CHANNEL INTERVIEW: CHRISTOPHER LUXON
National’s North Shore MP Simon Watts has quickly got into the swing of national politics after being elected to Parliament in 2020. New National Party Leader Christopher Luxon was also elected to Parliament at that time as the MP for Botany. The two have established a close rapport over the past two years, both on the campaign trail and since the election. Simon was keen for the North Shore to know more about Christopher Luxon and put these questions to him in mid-March. We asked Simon to finish off the interview by quizzing him about some of his favourites.
Christopher Luxon with National’s deputy leader Nicola Willis.
A chat with
CHRISTOPHER LUXON Interviewed by National’s North Shore MP, Simon Watts About Chris – Christopher Luxon is a husband, father and son. He entered politics with a different background from most politicians. His first job was at McDonald’s in Christchurch where he ran the drivethrough. After university he joined Unilever, a multi-national consumer goods company. He returned to New Zealand where he led our most iconic company, Air New Zealand, and its team of 12,000 staff as CEO for a number of years. Chris then joined the National Party and entered politics because he wants New Zealand to realise its maximum potential, and wants to help build a society where every Kiwi can flourish and get ahead. Chris became National’s Leader at the end of 2021, and within a few short months the party has refocused its efforts to be a strong alternative government for the next election. Simon Watts: What made you give up corporate life for politics? Chris Luxon: I spent a lot of time in the commercial world overseas and as part of my job, I saw a lot of different countries and the good and bad of different systems. When I was the CEO of Air New Zealand, I worked with different governments and political parties, seeing many of the challenges they faced, alongside the positives. When I finished up there, I could have carried on doing another corporate job here or overseas, but I realised I wanted to do something that would give back. I’m not a career politician, but I do
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Issue 129 - April 2022 www.channelmag.co.nz
think New Zealand is the best country on earth and I want to help it reach its maximum potential in all areas – environmentally, socially and economically.
We also want each and every New Zealander to flourish and to have an equality of opportunity to be able to pursue their version of the Kiwi dream, whatever that may be. SW: Things have moved pretty fast haven’t they. Are you enjoying it? CL: I absolutely love it. It's a really cool job, a great privilege and a tremendous responsibility. I've loved every aspect of it so far. SW: What is the biggest change you have had to adjust to? CL: I think the reality is there’s a lot that’s very similar to my former life as a CEO and that is transferable to the political world. I’ve led large
