime Minister. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Taxpayers'-Union Curia poll revealed this morning that Christopher Luxon's National Party has sunk to its lowest result in the poll since 2021. National is sitting on 28.4%, down 2.9 points from February's poll. The result sparked conversation around whether Luxon should step down. Luxon joined Heather du Plessis-Allan to defend his position and says he is 'absolutely not' stepping down. LISTEN ABOVE OR WATCH BELOW See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Friday, 6 March, 2026, prime minister Christopher Luxon is adamant he's not standing down after another poor poll for the National Party. We talk petrol prices with one of our fuel companies. TVNZ's chief executive insists its news coverage isn't biased. And on the Sports Huddle, Elliott Smith and Clay Wilson discuss the Warriors chances in the NRL this season. Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An explosive poll shows National has reached its lowest result since forming a Government, as Labour climbs ahead. The Taxpayers' Union-Curia poll has Labour on 34.4% as National drops six points behind to 28.4%. The Greens are on 10.5%, with NZ First trailing slightly on 9.7%, ACT on 7.5%, and Te Pati Māori on 3.2%. Director of Sherson Willis, Trish Sherson told Kerre Woodham the poll is a warning light. She says 28% isn't a death certificate, but it does indicate that National has a connection problem as well as a numbers problem. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The pressure is well and truly on for Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. We break down a brutal new poll that shows National's support tanking to just 28 percent. Duncan explains why senior figures are telling Luxon to head home and consider his future over the weekend. Is this the beginning of the end for his leadership? We look at the potential contenders waiting in the wings. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is it 1-1? The Prime Minister dug himself a hole over Iran. Barbara Edmonds dug herself a hole in the NZ Herald. As far as holes go, I regard the Luxon hole as slightly less problematic, given the war is not in our direct purview and there is nothing we can do about it. But it does display the ongoing issue the Prime Minister appears to have with many New Zealanders: he doesn't look like he is confident and he doesn't tell it like it is. In a world where people who tell it like it is generally succeed, he is still playing 'Mr Nice Guy' and getting trapped by a media pack who love the smell of blood. Edmonds is a real worry. She too, is nice. So nice, she told us quite openly getting a surplus isn't happening anytime soon and she doesn't have a clue how to pay for the most expensive promise they have made – restoring pay equity. You can argue around the dual mandate for the Reserve Bank but that's wonk's territory. Dollars and cents are real and it's our back pocket that is affected. A sad outworking of MMP is we have an increasing number of inexperienced players in the game of running the joint. Luxon knows business, which ties into the economy, which is why things are starting to turn for us. This Government has done a decent job on it. He is an amateur on foreign policy. You only had to listen to Winston Peters yesterday on this show to know that people who have been there, done that, have seen the world change therefore, can explain it. And Winston doesn't take crap from juniors, which is what too much of the Press Gallery is made up of. The nuance and sophistication of reporting is largely gone and replaced by clickbaiters and Luxon, being too nice a guy and too inexperienced in certain areas, walks right into it. Barbara on the other hand is entitled to her views. But this is why Labour won't win the election. She has clearly learned nothing from watching Grant Robertson butcher the place and because that was only three years ago the memories of the voters are still sharp. So in a guns at dawn, Luxon wins because foreign policy jibber-jabber isn't as serious as economic sabotage and incompetence. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The PM ponders the latest GDT Auction (up 5.7%), Trump's attacks on Iran, the media’s attacks on Luxon, and the Golden Shears and World Shearing Champs.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to Christopher Luxon, Michael Harvey, Maegen Blom, Jack O'Connor, and Matt Bolger. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Leaders Getting Coffee episode 57 part 2, we continue out chat with The Right Honourable Christopher Luxon, Prime Minister of New Zealand. Following on from last week, we get deeper into his past two years as Prime Minister, the recent India Free Trade Agreement, and whether he would work another term alongside coalition partners Winston Peters and David Seymour. There is no escaping Christopher Luxon’s aspiration for New Zealand nor his passion for the role that he now occupies. He’s driven by outcomes rather than slogans and that reflects in his attitude about the election campaign ahead. And if he could flick a switch, what’s the one thing he would like to change?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are we still living in the same country that told America what to do with its nuclear-powered and nuclear-armed ships? Are we still living in the same country that declared itself a nuclear-free zone? Which had Washington throwing its toys and telling us that it wouldn't be sharing intelligence with us if its ships weren't welcome. But that didn't put us off and the no nukes policy has been in place ever since. That was back in 1984. Fast-forward to 2026 and it is a completely different story. Which is why we've got former foreign affairs minister Phil Goff saying today that Christopher Luxon and Winston Peters are scared of US president Donald Trump. He says the Government's response to US and Israel attacking Iran has been “weak and uncertain”. Which it has. Not only that. Phil Goff is also saying today that New Zealand no longer has the courage to speak freely on international matters. He says the Government knows full well that Donald Trump's claim he was just responding to an imminent threat from Iran is nonsense. Fake news. Phil Goff says the Government also knows full well that the attacks on Iran are illegal. But it's too scared to say so because it's worried about what reaction it might get from, as Goff puts it, a president who is “volatile, unpredictable and vindictive”. He's not getting any argument on the volatile and unpredictable bit from former defence minister Wayne Mapp, who says that's exactly why the Government should be careful what it says. Because Trump is contrary and you never know what he's going to do. Wayne Mapp says: “You do something that really upsets President Trump, you're likely to be slapped with a 10 percent, 20 percent, 30 percent tariff.” And he says the way the Government is handling things protects New Zealand's interests. I disagree. Because, if we want to be an independent, confident country, we have to take a stand on things - just like we did back in the 1980s with the nuclear thing. Christopher Luxon's background as a CEO is his undoing in situations like this. Because chief executives are terrified of chaos. They like to have all their ducks lined-up before they make a decision or before they take a position on something. They are the people who run everything past HR and the legal team because uncertainty is no friend of your chief executive. So, of course, Christopher Luxon is going to say wishy-washy things like New Zealand “acknowledges” the attacks on Iran. Of course, he's going to say it's up to the US and Israel to determine whether the attacks are legal or not, because they're the ones with all the information in front of them. Anyone expecting anything different is dreaming. And, because of that, Phil Goff is right. We are running scared and we have lost the courage to speak freely on international matters. Courage we used to have in spades. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jeremy Moses is Associate Professor in Political Science and International Relations at the University of Canterbury in Ōtautahi Christchurch, New Zealand. His broad area of research interest is in theories of international relations, with a particular focus on issues surrounding humanitarianism, war, pacifism, and military technologies. Jeremy joins us tonight LIVE at 9pm to talk about the ethics of war, just war and we look at the current conflict to see who are the good guys and who are the bad. Christopher Luxon has walked back his comments yesterday that NZ would support "any action" to stop the Iranian regime. We look at more of NZ's response from other political leaders today.Donald Trump has struggled to explain why he launched another Middle Eastern war today and informed American's that this war will likely take longer than he first indicated.++++++++++++++++++++Like us on Facebook.com/BigHairyNetwork Follow us on Twitter.com/@bighairynetworkFollowing us on TikTok.com/@bighairynetworkSupport us on Patreon www.patreon.com/c/BigHairyNewsCheck out our merch https://bhn.nz/shop/Donate to our work https://bhn.nz/shop/donation/

The Prime Minister's being accused of playing politics over Iran. Christopher Luxon says the Government will make a decision very shortly on whether to designate Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist entity. Former Foreign Minister Phil Goff told Ryan Bridge if Luxon wanted to take a stand, he should have done it already, as moving now would look opportunistic. He's questioning why the Government's treating Iran differently than countries like Russia, and thinks we need consistency. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

FIRST WITH YESTERDAY'S NEWS (highlights from Monday on Newstalk ZB) The Rules No Longer Apply/The Luxon Paradox/No Issues for Me, Thanks/Bermtalk ZBSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Unrest in the Middle East continues. I watched that stand-up from the Prime Minister and I've got to be honest with you — I walked away feeling uneasy. Not because I expect a New Zealand Prime Minister to be a Middle East historian. We're a small country. Our politics is usually about rates, roads, schools, the price of butter. I get that. But when the world tips into crisis —when the United States and Israel launch strikes on Iran— that's not a domestic moment. That's what I call an international flashpoint. That's oil prices, security alliances, global instability, the rules-based order we rely on as a small trading nation. And I'm sorry, that performance didn't fill me with confidence. On Sunday, Christopher Luxon and Winston Peters said the Government “acknowledged” the US and Israeli action, but wouldn't say whether New Zealand supported it. On Monday morning, pressed to explain what “acknowledge” actually meant, the Prime Minister struggled to articulate it. He repeated that the Iranian regime is “evil” —and many would agree, given its repression at home and behaviour abroad— but that wasn't really the question. The question is: where does New Zealand stand? Under international law, military intervention has a high bar. Pre-emptive self-defence is defined narrowly under the century-old Caroline doctrine – the threat must be “instant, overwhelming, leaving no choice of means and no moment for deliberation.” Luxon said he hadn't seen intelligence, hadn't asked for any beyond regular briefings, and those matters were “to be determined”. That's the moment I thought: hang on. You don't have to reveal classified material, but you do have to look like you're in command. Former Foreign and Defence Minister Phil Goff spoke to Ryan Bridge this morning, questioning why the Government hadn't already ruled the Iranian Regime a terrorist organization. You do have to project calm authority. You do have to explain the principles guiding the country. Instead, it felt uncomfortable. Out of his depth. Out of his comfort zone. And maybe that's the brutal truth of politics – you don't get to choose when the world tests you. You don't get to say, “this isn't my portfolio". If you're Prime Minister, every crisis is your crisis. So here's the question I want to put to you tonight: Did you feel confident watching Christopher Luxon handle that moment? Did you feel like he was in control? Like he understood the stakes? Like he knew exactly where New Zealand sits in a conflict like this? Or did you, like me, feel it was one of the weakest stand-ups you've seen from a Prime Minister in a long time? Because in times of international tension, tone matters. Clarity matters. Leadership under pressure matters. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister says New Zealand has never supported the Iranian regime. Christopher Luxon told Mike Hosking that it's a regime which has brutally repressed it's own people, killed tens of thousands, and sponsored terrorism around the world. He also said that the missile strikes were 'independent attacks' from the US and Israel, and that New Zealand was not informed of the attacks before they happened. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to Jacob Siermans, Mark Leslie, Allan Dippie, Jen Corkran, and Christopher Luxon.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The PM ponders Trump’s tariffs and the potential of selling Pāmu. He also discusses the industry kickback against the RMA rural reforms and falling electricity prices. Plus, the fall of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor (the artist formerly known as Prince).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to Christopher Luxon, Hunter McGregor, and Stephen Guerin. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Leaders Getting Coffee episode 57, our guest is The Right Honourable Christopher Luxon, Prime Minister of New Zealand. A typical Kiwi upbringing was a hallmark of young Christopher Luxon’s life. The oldest of three brothers, he grew up in Christchurch and later Auckland, with working parents and a work ethic that was obvious early. He was a sports mad kid, but it didn’t stop there. Walking home one afternoon he decided to cold call the neighbourhood homes to see if he could sell his services as a window cleaner. A business was born. It’s owner-operator just 14 years old. He returned to his hometown of Christchurch for his university studies before his corporate career took hold. Starting as a management trainee with global consumer goods giant Unilever, it was a company and a career that took him around the world. He worked in Australia, the United Kingdom and the USA before his eventual appointment as President and CEO of Unilever Canada. In 2011, he returned to New Zealand for a senior executive role at Air New Zealand and a year later he was appointed CEO, a role he held for seven years. That he walked away from such a spectacular business career is a story in itself. Within four years, and after just three years as a Member of Parliament, he became New Zealand’s 42nd Prime Minister. In the Leaders Getting Coffee podcast, Christopher Luxon talks openly with Bruce Cotterill about his short but spectacular rise in New Zealand’s political scene. He is surprisingly open about his successes and failures in government to date and equally forthright about the assembly and operation of a coalition that has held together better than many expected.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister says New Zealand would support the U-K government - if it decides to remove Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the line of succession. The former prince was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office - over allegations that he'd sent confidential documents to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Christopher Luxon says government officials from NZ and the UK have been in contact over the issue in the past week. Meanwhile, Aucklanders have also weighed in, many saying that Mr Mountbatten-Windsor should be removed from succession.

Credit to those 120 business people who went along to hear Chris Hipkins' State of the Nation address yesterday, hosted by the Auckland Business Chamber. Credit to those few people who watched it live, like my colleague Mike Hosking. My word, it was dull. And that is not me being a lickspittle mouthpiece for the Tory overlords. Have a listen to this: “I know we didn't get everything right when we were in government last time. Many of you have been very clear on what you think we did wrong. But one thing is clear, we were trying to do too much, too fast, and we weren't focused enough. We're going to be making further announcements later in the year as we get closer to the election. But I want to be very, very clear on this. I want to know that I can deliver on any promises that I make. That's the standard that I'll be holding myself to and our next Labour Government to. “Because frankly, Kiwis have had enough of promises that aren't kept. And I don't want to repeat that cycle. We won't try and do everything in our first term. We'll be focusing on what matters the most and delivering on those things. I'm not promising perfection. Where we make mistakes, I'll take responsibility for those. But I'm promising this: a government that puts the cost of living first, a government that partners with business to create jobs and raise wages, a government that invests in our people and backs our potential. Not just managing the country, building it.” Yes. So there was another 20 odd minutes of the same, 20 odd minutes. He banged on about affordability, that word was used a lot. Repeated the mantra I first heard when he came in for the quarterly catch up, and which we will no doubt hear throughout the campaign: jobs, health, homes. He went big on renewable energy, promised Labour would scrap the Government's proposed gas import terminal. Also went big on his future fund. As speeches go, he was no JFK. It is not one for the history books. But commentators say that was by design, like Tim Murphy from Newsroom. Tim says this was Labour trying to convey maturity, a little contrition, humility, and to claim it could be the adult in the room now and after the November 7 election. Luke Malpass from The Press says the speech was to present as a calm port in a cost of living storm, to be dependable, reliable, and boring even. That was the aim. Well, that's something Labour's achieved. Above all else, says Luke, at this stage of the game, to not change the strategy that has served Labour well so far, which is not say much, not do much, not announce much. And it has worked for them. When there is nothing that you can argue against, it's steady as she goes. They're just letting the Coalition Government make mistakes, or not work fast enough, or not be snazzy enough for the electorate, and they're just sitting there and collecting the votes of the centre, who are underwhelmed by the Coalition Government. Basically, they're saying vote for this Chris because he's not Christopher Luxon and we're not National. But that works both ways. You might not be wowed by the Coalition Government and the Prime Minister, but the message could be at least they're not Labour, Greens, and Te Pāti Māori, and at least Christopher Luxon isn't the Chris that was in charge last time. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This morning we spoke to the Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon; We spoke to Auckland Council, they're asking for the government to do more about dog control laws; There's pushback from homeless advocates following the government's new move-on laws, we spoke to Auckland City Missioner Helen Robinson; Julie White from the Travel Agent's association joined us as confusion grows over UK passport and visa requirements; And, we spoke Shaun Robinson from the Mental Health Foundation about the rise in weather anxiety.

Questions to Ministers Hon CARMEL SEPULONI to the Minister for Pacific Peoples: Does he agree with Christopher Luxon's statement about Pasifika, "We're gonna make sure we deliver for them"; if so, why? Hon JULIE ANNE GENTER to the Minister of Finance: Does she stand by her statement, "As Finance Minister, I take responsibility for managing our Government's books ... I am the Ministerial colleague who takes pride in scrutinising the dollars, in reading through the business cases, and having the courage to say 'no' when proposals don't stack up"? Hon Dr AYESHA VERRALL to the Minister of Health: Does he still believe that supporting locally trained nurses is key to growing the health system's nursing workforce; if not, why not? RYAN HAMILTON to the Minister of Finance: What reports has she seen on the economy? Hon KIERAN McANULTY to the Minister of Housing: Does he stand by all his statements and actions? TODD STEPHENSON to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all of the Government's statements and actions? SAM UFFINDELL to the Minister of Health: What recent announcements has he made about enabling 12-month prescriptions for patients? LEMAUGA LYDIA SOSENE to the Minister of Internal Affairs: Is she confident that Fire and Emergency New Zealand is doing everything it can to ensure firefighters are receiving a fair deal; if so, why? RIMA NAKHLE to the Minister of Education: What announcement has she made regarding school property? SHANAN HALBERT to the Minister for Universities: Does he think that current student loan levels are sufficient to allow students to focus on their studies; if so, why? MILES ANDERSON to the Minister for Tourism and Hospitality: What recent progress has she seen on tourism and major events in New Zealand? HANA-RAWHITI MAIPI-CLARKE to the Minister for Emergency Management and Recovery: Does he agree with the Prime Minister that "Iwi and marae are very good at emergency management. They don't just stand up for iwi, they stand up for the entire community"?

There are numerous approaches to management: Legacy, Ideological, Corporate, and Political Management. These combine to produce a system that cannot sustain long-term strategies. “Cultivation Management is the alternative.” According to Dr Mike Schmidt, it is also the approach that Christopher Luxon needs to adopt to retain his Prime Ministership. And then there's the question; can Mr Luxon afford to bypass the advice Schmidt has to offer? Advice that is equally applicable to most other forms of management. You can decide for yourself. And we visit The Mailroom with Mrs Producer. File your comments and complaints at Leighton@newstalkzb.co.nz OR Carolyn@newstalkzb.co.nz Haven't listened to a podcast before? Check out our simple how-to guide. Listen here on iHeartRadio Leighton Smith's podcast also available on iTunes:To subscribe via iTunes click here See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to Christopher Luxon, Emma Higgins, Adam Thompson, Mitch Highett, and Craig Wiggins. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister ponders the prospect of a managed retreat from flooding, a sobering infrastructure plan, National Lamb Day and the state of the rural economy, and why one of his MPs is letting the side down.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duncan asks the tough questions about who is actually running the show at National. With a floated $9 toll for the Auckland Harbor Bridge and new electricity levies, the party of "no new taxes" is looking a lot like the opposition. We dive into why these "optics" are making voters sick and whether Christopher Luxon is losing his grip on the party's economic soul. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Winston Peters is back with a familiar policy to abolish the Maori seats. We look at why his timing is shrewd and why it's making Christopher Luxon look so weak. Damien Grant and Jordan Williams join us to debate the future of our democracy. Plus, we dig into the cultural leave story the mainstream media refused to touch. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The prime minister celebrates great results for New Zealand’s red meat sector, discusses RMA reforms, and rules out a water tax.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to Christopher Luxon, Sir David Fagan, Bryce McKenzie, Bruce Weir, Vanessa Winning, Simon Beamish, and Hamish McKay.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to Mark Warren, Mike Casey, Nathan Guy, Chris Hipkins, Winston Peters, and Christopher Luxon.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister reminisces about his t-shirt faux pas from last year’s barbecue, before discussing the free trade agreement with India.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to Nathan Guy, Chris Hipkins, Winston Peters, Christopher Luxon, Kate Acland, Todd McClay, David Seymour, Jono Pemberton, Steve Abel, and Todd Charteris.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This morning we spoke to the prime minister, Christopher Luxon, plus the Transport minister Chris Bishop joined us as repairs to roads hit by severe weather continue; It's a big week for Auckland, with the convention centre opening, and the Sail GP foiling its way into town. We spoke to mayor Wayne Brown; We were joined by our reporter Timothy Brown who covered the Christchurch mosque attacks in detail, as the gunman attempts to appeal his convictions; Wellington Water Chief Executive Pat Dougherty says locals may have to stay out of the water for months, he joined us live.

It was meant to be our year. That's what we were told. But as 2026 kicks off, the numbers are telling a very different story. Inflation is back up, unemployment is rising, and interest rates may not be done yet. On the podcast, Duncan Garner asks the hard question. Where are the green shoots we were promised? And what does it mean for Christopher Luxon as the election clock starts ticking loudly? Duncan is joined by Bob McCoskrie and Ashley Church to unpack the credibility problem facing the government, why voters are running out of patience, and how economic pain is still hitting households where it counts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Prime Minister insists the government and iwi are aligned on improving outcomes for Māori, as he makes his return to Waitangi. Christopher Luxon is back at the Treaty Grounds after skipping last year - and has met face-to-face with iwi leaders. Political reporter Giles Dexter is at Waitangi

We were straight out of the blocks this morning, talking to the father of running sensation Sam Ruthe following his record-breaking run in Boston; Plus, the prime minister, Christopher Luxon, joined us; ADHD medication can now be prescribed by GPs and nurse practitioners. This morning we spoke to the father of someone with ADHD who says cost is still a major barrier to treatment; And, we spoke to the Transport Accident Investigation Commission following an incident involving a tourist boat at Akaroa at the weekend; Plus, Michael Baker joined us to tell us more about the Nipah virus that's sparked warnings for kiwis travelling overseas.

Chris Luxon says the Government had major "up front" concerns about joining Donald Trump's Board of Peace. New Zealand has joined other western countries in declining an invitation. The Prime Minister says the one-billion-US-dollars required to join the Board of Peace would be better spent on schools, roads and hospitals. He told Mike Hosking that it will be better for Middle Eastern countries to be on the board, since it will be focused on the Middle East. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The prime minister says it could take up to six months to remove masses of soil dumped on damaged roads on the East Cape from last week's storm. Christopher Luxon visited weather-hit Te Araroa and Hicks Bay by helicopter, and spoke to media at the Tai Rawhiti emergency coordination centre. Like locals, he's bracing for a long and tough road ahead. The PM's comparing the devastation in some places to 20-23's Cyclone Gabrielle. Meanwhile, work has just resumed at Mount Maunganui a week on from the deadly land-slip there. Rescue workers were pulled out of the disaster site this morning after technology that had been installed to monitor land movement was triggered and work suspended. It came ahead of a vigil tonight for a community still reeling over the deaths of six people. Kim Baker Wilson spoke to Lisa Owen.

As Christopher Luxon announced an election date of November 7, a strip of the North Island was under siege from another bout of brutal weather. As the clean-up and recovery continues, and families and communities grieve the loss of nine lives, questions swirl around the response. In the first Gone By Lunchtime for 2026, Annabelle Lee-Mather, Ben Thomas and Toby Manhire assess that response, and ask whether the bigger picture around climate adaptation and mitigation will filter through the forthcoming campaign. The year begins, meanwhile, with incessant geopolitical disorder emanating from the White House. As Mark Carney sets out his stall in compelling fashion at Davos, what does the Canadian prime minister's "new world order" approach have in common with Christopher Luxon's, where do they differ, and is New Zealand's prime minister on an election-year collision course with a foreign minister set upon below-parapet foreign relations and flirting with the thought of quitting the World Health Organisation? Speaking of Winston Peters, his New Zealand First Party has enjoyed a bump in recent polling. Could they emulate the populist-nationalist trends in Australia and the UK and climb even further? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices