In the latest episode of 30 with Guyon EspinerPrime Minister Christopher Luxon admits ‘corporate speak’ after referring to voters as ‘customers’.

Luxon admitted he had “made mistakes” and “could have expressed myself better” in his first year as prime minister. But he said his habit of using “corporate speak” reflected that he came from outside the political mainstream – and not that he was out of touch.

In an in-depth interview with RNZ’s Espiner, the Prime Minister touched on a range of topics, including recent opinion polls showing that a majority supported a capital gains taxthe state of public health services, the prospects for working with a re-elected President Donald Trumpand Luxon’s own property portfolio.

“I think we’ve actually done really well,” Luxon said after being asked about the National Party’s approval ratings – comparatively lower than those of previous new governments.

“I think the reality is we’ve made some really tough decisions. And New Zealand is a really tough place at the moment.”

A recent poll put National on 37 per cent, ahead of Labor on 32 per cent.

“Talk to the customer…”

Luxon was pressed on his own personal approval rating, which sits at around 25 per cent, and asked to respond to another recent poll which found 51 per cent of people thought he was “out of touch” with most New Zealanders.

“Well, I would just tell you, I think I am, because I’m out talking to New Zealanders. I’ve been doing that ever since I got into politics, that’s been my belief system. … talk to the customer, with the public, with the people, the voters, and actually find out what their concerns are, and their concerns are really played back, and we deliver on them.”

Espiner took issue with Luxon’s apparent reference to the voting public as “customers” and asked if it was time to ditch the company’s speech.

But Luxon said he was referring to his background in business and suggested the term was “transferable.”

“That means I’ve come from a different background, right?

“I had to learn Parliament very quickly. I am the fastest person to go from entering politics to becoming Prime Minister.

“But it means I bring a different set of skills, and it means I won’t be perfect in my answers either.

“I have to work harder on this company speech, but it’s who I’ve been naturally.”

The former Air New Zealand chief executive became prime minister after serving in parliament for just three years.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in studio with Guyon Espiner in 30.
Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly

* 30 with Guyon Espiner comes out every week RNZ, Youtube, TVNZ+ and wherever you get your podcasts.

Luxon says he’s a PM from “outside the system”

Luxon has an extensive housing portfolio, recently put one of its properties up for auction – his third listing in as many months.

He repaid a $52,000 grant to live in his own mortgage-free apartment in Wellington when the public backlash proved to be, in his words, “a distraction”.

Asked if there was anything he would do differently a year into his first term as prime minister, Luxon said he wanted to avoid ending his time in office and regretted that “we didn’t move fast enough and we weren’t bold enough” .

“We demand more from public services in terms of accountability.

“I’m sure, you know, like, I’ve made mistakes. I could have expressed myself better, I’m sure.

“It’s about the economy. It’s about law and order … but again, I think it’s great that we have someone coming from outside the system, along with a lot of people from a lot of different backgrounds, and that someone like me can be in New Zealand political life and hopefully bring some skills to the job that are necessary.”

No CGT as long as Luxon is PM

Luxon also said he would rule out any form of capital gains tax (CGT) while he is prime minister, despite opinion polls showing broad support for some form of CGT.

“Yes, (I’m ruling out a CGT), because I don’t think that’s the right answer for New Zealand.”

IN a new episode of 30 with Guyon EspinerLabour’s finance spokeswoman Barbara Edmonds challenged National for being “afraid” of a CGT, after ANZ chief executive Antonia Watson came out in support of some form of CGT on another previous episode of the show.

“I appreciate that people in tough times want to find a solution,” Luxon said.

A capital gains tax would affect the profits of everyone from small business owners selling their businesses, to those earning interest on Kiwisaver accounts.

New Zealand was currently 38th out of 38 countries in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in attracting capital investment, and bringing in a CGT “doesn’t make sense” to improve that, he said.

New Zealand is one of only three countries in the OECD that has no form of capital gains tax, and both they and the International Monetary Fund have recommended a CGT as a way to address economic and housing inequality in New Zealand.

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