Kind of happy he hasn't been rolled, I want to see him against other leaders in the election debates and to be thoroughly grilled by the journalists he has made it his mission to avoid.
That would be delightful. However the journalists doing the grilling in the debates are likely to be Hosking and some other sycophant of the TV channels choosing.
I hope he has a tougher path ahead than that but we'll see. I noticed he wasn't even prepared to take questions following the party confidence vote. Quite incredible really.
It seems pretty obvious that Luxon really has no understanding of anyone other than his own social group of wealthy and sorted despite what he says. Willis likewise.
Most of us will know the acronym WTF. I have another (closely related): WTT
Walking the Tightrope.
If I was Christopher Luxon or Nicola Willis, I’d consider enrolling in a gymnastics class. Of course, some gymnasts also have some knowledge of and experience in drama/theatre. Some have advanced circus skills. Some of the very best circus clowns have superb physical theatre skills. Cirque du Solei 🙏
My assessment looking on from afar (my partner and I live and work in Australia), is that the current circus masquerading as the National Party will not have many of their members smiling. I imagine the stress levels will be quite debilitating.
Walking a tightrope (or walking a slack rope) is tricky, and so easy to lose one’s balance. Even top elite-level athletes / performers (including American Olympian Simone Biles) get the ‘twisties’ sometimes.
But when someone acknowledges (as Simone Biles did with honesty and grace) that they have lost their confidence and need to navigate to find their way back to performances that they are happier with, I smile and give thanks that they express their humanity with humility. I so appreciate meeting or hearing about people who have learned to be openly vulnerable instead of being caged and imprisoned or tethered to an outsized ego.
The only thing we’re entitled to in my view, is to acknowledge we are but a tiny speck in the broad scheme of things. We don’t need to itch to manage or control everything and everybody. All citizens (particularly younger people with many more elections ahead of them) deserve to be inspired not deflated by those purporting to be leaders. I’m both disgusted and amused by Luxon’s comments about ‘Adults’ when his coalition government continue to enact policies that kick the ladder of economic and social opportunity out from underneath younger generations.
I’m not sure if Luxon and Willis are ready to change their behaviour. I suspect that Christopher and Nicola will each attempt to soldier on with their respective storytelling. Going into the election debates, I wonder if the ground has already shifted under their feet, which means that other stories not of their preference are circulating and will continue to grow in influence.
National may surprise the hell out of me and remove them both before the election on 7 November. I have no crystal ball. But like all voters in our democracy, I like clarity!
Great article Nick. With Luxon at the helm, nothing will change and National will continue to lose support, probably to either NZ First or Act. Even if the same COC is re-elected (heaven forbid), it will be with a much weakened National Government with both Act and NZ First being bigger tails wagging the dog more than ever before. This will definitely not benefit this country and its future.
On the other hand, being optimistic, Luxon might be just the gift that the Opposition parties are looking for to gain the Treasury benches.
That is why it is imperative that Chippy gets more supportive of Leftish Principles, instead of wobbling along in the Centrist lane as per usual....because it is the real Left-leaning voters that don't bother to vote, saying to all and sundry "what's the point, there's no bloody difference!"
No it's the unenrolled and the unengaged, the uninvolved who don't tend to vote. Most of them have other things on their minds, like feeding their kids or trying to find a job. That's why doing everything we can to enroll some of the 450,000 people not yet enrolled is our most important job. You can have all the slogans and left stuff you like. It makes you and me feel good, but if these people don't vote, we are stuffed. Now is the time for all good people to come to the aid of the Party (that's an old typing lesson I learned ages ago!)
Well that presser was a waste of time getting the popcorn ready. I was expecting, probably hoping more accurately hoping for Christopher Luxon to announce that he had resigned, and then I realized that there weren't any really suitable candidates to take his place.
It was all a bit anti-climatic which was a real let-down.
In saying all that, if Christopher Luxon can hang on to his job till November 7 it certainly won't be looking be looking good for National.
Now all we need is to make sure people are enrolled to vote as well as actually get out there and cast their vote.
Thinking about the Health issues. I am in Canada until 24 August. I have noticed a health issue. I emailed my Medical Centre and cannot get an appointment until 14 September. I have found there are walk-in clinics here in Ottawa. I went along about 10.30am and received an appointment for 2.20 pm. I returned and saw a doctor without a long wait. I was sent for a blood test and have a 9.30 am appointment tomorrow. Such a contrast to what Simeon Brown has reduced Aotearoa New Zealand too.
Ah, here's to Canada, " Oh Canada, glorious and free, my true and native land"...haven't been back there since 1965....was born and raised in a gold mining town in the Western Rocky Mts. up the Frazer River in the Interior of British Columbia, an old gold mining area....which is very probably why I am now based in Reefton on the West Coast which has an identical gold-mining history, years after my Canadian parents died here (ashes are in a certain beautiful river nearby). The only big difference here I is that I have to drive 50 k's into the new hospital in Greymouth, to its emergency ward to get seen by a doctor....would take well over a week here
My older brothers and sisters were born in Reefton Hospital Kim - way back when our health system worked well and the hospital was still there in that lovely town ... now it takes 5 weeks to see a doctor at the Greymouth Hospital Medical Centre ... have never known it to be this bad having come home to the Coast from Oz 19 years ago but then we've never had a banker as Health Minister have we!
One of my sons was born at Grey Hospital, 47 years ago, and it was not a pleasant experience...just the opposite of his older brother's birth at Hamilton, a much more 'enlightened' hospital a year and a half earlier...because the health system was already being run down, and Grey Hospital was very old...there is a new one there now, but all major operations have to be done "over the hill" as Reefton locals say, in Christchurch, Vicky....
It’s funny when I first heard yesterday that Luxon was tipped to resign I felt so happy that karma was kicking in for him. Then as the day wore on my excitement waned as I realised I actually just want them all gone.
Today’s outcome is hardly surprising but November 7 is getting closer by the day. Lefties let’s all focus now on supporting the solid leaders and teams we have to ensure we get rid of the worst government ever.
I was thinking today about those CTU (I think?) posters before the last election that showed Luxon in a pin-striped suit looking a bit like a Muldoon type super-villain. "Too out of touch, too much risk". They weren't wrong, but to be honest he wasn't even that interesting as it turned out. Just a big nothing, typical of his management type.
The next leadership battle may be for who tries to get "rescue" the party from a major defeat, or maybe who gets to lead a coalition with an even weaker position for National. God, I hope not that.
The thing I notice coming to the fore is that we elect 221 MP's with a democratic vote. Then 61 or a few more take over and toss out democracy! Not even a passing thought, but an immediate jump to domination and control. Why do we put up with slightly more than half of the original 121 as a complete take over of our democratic rights? We pay their wages, costs and perks - we should have more say!
Re the voter registration - we are registered at next door's address as our XXXa address still doesn't exist in some systems despite being registered nearly 4 years ago when the house was built.
I just can't believe it's even close (electoon outcome) the choices 1. A numpty 2. A racist, 3. A xenophobe or 4. Integrity 5. Inclusivity 6. Te au Maori.....a no brainer
You don't think CL's racist, that would mean he has shown no fortitude when others around him are removing Te Tiriti rights by adjusting legislation to the way they prefer such as Erica Stanford in the education portfolio. He might as well be racist then.
Luxon would have to be the most inept PMs this country has ever had. He certainly doesn't give a toss about us average kiwis as we are not rich and sorted.
Can't stand the sight of him and can't imagine what Amanda sees in him.
Kind of happy he hasn't been rolled, I want to see him against other leaders in the election debates and to be thoroughly grilled by the journalists he has made it his mission to avoid.
That would be delightful. However the journalists doing the grilling in the debates are likely to be Hosking and some other sycophant of the TV channels choosing.
I hope he has a tougher path ahead than that but we'll see. I noticed he wasn't even prepared to take questions following the party confidence vote. Quite incredible really.
He’s not ready. Resistant. Reluctant. But far from ready or fully prepared.
Is that his arrogance or cowardice or both? it's certainly his m.o.
It seems pretty obvious that Luxon really has no understanding of anyone other than his own social group of wealthy and sorted despite what he says. Willis likewise.
I agree with you Rachel.
Most of us will know the acronym WTF. I have another (closely related): WTT
Walking the Tightrope.
If I was Christopher Luxon or Nicola Willis, I’d consider enrolling in a gymnastics class. Of course, some gymnasts also have some knowledge of and experience in drama/theatre. Some have advanced circus skills. Some of the very best circus clowns have superb physical theatre skills. Cirque du Solei 🙏
My assessment looking on from afar (my partner and I live and work in Australia), is that the current circus masquerading as the National Party will not have many of their members smiling. I imagine the stress levels will be quite debilitating.
Walking a tightrope (or walking a slack rope) is tricky, and so easy to lose one’s balance. Even top elite-level athletes / performers (including American Olympian Simone Biles) get the ‘twisties’ sometimes.
But when someone acknowledges (as Simone Biles did with honesty and grace) that they have lost their confidence and need to navigate to find their way back to performances that they are happier with, I smile and give thanks that they express their humanity with humility. I so appreciate meeting or hearing about people who have learned to be openly vulnerable instead of being caged and imprisoned or tethered to an outsized ego.
The only thing we’re entitled to in my view, is to acknowledge we are but a tiny speck in the broad scheme of things. We don’t need to itch to manage or control everything and everybody. All citizens (particularly younger people with many more elections ahead of them) deserve to be inspired not deflated by those purporting to be leaders. I’m both disgusted and amused by Luxon’s comments about ‘Adults’ when his coalition government continue to enact policies that kick the ladder of economic and social opportunity out from underneath younger generations.
I’m not sure if Luxon and Willis are ready to change their behaviour. I suspect that Christopher and Nicola will each attempt to soldier on with their respective storytelling. Going into the election debates, I wonder if the ground has already shifted under their feet, which means that other stories not of their preference are circulating and will continue to grow in influence.
National may surprise the hell out of me and remove them both before the election on 7 November. I have no crystal ball. But like all voters in our democracy, I like clarity!
Yes - let us see how he performs (or not). What KPIs will Luxon’s leadership be measured against?
Great article Nick. With Luxon at the helm, nothing will change and National will continue to lose support, probably to either NZ First or Act. Even if the same COC is re-elected (heaven forbid), it will be with a much weakened National Government with both Act and NZ First being bigger tails wagging the dog more than ever before. This will definitely not benefit this country and its future.
On the other hand, being optimistic, Luxon might be just the gift that the Opposition parties are looking for to gain the Treasury benches.
That is why it is imperative that Chippy gets more supportive of Leftish Principles, instead of wobbling along in the Centrist lane as per usual....because it is the real Left-leaning voters that don't bother to vote, saying to all and sundry "what's the point, there's no bloody difference!"
No it's the unenrolled and the unengaged, the uninvolved who don't tend to vote. Most of them have other things on their minds, like feeding their kids or trying to find a job. That's why doing everything we can to enroll some of the 450,000 people not yet enrolled is our most important job. You can have all the slogans and left stuff you like. It makes you and me feel good, but if these people don't vote, we are stuffed. Now is the time for all good people to come to the aid of the Party (that's an old typing lesson I learned ages ago!)
Now is the time for all good people to come to the aid of the Parties. FIFY.
We need a strong vote for Labour and the Greens.
Agree Darien its the uninvolved who will make the difference. Back in the day it was all good men however people sounds much better.
Kia ora Nick.
Well that presser was a waste of time getting the popcorn ready. I was expecting, probably hoping more accurately hoping for Christopher Luxon to announce that he had resigned, and then I realized that there weren't any really suitable candidates to take his place.
It was all a bit anti-climatic which was a real let-down.
In saying all that, if Christopher Luxon can hang on to his job till November 7 it certainly won't be looking be looking good for National.
Now all we need is to make sure people are enrolled to vote as well as actually get out there and cast their vote.
Aotearoa depends on it.
I found the video of Luxon's press statement informative. I didn't listen to it - I watched the faces of the bunch behind him.
No one wanted National’s poisoned chalice…
To the contrary, if Matthew Hooton is to be believed, he won because the candidates ended up fighting among thenselves:
https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/361019246/posts-hooton-and-vance-discuss-nationals-real-villains
Oof, that was an interesting watch. Hooton sure isn't mincing his words!
Thinking about the Health issues. I am in Canada until 24 August. I have noticed a health issue. I emailed my Medical Centre and cannot get an appointment until 14 September. I have found there are walk-in clinics here in Ottawa. I went along about 10.30am and received an appointment for 2.20 pm. I returned and saw a doctor without a long wait. I was sent for a blood test and have a 9.30 am appointment tomorrow. Such a contrast to what Simeon Brown has reduced Aotearoa New Zealand too.
Ah, here's to Canada, " Oh Canada, glorious and free, my true and native land"...haven't been back there since 1965....was born and raised in a gold mining town in the Western Rocky Mts. up the Frazer River in the Interior of British Columbia, an old gold mining area....which is very probably why I am now based in Reefton on the West Coast which has an identical gold-mining history, years after my Canadian parents died here (ashes are in a certain beautiful river nearby). The only big difference here I is that I have to drive 50 k's into the new hospital in Greymouth, to its emergency ward to get seen by a doctor....would take well over a week here
My older brothers and sisters were born in Reefton Hospital Kim - way back when our health system worked well and the hospital was still there in that lovely town ... now it takes 5 weeks to see a doctor at the Greymouth Hospital Medical Centre ... have never known it to be this bad having come home to the Coast from Oz 19 years ago but then we've never had a banker as Health Minister have we!
Actually, its 50 miles so actually 80 ks
One of my sons was born at Grey Hospital, 47 years ago, and it was not a pleasant experience...just the opposite of his older brother's birth at Hamilton, a much more 'enlightened' hospital a year and a half earlier...because the health system was already being run down, and Grey Hospital was very old...there is a new one there now, but all major operations have to be done "over the hill" as Reefton locals say, in Christchurch, Vicky....
It’s funny when I first heard yesterday that Luxon was tipped to resign I felt so happy that karma was kicking in for him. Then as the day wore on my excitement waned as I realised I actually just want them all gone.
Today’s outcome is hardly surprising but November 7 is getting closer by the day. Lefties let’s all focus now on supporting the solid leaders and teams we have to ensure we get rid of the worst government ever.
I was thinking today about those CTU (I think?) posters before the last election that showed Luxon in a pin-striped suit looking a bit like a Muldoon type super-villain. "Too out of touch, too much risk". They weren't wrong, but to be honest he wasn't even that interesting as it turned out. Just a big nothing, typical of his management type.
The next leadership battle may be for who tries to get "rescue" the party from a major defeat, or maybe who gets to lead a coalition with an even weaker position for National. God, I hope not that.
I second that, Quentin, with bells on!!
The thing I notice coming to the fore is that we elect 221 MP's with a democratic vote. Then 61 or a few more take over and toss out democracy! Not even a passing thought, but an immediate jump to domination and control. Why do we put up with slightly more than half of the original 121 as a complete take over of our democratic rights? We pay their wages, costs and perks - we should have more say!
HEAR, HEAR!!!
Re the voter registration - we are registered at next door's address as our XXXa address still doesn't exist in some systems despite being registered nearly 4 years ago when the house was built.
I just can't believe it's even close (electoon outcome) the choices 1. A numpty 2. A racist, 3. A xenophobe or 4. Integrity 5. Inclusivity 6. Te au Maori.....a no brainer
He will be written in NZ history books as “the WORST political leader”. Best we make sure not to repeat this disaster
So, rolling him after the election, then, instead of before.
3:00 pm, Luxon announces how united his caucus is
4:49 pm, Chris Penk is sacked as a minister
That’s a union made in Heaven, isn’t it!?
I hate to think what discontent looks like in Luxo World…..😬
You don't think CL's racist, that would mean he has shown no fortitude when others around him are removing Te Tiriti rights by adjusting legislation to the way they prefer such as Erica Stanford in the education portfolio. He might as well be racist then.
Hear, hear Nick. Very well said!
Luxon would have to be the most inept PMs this country has ever had. He certainly doesn't give a toss about us average kiwis as we are not rich and sorted.
Can't stand the sight of him and can't imagine what Amanda sees in him.