Christopher Luxon is no John Key

Written By: - Date published: 10:13 am, February 1st, 2024 - 48 comments
Categories: chris hipkins, Christopher Luxon, israel, james shaw, national, Palestine - Tags:

Yesterday in Parliament Christopher Luxon showed that he is struggling on the job.

Good Prime Ministers have a solid grasp of the detail.  They are briefed, are on top of the facts and understand and are prepared for the variety of potential attacks on the Government’s position.  Helen Clark was extraordinary, Jacinda Ardern was exceptional and John Key was frustratingly good.  He was always well briefed, knew his stuff and was able to pivot and avoid traps.

Christopher Luxon is none of those.  Here is exhibit A in support of this statement.

And here is exhibit B.

His misunderstanding and mischaracterisation of the International Court of Justice decision on Palestine was particularly galling.  As shown in this exchange with Shaw:

Hon James Shaw: Is he aware that under article 1 of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, New Zealand has an obligation to take action to prevent genocide before it occurs?

Rt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON: I’m not sure the point of the question that the member is trying to ask or get to.

Hon James Shaw: Point of order, Mr Speaker. To assist the Prime Minister, the point of the question was to ask if he was aware of article 1 of the convention.

Rt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON: Personally not aware, but if he’d like to direct a specific question to the relevant Minister, I’m sure we could help.

Hon James Shaw: What actions is the Government taking to meet its obligations under article 1 of the genocide convention in light of the recent ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that found a plausible risk of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza?

Rt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON: It was a provisional finding, and it wasn’t a plausible risk.

Hon James Shaw: Is the Prime Minister aware that the ICJ did find that there was a plausible risk of genocide, which would—[Interruption]

SPEAKER: Excuse me; when a question is being asked, the House is silent. Start again.

Hon James Shaw: Is he aware that the ICJ did find that there is a plausible risk of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza—

Hon Chris Bishop: And not a genocide.

Hon James Shaw: —and that—

SPEAKER: Mr Bishop.

Hon James Shaw: —and that that would trigger New Zealand’s obligations under article 1 of the convention to take action to prevent genocide before it occurs?

Rt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON: The court did not make any findings that Israel has actually engaged in genocidal conduct.

Hon James Shaw: Is the Prime Minister aware that there is a difference between having found whether genocide has taken place or whether there is a plausible risk of genocide taking place, and that article 1 of the convention requires New Zealand to take action to prevent genocide before it occurs—i.e., when there is a plausible risk?

Rt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON: As I said earlier, the court did not make any findings that Israel has actually engaged in genocidal conduct. That is part of a full and substantive hearing that will take place in subsequent months and years.

The point is important because the ICJ clearly found it plausible that Israel’s actions could amount to genocide.  The consequence is, as pointed out by Shaw, that New Zealand is then required to take steps to prevent genocide.  A finding that it is plausible that genocide is occurring means that New Zealand and other States should take action.  Luxon has no understanding of the nuance of the question, nor even what New Zealand’s obligations under the treaty are.

And he had to come back to Parliament and correct his answer.  From Hansard:

Rt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON (Prime Minister): I seek leave to correct an answer I gave to a supplementary question during oral question No. 4 today.

SPEAKER: That’s to give a personal explanation?

Rt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON: Yes.

SPEAKER: Leave is sought. Is there any objection to that? There appears to be none.

Rt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON: I said that there wasn’t a plausible risk. What I should have said is that the court was not required to determine whether Israel had actually breached its obligations under the genocide convention. Therefore, the court did not make any findings that Israel has actually engaged in genocidal conduct. However, the court found that there is a plausible case that Israel’s conduct in Gaza may breach its obligations under the genocide convention. That will be the subject of a full and substantive hearing in the International Court of Justice.

From Hipkins’ questions it is clear that Labour has information that Casey Costello gave NZ First policy documents to Officials to then develop policy options for the Government.  I expect we will hear a lot more about this in the future.

In the meantime I suspect that National and Luxon are beginning to dread every time he stands up in the house.  And it is abundantly clear that in the house he is no John Key.

48 comments on “Christopher Luxon is no John Key ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Anne 1
    1 February 2024 at 10:30 am

    Goodness me mickysavage you're going to have to give up your day job if things continue as they are.

    I linked to those two "exhibits" yesterday on OM. I couldn't believe what I was seeing/hearing – the ignorance, the incompetence and the plainly wrong information.

    Of course some official/officials leaked the info. to Labour's Ayesha Verrall. They would have been justifiably appalled at what they were being asked to do. In short, they were whistle-blower/s and they have put a duty to inform before personal gain.

    • Res Publica 1.1
      1 February 2024 at 3:33 pm

      I wouldn't be so sure of that, Anne. Leaking to a news outlet is one thing. Doing so directly to an opposition spokesperson is quite another.

      As a public servant myself there's just something about it that makes me deeply uncomfortable. The right is already looking desperately for an excuse to sideline or purge the public service. And being seen to be taking sides in a political debate may just be the casus belli they've been looking for.

      Or maybe I'm just old-fashioned and believe strongly in the political neutrality of the public service, despite my fundamental disdain for the current government and its "policy" (if you're feeling charitable enough to call it that).

  2. Dennis Frank 2
    1 February 2024 at 11:10 am

    Lux had to correct himself sometime later: you definitely scored a point there! Risk of genocide seemed so hard for him to concede that he was initially forced into denial of the ICJ verdict which made him seem both stupid and perverse.

    So looks like his minder pointed this out & Lux then realised he was damaging his reputation. Fatal self-harm for a political leader!!

    Good on James & Marama for labouring the point. Lux played for time by kicking for the sideline. We'll see if parliament can comprehend risk management when they do their eventual diagnosis of the ICJ advisory…

    • Muttonbird 2.1
      1 February 2024 at 11:21 am

      National must wish they could have that minder sitting right next to Luxton in the chamber.

      • Dennis Frank 2.1.1
        1 February 2024 at 11:35 am

        Doubt it. Geopolitical risk isn't normal business in parliament so the ICJ is a curve-ball to be dodged. Only if debate in parliament were to focus on genocide prevention as risk management would the rarified heights of intellectual positioning become attainable, at which point his lack of intellect threatens to expose him. We will have to await the foreshadowed debate to see if this happens…

  3. Ghostwhowalks 3
    1 February 2024 at 11:27 am

    Dont forget the ministerial re-shuffle at the start of last week.

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/507629/prime-minister-announces-minor-cabinet-reshuffle

    Looks like he wasnt on top of what ministers would be doing back when it created his ministry

    National's Erica Stanford will become Minister for the Crown Response Unit of the Royal Commission Inquiry into Abuse in Care. She is already minister for Education and Immigration.

    ACT leader David Seymour will become Associate Justice Minister with responsibility for the Treaty Principles Bill.

    NZ First MP Mark Patterson adds Associate Regional Development to his Rural Communities and Associate Agriculture roles.

    NZ First's Jenny Marcroft, who is Parliamentary undersecretary for Media and Communications, will now also be Parliamentary Secretary for Oceans and Fisheries.

  4. Chris 4
    1 February 2024 at 11:39 am

    The kind of mistakes he keeps making suggests there's no remedy for his problem, that what ever it is that makes him so useless as a leader is very much part of who he is and how he's become hardwired to operate.

  5. SPC 5
    1 February 2024 at 11:44 am

    It is no surprise.

    Key had more experience in the House, and was Finance Spokesperson in the Brash campaign in 2005 before becoming leader and then PM after the 2008 election.

    Luxon is in the House becomes Leader, runs a campaign, forms a coalition and then has more learning to do about being a Minister in Cabinet and PM while answering questions in parliament.

    It is now up to the Opposition to stamp on the Ministers of the 3 parties acting independently of coalition policy (Cabinet policy) to develop and promote their party policy with the help of ministry (public) resources – which is a form of lobbying on behalf of their party donors. At least until Luxon demonstrates either an understanding of Cabinet responsibility or the role of the public service.

  6. Adrian 6
    1 February 2024 at 12:03 pm

    Don't agree SPC, a person who has attained the positions that Luxon has had should be a fast learner, he's not, ergo, he's an idiot who has one trick that has kept him afloat and that trick is bullshit with a side dressing of flannel.

    • SPC 6.1
      1 February 2024 at 12:11 pm

      A lot of the art of politics is learnt by osmosis, he is from outside that world.

      The same problem occurs within the public service with the neo-liberal tendency to bring in those of some "executive class".

      The type do not do complexity, procedure and nuance well.

    • Tony Veitch 6.2
      1 February 2024 at 12:53 pm

      What you seem to be suggesting, Adrian, is that Luxon would struggle to keep that job at McDonalds he posed for in the cover photo for Micky's post.

      Umm . . . I agree!

    • tc 6.3
      1 February 2024 at 1:04 pm

      Luxons a risk the hollow men are happy to take as they needed a fresh electable face they could craft the campaign around.

      Key also had heavy lifters like ryall, Joyce, blinglish and findlayson covering the bases.

      Opposition need to keep it simple and nag away consistently as a team for the country's sake.

  7. Mike the Lefty 7
    1 February 2024 at 12:09 pm

    It is the public face of an erstwhile coalition leader largely manipulated and outflanked by prime ministerial pretenders Seymour and Peters.

    They won't be complaining. Luxon's weakness is their strength and whilst it works that way their notional truce will continue.

  8. Tiger Mountain 8
    1 February 2024 at 12:34 pm

    Micky’s quoted questions and replies from Parliament illustrate much of the problem here.

    Is Mr 7 pads Luxury Baldrick Luxon, genuinely thick, lazy, mis-speaks, unprepared, unaware of Parliamentary procedure & public presentation, or just does not care that much?

    I guess we will find out in the next few months, for now watch him at Waitangi where he will likely do a bit of crawling and then square off afterwards. The Three Amigos–hey!!

  9. Stephen D 9
    1 February 2024 at 12:47 pm

    Another issue Luxon has is the cronyism and corruption within his government.

    Gun toting Judith Collins as Minister of Defence. The same, minister for Orivida as AG.

    Casey Costello, ex shill for The Taxpayer Union as a minister.

    Chris Bishop, current unaccredited big tobacco lobbyist, a senior minister.

    Nicole McKee, Firearms Minister, and gun lobbyist.

    Winston Peters, bought and paid for by the racing and commercial fishing industries.

    At some point these are going to blow up in Luxon's face. He does not have the political nous to be able to cope.

  10. alwyn 10
    1 February 2024 at 2:28 pm

    Micky has certainly given me one good laugh for the day.

    I would certainly agree that both Helen Clark and John Key were fully in control as to what their Governments were up to. However He also tells us that. "Good Prime Ministers have a solid grasp of the detail. They are briefed, are on top of the facts ……. Jacinda Ardern was exceptional and ……"

    Jacinda Ardern on top of the facts? You have got to be joking or, as John McEnroe put it "You cannot be serious"

    This was the woman who didn't know the difference between the Crown Accounts and the GDP figures. This was the woman who had no idea of what was in the Treaty of Waitangi and only came out with the words that Willie Jackson was whispering to her from behind her and which she couldn't expand on.

    On top of the facts? You cannot be serious.

    https://www.1news.co.nz/2019/02/04/jacinda-ardern-fumbles-over-what-treaty-of-waitangi-articles-say-article-one-on-the-spot/

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/107160622/prime-ministers-office-admits-mistake-over-arderns-economic-growth-hint-claim

    https://www.google.com/search?gs_ssp=eJzj4tTP1TcwKzc1sTBg9FLKys_IU8hNTs0ryk9VqMwvVUhOzMvLL1FISlUoTi3KzC8tBgBc9g_j&q=john+mcenroe+you+cannot+be+serious&oq=john+mcenroe+you+cannot+be&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqBwgBEC4YgAQyCggAEAAY4wIYgAQyBwgBEC4YgAQyBggCEEUYOTIICAMQABgWGB7SAQoyNTMyNGowajE1qAIAsAIA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:50750c96,vid:t0hK1wyrrAU,st:0

    • Ad 10.1
      1 February 2024 at 2:56 pm

      She's gone Alwyn.

      Chris Luxon is the Prime Minister now.

      • alwyn 10.1.1
        1 February 2024 at 3:02 pm

        I suggest that you tell Micky about that. He was the one who brought up Helen, Jacinda and John.

        I am pretty sure that no-one under 20 can remember when Helen Clark was PM. They wouldn't have started school when she left Office but Micky still retains the happy memories of his youth.

        • Dennis Frank 10.1.1.1
          1 February 2024 at 3:19 pm

          I agree that his correlation of Jacinda & facts seems rather loopy & you've reminded us of her track record effectively. I'm inclined to explain that as not due to any inherent incapacity however.

          Seems to me having a young child will always reduce one's attention span & which facts are relevant is subjective anyway. Plus a leader is meant to lead from a big-picture view which often means helpers mind the details.

          Helen's track record on the relevance of Greens values to politics was total ignorance/evasion till Al Gore's movie forced her to get real so obviously she was too stupid to grasp the scientific facts until then. Key was a fact-free zone in all directions until political necessity forced him to confront them in particular situations. So poor old MS clocks in a score of 0/3 for accuracy.

          No matter, a political essay can still succeed despite being fictional on one particular dimension! His did, I reckon.

          • Louis 10.1.1.1.1
            1 February 2024 at 6:49 pm

            "Jacinda & facts seems rather loopy." Such as? two examples mentioned @10 do not demonstrate that.

            "Seems to me having a young child will always reduce one's attention span & which facts are relevant is subjective anyway" Saw no evidence of that, that is sexist rubbish.

            • Dennis Frank 10.1.1.1.1.1
              1 February 2024 at 6:57 pm

              Grow up. Any parent of young children will correct your view real fast.

              • Louis …
                1 February 2024 at 8:04 pm

                The topic was Jacinda, not any other parent and as I said, I saw no evidence regarding your sexist, belittling remark. Jacinda was always sharp as a tack.

                • Dennis Frank …
                  1 February 2024 at 8:21 pm

                  You really believe she's not typical in that situation?? Your grasp of reality really is rather marginal. Anyway her lack of interest in relevant details of situations was so widely reported in the media for so long I don't really need to advocate the common view. Your ignorance of that suffices to demonstrate your lack of credibility.

                  Best demo is this unicorn hunt: search for the reported instances of Jacinda explaining the details of Labour's adoption of co-governance. Bet you can't find any! angel

        • Louis 10.1.1.2
          1 February 2024 at 6:11 pm

          MS used the former prime Ministers as a comparison to Luxon, whose lack of knowledge, understanding, and inexperience is showing.

    • Louis 10.2
      1 February 2024 at 6:09 pm

      Winston was coaching Luxon on what to say during question time. 2 weak examples do not show that Jacinda was not on top of the facts, because she most definitely was and she demonstrated that through post-cab pressers, media interviews, daily updates during the pandemic, and question time.

    • observer 10.3
      1 February 2024 at 7:23 pm

      [to Alwyn]

      Complete nonsense. The opposition kept complaining that Ardern was given too much TV time. They thought it was unfair, because she used that time so effectively.

      If you asked the current opposition if Luxon should hold daily press conferences live on TV, and answer more questions in the House, they would say "please, please let it happen". He is a walking gift.

      This week Luxon even cancelled the weekly post-Cabinet press conference.

  11. Ad 11
    1 February 2024 at 2:54 pm

    With both Minister of Justice and Minister of Foreign Affairs in Australia, Luxon is an open mark for Hipkins.

    As Sepuloni has noted, they had 3 separate corrections after making their Parliamentary responses to questions given well in advance.

    I'm looking forward to Hipkins and Shaw exploiting this Parliamentary question time to its fullest.

    • Robert Guyton 11.1
      1 February 2024 at 4:02 pm

      Yes.

    • Tom 11.2
      1 February 2024 at 7:31 pm

      Luxon will learn. He is new to the game, and a fast learner. Hipkins in comparison has been there for years, it's been his only job. He was woeful as prime minister and got routed in the election. He will get the occasional success, as he seemed to today, but these will become few and far between. He will be gone by the next election. Luxon will be at his best in his second term.

  12. roblogic 12
    1 February 2024 at 3:38 pm

    Luxon is a flake

    • SPC 12.1
      1 February 2024 at 3:43 pm

      A lot of learning is by osmosis, the agitation of the water helps the flakes to work.

      As will an opposition asking the right questions of a government out of its depth.

  13. observer 13
    1 February 2024 at 7:34 pm

    I don't ask a right-wing PM to favour leftish policies. I don't expect him to be the PM I want.

    But couldn't he at least buy a dictionary? Maybe read a book? Anything to expand his vocabulary beyond a handful of cliches.

    On the 6 pm news tonight he was asked about Costello, and even if you didn't see it, you already know … "What I would say to you is … Look … what I would say to you …"

    His language bingo card has about four phrases. Smallest bingo card ever.

    • Dennis Frank 13.1
      1 February 2024 at 7:40 pm

      And more credit is due – he also said at the end of the day. Bit late for speech training, unfortunately.

  14. ianmac 14
    1 February 2024 at 10:01 pm

    There is a rumour going around that Luxon's sister in law works for American Tobacco.

    Don't know how to link to Instagram but she is Barbara Luxon and is their Marketing Manager living in Christchurch.

    Remembering the anger poured on the Maori Minister for connections to her husband, I guess Christopher will have some explaining to do.

  15. Corey 15
    2 February 2024 at 11:21 am

    Gosh Bishop is a tosser, like father like son I guess…. "I will never be coming back to this Cafe again"… Ugh…

    I totally agree with Shaws findings.

    I will however remind everyone on the left that we totally underestimated John Key and from 06-16 said exactly the same things we said about Key, that we are now saying about Luxon.

    Noone on the left ever took Key seriously or thought he was competent while he was PM, Noone on the left was ever able to understand why he was popular, people mocked him for the way he talked, his weird statements that had to be corrected and his inexperience, his wealth, being a corporate banker etc

    And it NEVER dinged his popularity.

    I don't like Luxon but history is repeating all over again.

    We're totally underestimating this dude who took national from it's second worst defeat in history to government in two years and Labour have only beaten him in a couple of polls in two years.

    Attacking leaders on inexperience doesnt work, kiwis HATE professional politicians.

    Attacking him on his corporate career doesn't work cos kiwis like hearing that their leaders had jobs before parliament

    Attacking him on his wealth doesn't work because people think one day they too will be rich and bear "oh they are jealous of his success"

    Attacking him on the way he talks doesn't work because it's just mean.

    Attacking him for not being popular doesn't work because it's a bit rich since he won an election and the LOTO is polling at 13%

    Attacking him for owning multiple houses doesn't work especially when most of the other side do too.

    We never beat John Key, he resigned while polling in the high 40's and early 50's….

    Luxon took a splintered broken terminally ill party into govt in less than two years.

    We always underestimated Key we never took Key seriously and we are doing the same thing with Luxon and attacking him in the same ineffective ways we attacked key.

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    New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
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    1 week ago

  • Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder list
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    1 week ago

  • Judicial appointments announced
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  • Education Minister heads to major teaching summit in Singapore
    Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa.  The summit is co-hosted ...
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    1 week ago

  • Value of stopbank project proven during cyclone
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  • Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
    Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul.    “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
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  • Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
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  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
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  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
    The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
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    1 week ago

  • Taupō takes pole position
    The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
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    1 week ago

  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners.  “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
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  • Government backing mussel spat project
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  • Government focused on getting people into work
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    1 week ago

  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
    The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
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    1 week ago

  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
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    1 week ago

  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
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    2 weeks ago

  • Government consults on extending coastal permits for ports
    RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
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    2 weeks ago

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