National’s next leader?

Written By: - Date published: 7:53 am, June 20th, 2019 - 112 comments
Categories: Judith Collins, national, same old national, Simon Bridges - Tags:

If twitter is any guide the next leader of the Parliamentary National Party may have been announced.  Although he is not yet an MP so his ascension will not be immediate.

From the Herald:

Air New Zealand chief executive Christopher Luxon has hinted at a move into politics as he resigned from the national carrier this evening.

“I would like to think more about how I can best use my skills, abilities and experience to make a further contribution to the success of New Zealand whether that be through corporate life, politics or a not for profit,” Luxon said in a statement.

Luxon has regularly been talked about as a possible National Party candidate.

But in May, Luxon dismissed claims he was considering standing for National in the Botany seat.

Air New Zealand’s chairman Tony Carter also previously dismissed such claims, telling NewstalkZB that Luxon had told him he remained committed to the company.

National Party leader Simon Bridges said he had not yet spoken to Luxon yet “but we are always looking for talented people.”

Certainly Heather Du Plessis-Allan thinks that Chris is the man.  Yesterday she said this:

Christopher Luxon is said to be firmly focused on becoming PM. I’m told he’s considered how to time his run in order to maximise his chances at becoming PM. He’s said to have studied Jacinda Ardern’s elevation from MP to leader to Prime Minister – with a view to emulating it.

You can never really call these things with accuracy, but Luxon may well have what it takes.

He’s good on TV. He’s got warmth and likeability. That counts for a lot. It’s what makes Jacinda Ardern popular.

He’s got economic credentials. He’s spent seven years running one of the most popular companies in the country. Economic credentials matter, especially to National voters. It’s at least part of what made John Key popular.

He has green credentials. Under his leadership, Air New Zealand has pitched itself quite aggressively as something of a “green” airline. That matters to the National Party which is keen on neutering any suggestion they’re being left behind on climate-change politics.

And he’s got conservative credentials. He’s a Christian and a family man. Again, that matters, especially to National Party voters.

Clearly there is a lot of media management going on with this announcement.  And if it happens it will be a vote of no confidence in both Simon Bridges and Judith Collins.

This morning Luxon said that he would consider the matter over summer and that politics is something that he is interested in.

He is running …

 

 

112 comments on “National’s next leader? ”

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  1. Neville Winsley 1
    20 June 2019 at 7:56 am

    So , the guy in charge of those awful safety videos huh?

    • mickysavage 1.1
      20 June 2019 at 8:00 am

      Heh!

    • ankerawshark 1.2
      20 June 2019 at 9:40 am

      Yes really object to those videos. some ie. the super models one was darn right sexist (maybe earlier than his watch)…….Try to avoid flying Air NZ at all costs. Stingy with a n meal trans Tasman. Probably catering jobs gone as a result……

      But anyway, back to Christopher. National must now know they have no one who can beat Jacinda. I wonder how Judith's (and Pukish) is doing with this news??????

      I hate the idea of NZ being run again by a CEO. I don't think that is a good fit for the role. NZ is not a business. Its a country. I don't know the guy, but imagine him dealing with CHCH. We owe so much to Jacinda.

      • Phil 1.2.1
        20 June 2019 at 2:50 pm

        Try to avoid flying Air NZ at all costs.

        I've literally never met a single person who would avoid Air NZ when the other option available to them is Jetstar.

        • ankerawshark 1.2.1.1
          22 June 2019 at 7:25 pm

          Phil, I honestly prefer Jetstar. Have never had a problem with them.

    • woodart 1.3
      21 June 2019 at 10:24 am

      so ,does this mean air NZ planes have parachutes?

  2. Hamish Stevenson 2
    20 June 2019 at 8:12 am

    "Conservative credentials .. a Christian.."
    That puts me right off him immediately.

    • Phil 2.1
      20 June 2019 at 12:49 pm

      There's 'Christian' and then there's "Christian", ya know?

      Thankfully we don't have the infestation of Christian Taliban here like, say, the US Republicans (perhaps with the notable exception of Brian Tamaki?)

    • Enough is Enough 2.2
      20 June 2019 at 1:04 pm

      Do you care to elaborate on that?

  3. Stuart Munro. 3
    20 June 2019 at 8:18 am

    Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from unsettling dreams to find the leader of the opposition had been transformed into a monstrous vermin.

  4. Sacha 4
    20 June 2019 at 8:32 am

    Interviewed on the TVNZ Breakfast show, Luxon said he does not currently belong to a political party but that National would be the most logical fit, and that he has not been discussing a role with them, including with his "friend" the ex-PM.

    • ankerawshark 4.1
      20 June 2019 at 9:41 am

      Sacha @4, yeah right…………he's a liar

      • michelle 4.1.1
        25 June 2019 at 1:28 pm

        he will fit in good with national another liar to add to their pool of liars

    • lprent 4.2
      20 June 2019 at 10:23 am

      Sure looks like a PR organisation not doing the across media – doesn't it?

      Jez this is starting to get repetitive and desperate. How many dangling baits have we seen for just the last month. Act on the weekend. Some random christian MP last month along with his Destiny

      Someone in National is really having a conniption at the thought of depending on just Simon and just National for the next election.

      • greywarshark 4.2.1
        20 June 2019 at 10:46 am

        Dangling baits. Good one. I have this vision of a trailing fishing line with a tasty bait to see if we'll jump and hook ourselves. Are they after rainbow trout, kingfish, hoki tokey, parrot fish, flying fish etc?

      • Kat 4.2.2
        20 June 2019 at 10:48 am

        And this comment "Luxon said National leader Simon Bridges could win an election" I guess his saving grace is he didn't say what kind of an election but one would assume it was the general one we have every three years to elect a govt that he was thinking of. The powers that be at National will have to have their hands down a few more rabbit holes before they find the right bunny.

    • Janet 4.3
      20 June 2019 at 2:08 pm

      Better he join TOP and then we have a fresh new party and a fresh new man beginning.

  5. bwaghorn 5
    20 June 2019 at 8:37 am

    ""green airline""

    Bit of an oxymoron for the morons.

    Must mean hes good at bullshit

  6. Dukeofurl 6
    20 June 2019 at 8:44 am

    He seems to have jumped on the fetish for those little badgey things on the lapel.

    • WeTheBleeple 6.1
      20 June 2019 at 9:00 am

      It's all about image

      A premature ejaculation in a suit, or:

      A premature ejaculation in a suit wearing a silver fern badge.

      A christian. Great. Jesus is gonna ride in on a cloud, like a politician being helicoptered in but way cooler… so no need for these pesky alarmists and their global catastrophe concerns. Armageddon will save us.

      Thoughts and prayers and growth.

      • higherstandard 6.1.1
        20 June 2019 at 9:56 am

        'A christian. Great. Jesus is gonna ride in on a cloud, like a politician being helicoptered in but way cooler… so no need for these pesky alarmists and their global catastrophe concerns. Armageddon will save us.'

        Yes because all Christians must be climate change deniers…

        🙄

    • greywarshark 6.2
      20 June 2019 at 11:14 am

      When Luxon gets into the international melee of Chief Overseers, financial finaglers, strutters and spenders overseas at one of the wealth conferences such as Bilderberg they look to see what branch the person belongs to. It's probably the main distinguishing feature for a lot of them.

      Just looked up Wealth Conferences and saw one being held by the CFA Society in Toronto. Couldn't find the actual name. This is becoming a regular occurrence of acronym jargon that communicates nothing to the uninitiated. I did a separated search and apparently it means Chartered Financial Analyst Institute. But this is CFA Society. Could it be Canadian….?

      So looked further and got the information. All this just to find a name. How many people are able to get informed with that much effort when they are working with a cellphone, even the device as big as a paperback? We sure do need Wikileaks when information about a company name is designed to be obscure, or just aimed at the in-group.

      And we are so disorganised and scattered we citizen thinkers, in comparison with the 15,000 financial analysts all sitting the same exams with the same diplomas – the suits army of the capitalists really.

      CFA Societies in Canada is an alliance of the 12 Canadian member societies of CFA Institute, with over 15,000 combined members in Canada. CFA Institute is the global body that administers the Chartered Financial Analyst exam and sets voluntary, ethics-based performance-reporting standards for the investment industry. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CFA_Institute (Interesting that there is a banner at top of Wikpedia page advising of a LGBT Photo Drive encouraging photos to celebrate Pride.)

      And they are relatively comfortable – salaries at 2015:

      Toronto, August 11, 2015 – Canadian professionals holding the Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA) designation earned an average of $280,454 in 2014 up from $239,215 in 2011, according to the results of a compensation survey released by CFA Societies Canada. Notably, the median compensation level among survey participants was $147,550

      https://environicsresearch.com/insights/cfa-compensation/

    • Phil 6.3
      20 June 2019 at 12:45 pm

      those little badgey things on the lapel

      Pocket squares are making a comeback and I will only consider voting for a male MP if they know how to wear one well.

  7. Kevin 7
    20 June 2019 at 8:56 am

    Nice suit.

    If you like shiny.

    • Anne 7.1
      20 June 2019 at 11:13 am

      I wonder if it has tiny specks of green-stone weaved into the fabric like John Key's suit?

      Edit: or was it paua shell?

  8. Chris T 8
    20 June 2019 at 9:04 am

    Luxon will run and probably end up leader of the party at some stage, but it won't be till after the next election.

    And unless something outrageous happens with Soimun, no one in National is stupid enough to try to take the leadership atm as after Ch Ch Labour should walk it and it is currently just a poison chalice job.

    • Shadrach 8.1
      20 June 2019 at 10:25 am

      Of course. But it's still the best comedy of the day reading the hysterical reactions of some contributors here.

      • higherstandard 8.1.1
        20 June 2019 at 10:30 am

        True that, if however he'd come out and professed a deep desire to join Labour or the Greens, all and sundry would've no doubt been doing the bumhole remora dance.

        • Psycho Milt 8.1.1.1
          20 June 2019 at 11:21 am

          If, however, the conservative Christian CEO had professed a deep desire to join Labour or the Greens, it would mean either that Labour or the Greens were no longer leftist or environmentalist parties, or that ice skates and sleds had suddenly become popular in Hell.

          • higherstandard 8.1.1.1.1
            20 June 2019 at 12:08 pm

            NZ Labour and the NZ Greens are leftist environmentalist parties ?

            Magic mushroom omelets for breakfast again Milt ?

            • mauī 8.1.1.1.1.1
              20 June 2019 at 12:45 pm

              What number 'shroom are we up to today? Seems there's a problem understanding the written language.

            • Psycho Milt 8.1.1.1.1.2
              20 June 2019 at 4:41 pm

              It's all relative. To me, National is a rightist and anti-environmentalist party. To a conservative Christian CEO, Labour and the Greens are leftist and/or environmentalist parties.

          • Shadrach 8.1.1.1.2
            20 June 2019 at 12:58 pm

            "…it would mean either that Labour or the Greens were no longer leftist or environmentalist parties…"

            The horse bolted on both accounts some time ago. Welcome to 2019.

          • solkta 8.1.1.1.3
            20 June 2019 at 1:21 pm

            lol

      • Chris T 8.1.2
        20 June 2019 at 10:42 am

        Lol

        True

        • greywarshark 8.1.2.1
          20 June 2019 at 11:19 am

          A lovely triad of terminators Chris T, Shadrach and bendigo – ah no, higherstandard. All trying for higher standards, and oh so trying.

          • Stuart Munro. 8.1.2.1.1
            20 June 2019 at 12:42 pm

            Actually I feel they've been gazumped – Gozzie too – the Chairman has left them and their vacuous spite in the dust.

            • higherstandard 8.1.2.1.1.1
              20 June 2019 at 1:02 pm

              Eh Up Don Quixote…how's it hanging today ?

              • Stuart Munro. …
                20 June 2019 at 3:31 pm

                Ah the titterati have joined us.

                Why don't you have a good scoff at something lower standard – you know you couldn't make an actual argument to save your trivial life.

            • greywarshark 8.1.2.1.1.2
              20 June 2019 at 2:09 pm

              A race to the bottom eh!

              • Stuart Munro. …
                20 June 2019 at 3:35 pm

                They remind me of that old story about the sons whose brother's horse crossed the finish line last would inherit their parents' wealth – they take extraordinary pains to go nowhere at all.

                They need to change horses essentially, they'd do a much better job than incumbent National (a mighty low bar admittedly).

  9. Tiger Mountain 9
    20 June 2019 at 9:12 am

    What a wanker!

    Another know it all from the corporate arena–though that will likely make no odds for certain New Zealanders.

    Air New Zealand, rescued at various times by the taxpayer, refuses to cough up a social dividend via cheap flights to the regions, so it is reasonably easy to predict who this latest bald headed wannabe will be representing in Parliament.

    • tc 9.1
      20 June 2019 at 9:38 am

      he's well qualified to be a nat MP after his slash and burn corporate work and being part of the chch old boys club is a bonus.

    • Chris T 9.2
      20 June 2019 at 10:44 am

      So then why did Ardern chose him to be head of her business advisory panel?

  10. AB 10
    20 June 2019 at 9:36 am

    A 'maximum net worth' restriction on who can become an MP has some appeal. It places some restraint on people who already have economic power from doubling-down and adding political power on top. Obviously it's anti-democratic on the surface – but you can't have a proper democracy where there are wide disparities of pre-existing economic power.

    • greywarshark 10.1
      20 June 2019 at 11:24 am

      Every well-run system has some practical rules. And every system needs its rules to be reviewed at certain times, and changes made to keep it fit for purpose.

      Note: Westminster system seems to need one. USA Constitution seems to have weakened over the centuries, cough, cough. They should remember that old quip about death – 'It's not the cough that carries you off, It's the coffin they carry you off in'.

    • Shadrach 10.2
      20 June 2019 at 1:55 pm

      And while we're at it, we'll ban anyone who has been a beneficiary, because they've already taken enough money off the tax payer.

      And we'll ban anyone who has been a union leader, because they already have power and influence amongst organised labour.

      And we'll ban anyone who has previously spoken in support of socialism, because everything it touches turns to shite.

      By the time we've finished, it will just be a small handful of people voting who are approved by a Wellington politburo.

  11. mauī 11
    20 June 2019 at 10:04 am

    That would be one way to trash a legacy. Preside over people dying waiting for ops, bulldozing houses of the vulnerable and doing dodgy deals with a straight face. But the shareholders in "NZ" would be ok. What a way to leave your mark on the country.

  12. Incognito 12
    20 June 2019 at 10:29 am

    It is a dire reflection on National’s “green credentials” that they need to import these through an ex-CEO of an airline. If their policy portfolio and party values were not good enough as they are, a person who is seriously concerned about climate change and the environment would never be a ‘natural fit’ in the party. Enough said.

  13. Sabine 13
    20 June 2019 at 10:50 am

    surely this is good news for Paula Benefit

  14. Psycho Milt 14
    20 June 2019 at 11:18 am

    Under his leadership, Air New Zealand has pitched itself quite aggressively as something of a “green” airline.

    What next, a "green" coal-fired power station? Still, if he can sell journos on the idea of an airline having "green" credentials, he should be able to handle the tough job of selling voters on the idea of National giving a shit about the environment.

  15. roblogic 15
    20 June 2019 at 11:26 am

    I've run into Luxon briefly a couple of times and liked him on a personal level. I could see him as PM, and he'd probably be quite good, whatever party he joins. Dunno why he'd want to join National, it's a dysfunctional nest of vipers. A tilt at the mayoralty of Auckland would be a better move IMO

    • tc 15.1
      20 June 2019 at 11:50 am

      National have the resources and Luxon's a corporate mercenary. Follow the money as always.

    • Sacha 15.2
      20 June 2019 at 6:45 pm

      Mayor of Ak has less real power than a member of the kitchen cabinet, plus have you seen those braying dingbats from the eastern bays they have to deal with?

  16. Red Blooded One 16
    20 June 2019 at 11:27 am

    Lord Luxon is the man who oversaw the slashing of staff wages to save a buck, pulled out of the regions to save a buck, and now sees his work has taken the airline from consistently top in airline ratings to not even in the top ten this year, he is an ideal National Party Leader and the epitome of the phrase 'a man who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.'

    • Phil 16.1
      20 June 2019 at 2:57 pm

      …taken the airline from consistently top in airline ratings to not even in the top ten this year.

      I don't think that's a reflection of Air NZ getting worse, more that everyone else just coming up to a similar level of service/quality as Air NZ always has.

  17. Dean Reynolds 17
    20 June 2019 at 11:28 am

    What this says to NZ is that National, the biggest caucus in Parliament, is so full of Joe averages & useless time servers that they need an elaborate scheme to helicopter in a potential leader from outside – what a bunch of losers

    • Higherstandard 17.1
      20 June 2019 at 12:11 pm

      'What this says to NZ is that National, the biggest caucus in Parliament, is so full of Joe averages & useless time servers that they need an elaborate scheme to helicopter in a potential leader from outside – what a bunch of losers'

      Why on earth would you expect the talent pool in National to be any different to that in other parliamentary parties in NZ ?

      • Incognito 17.1.1
        20 June 2019 at 12:34 pm

        Quite! I’d expect National’s talent pool to be inferior and heavily skewed towards ‘real life’ experience such as farming, property investment, finance, and corporate management.

      • Dean Reynolds 17.1.2
        20 June 2019 at 2:39 pm

        National's talent pool is different to most other parties, because when, like National, you have been enslaved for the last 30 years to the vile doctrine of neo liberalism, you finally reach the bottom of the barrel. National is now like Act before it imploded – a party of crooks & psychopaths, (Shipley, Key, Collins). The neo libs are social darwinists – the strong claw their way to the top on the backs of others, the weakest go to the wall & the rest are left struggling for a foothold. Over time, this drives out of the Nat Party, anyone with true ability or any decency & leaves what we now see – the Nat caucus, full of delusional, dog eat dog nobodies. Want further proof? Look at the feral leadership in the other neo lib parties of the West – Trump, Boris Johnson, Dutton & Scomo in Australia

    • Enough is Enough 17.2
      20 June 2019 at 1:41 pm

      What a ridiculous comment.

      Probably a quarter of the National MPs that were there at the beginning of this term will have moved on to better things by the time the next term begins (English, Joyce, Findlayson to begin with)

      Who replaces them?

      Why not try and attract an exceptional CEO?

  18. ianmac 18
    20 June 2019 at 11:30 am

    So true Dean.

  19. Gabby 19
    20 June 2019 at 12:40 pm

    He looks like the lovechild of Rob Muldoon and SirPonyboy. Is there a lab somewhere?

    • Prickles 19.1
      20 June 2019 at 12:51 pm

      Mirror image the left side of his face and then the right – you'll see two completely different people. Himself – and then the face he shows to the world. But which is which?

  20. Aaron 20
    20 June 2019 at 1:02 pm

    Interesting that they're citing Jacinda's elevation to PM as a role model. Obviously looking to appeal to the "middle" voters who decide each election and appear as a 'moderate'.

    Equally obvious is; he's actually following the John Key model – and it wouldn't surprise me to hear he has been actively headhunted by National Party insiders who are dismayed at the talent on offer in the current crop of MPs – just like they were after 1999

    I mean, who would follow a plan that involves pushing your party popularity down to disasterous levels and then hoping your leader will step down at just the right moment to gain a winning momentum but not long enough to be properly tested on policy issues?

    anyone?

  21. SHG 21
    20 June 2019 at 1:28 pm

    “Conservative credentials .. a Christian..”
    That puts me right off him immediately.

    Careful comrade, under Little’s proposed new Human Rights Act you would now be guilty of hate speech.

  22. observer 22
    20 June 2019 at 2:18 pm

    This really doesn't help National at all. Better if he'd just quietly finished up at Air NZ, and got on the party list for 2020. He may well prove to be a capable MP long-term, we'll see.

    But no, he's in a very obvious hurry: doing the round of media interviews (all channels today) and boosting his profile. So both Bridges and Collins are being undermined. The Nat caucus will be saying "We support the leader!" and then when he is dumped before the next election, "We support the new leader!", while speculation continues about leader number 3 and which seat he'll be given.

    Some Nat voters are even getting excited about a by-election before the 2020 election, which would be even worse: "Hello, I'm Simon/Judith/Amy, I want to be the next PM but nobody thinks I can win so I want you to vote for Chris so that I won't be PM."

    Great message, eh?

    • greywarshark 22.1
      20 June 2019 at 4:59 pm

      Could work. You could be advisor to the stars.

    • Graeme 22.2
      20 June 2019 at 6:48 pm

      doing the round of media interviews (all channels today) and boosting his profile.

      Going by the piece on RNZ it looks more like he's trying to dampen down the speculation. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/392520/air-new-zealand-boss-christopher-luxon-weigh-options-for-future

      He said the speculation about whether or not he would stand for the National Party was only that, although he was not ruling it out.

      "And so I know, there's a lot of conjecture, but there's been no conversation about that whatsoever."

      Looks more like another case of National’s friends leaping in to try and hold the narrative.

      • observer 22.2.1
        20 June 2019 at 7:24 pm

        "damping down speculation" … heh. Because that's how it's done, right?

        "I am not a candidate for President of the United States. Even though people keep telling me they want me to run, I am not running. Even if they were to sign the petition (available at Totally-Not-Running-Dot-Something) to beg me to run. I do not seek office for myself, I only wish to serve, but if the people continue to beg me to serve who am I to put myself first? Excuse me, I have a dozen other interviews lined up, must go …"

        He's on TV3's Project right now. Not running.

        • Graeme 22.2.1.1
          20 June 2019 at 9:59 pm

          Idle thought. Two CEO's answerable to John Key depart in a couple of days, one of them for being a rather naughty boy, the other is looking for utu?

          This is getting bizarre

  23. greywarshark 23
    20 June 2019 at 2:25 pm

    Someone who advertises that he is a Christian to elevate himself as having integrity as part pf his 'cv' immediately rouses my suspicions. There are many types of Christian, some more hopeful than others. The sort who advertises it is unto self-advancement and considers s/he sits at the right hand of God – and is prepared to act as locum at any time.

    • observer 23.1
      20 June 2019 at 2:28 pm

      The columnist's words are not his.

      • greywarshark 23.1.1
        20 June 2019 at 4:57 pm

        So does she/he watch his Saturday and Sunday movements? Or has he been pictured ineeling and kissing the earth for another air-accident free day?

    • RedLogix 23.2
      20 June 2019 at 4:59 pm

      Someone who advertises that he is a Christian to elevate himself as having integrity as part pf his 'cv' immediately rouses my suspicions.

      On the other hand what if was he a Muslim do you think? Would it be Islamophobia to hold such irrational suspicions?

      • greywarshark 23.2.1
        20 June 2019 at 5:06 pm

        There would be different reactions. Capitalism has turned Christianity into a brand, which has been marketed in the USA by televangelists and those who seek 'high purity' ratings, ie against abortion, for literal bible stuff.

        There are different levels of Christianity and the goodness and with to show love to humanity in general. Noticeable in their absence among some.

  24. Fireblade 24
    20 June 2019 at 2:52 pm

    The National Party desperately need an effective Finance Spokesperson, Amy Adams is really struggling. I'm certain Mr Luxon would do a better job.

  25. Peter 25
    20 June 2019 at 4:44 pm

    Flying Luxon in? Check out Judith Collins' face after 3:30. 😊

    https://www.parliament.nz/en/watch-parliament/ondemand?itemId=207426

  26. Adrian 26
    20 June 2019 at 4:49 pm

    He'd be better off in the Judean Peoples Front… or was it the J…..

  27. rod 27
    20 June 2019 at 4:58 pm

    How much is he worth?

  28. CHCoff 28
    20 June 2019 at 5:43 pm

    National, the retirement economy party, is a polite way of putting it.

    • CHCoff 28.1
      20 June 2019 at 6:13 pm

      A citizen dollar that spends on NZ business association member groups out of all the walks of economic life, which then elects a third of parliament would be far more useful, competent and free market than the revolving door party approach

  29. R.P Mcmurphy 29
    20 June 2019 at 6:35 pm

    he is not a leader, just another cost accountant.

  30. Jackel 30
    20 June 2019 at 7:26 pm

    Speaking of personality politics, name me one bald elected world leader?

  31. Richard@DownSouth 31
    20 June 2019 at 8:46 pm

    Judith Collins will be pissed… hed not have done this if he hadnt gotten the nudge from some senior National members

  32. peterlepaysan 32
    20 June 2019 at 9:22 pm

    Lot of Natz clearly think they need a leader.

    Why do they not advertise in the classifieds? The tory press are languishing for advertising dollars.

  33. Ad 33
    20 June 2019 at 9:58 pm

    Labour could only ever fantasize about a leader of this calibre coming up through its ranks from either business or a major NGO. Was Lange the last Labour leader to have an actual job outside the Wellington beltway?

    Christopher Luxon has all the impressive marketing tools one could wish for in a politician. He would be an excellent 2023 leadership candidate, so long as he has the patience to wait out this Labour-led government's tepid and directionless effort.

    I'd be interested to see him go head to head with Ardern in a tv debate.

    • Graeme 33.1
      20 June 2019 at 10:15 pm

      Is the direct entry of a highly qualified candidate possible in Labour, either constitutionally or culturally?

      National have that ability, but it is usually done rather quietly, rather in public through media speculation. Last ones would have been Key and Joyce.

      • Ad 33.1.1
        20 June 2019 at 10:21 pm

        The closest was Little from the unions. Bad luck there.

        Labour haven't done succession planning well for 20 years now.

        • Graeme 33.1.1.1
          21 June 2019 at 8:28 am

          Not entirely convinced about the succession planning after the Ardern transition. That came off a little too well for a last minute cobble-together. It wasn't a linear, public succession, but worked the constitution to it's intent, putting the right person in the right place at the right time, and the Party left National floundering. Well played.

          But are National really any better, once you take their parachuted ones (Key and Joyce) out it becomes a morass of squabbling factional muppets. Hence the clamour to parachute another leader in who can bang some heads together. There's not many, if any, quality candidates that come up through National's selection process either.

        • Dukeofurl 33.1.1.2
          21 June 2019 at 9:33 am

          Cunliffe

          Shearer

          Clarke

          Moore

          Palmer

          [lprent: Probably help if that was spelt correctly. ]

      • Sanctuary 33.1.2
        21 June 2019 at 7:09 am

        Labour these days selects it's candidates via a crippling institutional process of box ticking for it's various factions. The candidates primary qualification is that they fulfill the particular factions requirements (woman, Maori, gay, academics, whatever) and assessing their actual ability as a politician is entirely tangential to the selection process.

        It is why they have produced an endless array of politicians drawn from a narrow set of sectional interest groups who all have excellent qualifications and previous bright careers as Apparatchiks in the various organs of the party, the unions or various civic governance organisations.

        Almost inevitably, these candidates then prove to be mediocre technocrats and average to incompetent tin eared politicians once elected.

        • Dukeofurl 33.1.2.1
          21 June 2019 at 9:27 am

          Have you seen Nationals list, its full of captains picks for candidates, all from the right ethnic groups, balanced off against each other

          1 Korean

          2 Indians inc 1 sikh

          1 chinese

          1 Filipino

          1 Samoan

          1 Cook Is

          All these people dont come through the partys electorates but are head hunted by the hierarchy and guaranteed a list spot

    • Dean Reynolds 33.2
      21 June 2019 at 9:01 am

      Luxon is simply John Key mark 2. You claim he 'has the impressive marketing tools one could wish for in a politician.' FFS, we don't need a politician with 'marketing tools' – Key had plenty of those & nothing else. We need leaders like Jacinda – compassionate & steel when its required.

      • Anne 33.2.1
        21 June 2019 at 10:04 am

        Luxon is simply John Key mark 2.

        Yep. They reckon it worked last time so it will work again.

        And right on target John Key starts prattling on about his bloody flag again. Are that brand of Kiwi-kind so hollow inside they think a change of flag is going to make one iota of difference to people?

        They are knee deep into branding, playing the global money market, slashing budgets and spending on social services while lining their own pockets and living the rarefied life of the rich and famous.

        This Luxon fellow with all his so-called Christian values (and old boy networks to fall back on) is no different.

      • michelle 33.2.2
        25 June 2019 at 1:35 pm

        plus 100 dean reynolds

    • Muttonbird 33.3
      21 June 2019 at 9:13 am

      It was angry Ad day yesterday.

      Let's see if he can drag his bottom lip of the ground today.

      I think if you want to see how Luxon would run the country you only have to look at what he’s being praised for and that is profitability. He’d run the country as a business like Key did, and that involves cutting services and maximising short term income.

  34. Policy Parrot 34
    21 June 2019 at 7:59 am

    The pretences of an actual political party are becoming harder and harder to see,

    essentially now seeking to emulate United Russia as "the party of crooks and thieves".

  35. observer 35
    22 June 2019 at 9:31 am

    There is an ad in the NZ Herald today (print edition) for "Luxon 2020":

    https://twitter.com/juliefairey/status/1142164809833578498

    Somebody thinks we have American presidential elections in NZ.

    • observer 35.1
      22 June 2019 at 9:37 am

      BTW, others more qualified than me have pointed out the legal problem for National here. The ad specifically encourages a vote for the party in 2020. Therefore, it must be approved by the party.

      Oops.