Christopher Luxon: podcast appearances and interviews

Christopher Mark Luxon, born on 19 July 1970, is a New Zealand politician and businessman who has served as the 42nd prime minister of New Zealand since 2023. A member of the National Party, he has been the member of Parliament for Botany since 2020 and previously served as leader of the Opposition from 2021 to 2023. Before entering politics, Luxon was the chief executive officer of Air New Zealand from 2013 to 2019. He grew up in Howick in East Auckland and studied commerce at the University of Canterbury. Luxon joined Unilever in 1993 and held senior roles at Unilever Canada, eventually becoming president and CEO of the subsidiary in 2008. In 2011, he left Unilever Canada to join Air New Zealand as group general manager before becoming CEO in 2013. After stepping down as CEO in 2019, Luxon secured pre-selection for the safe National Party seat of Botany. He was elected as party leader unopposed on 30 November 2021, following the ousting of his predecessor. Luxon led the National Party to a plurality of seats in the 2023 general election and formed a coalition government with ACT New Zealand and New Zealand First. He was sworn in as prime minister on 27 November 2023. As prime minister, Luxon’s government has implemented various policies including tax cuts, healthcare expenditure adjustments, and changes to water management initiatives. His government has also increased military spending and enhanced Five Eyes cooperation amidst a broader foreign policy shift toward the United States. His coalition leadership has been characterized by some controversy, particularly regarding his relationships with deputy prime ministers Winston Peters and David Seymour.