In the last part 30 with Guyon EspinerPrime Minister Christopher Luxon acknowledges “corporate rhetoric” after referring to voters as “customers”.

Luxon admitted that he “made mistakes” in his first year as prime minister and that he “could have expressed himself better”. However, his habit of using “institutional rhetoric” reflects that he comes from outside mainstream political opinion, and not that he is out of touch.

In an in-depth interview with RNZ’s Espiner, the prime minister discussed a range of issues, including recent polls showing majority support capital gains taxthe state of public health services, re-elected President Donald Trumpand Luxon’s own real estate portfolio.

“I actually think we’re doing really well,” Luxon said when asked about the National Party’s approval ratings; comparatively lower than what previous new governments had.

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

A recent poll found National ahead on 37 per cent to Labor on 32 per cent.

‘Talk to the customer…’

Luxon’s own personal approval rating was around 25 per cent, and he was 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 want to tell you, I think I am, because I’m out and about talking to New Zealanders. That’s what I’ve done since I came into politics, that’s been my belief system. … talk to the customer, the public, the public, the voters and find out what their concerns are, their concerns “They are really taken into account and we are taking action against them.”

Espiner questioned Luxon’s reference to the voting public as “customers” and asked if it was time to drop the corporate speak.

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

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

“I had to learn Parliament very quickly. I am the fastest person to enter politics and reach the position of prime minister.

“But that means I come with different skills and it also means I won’t be perfect in my answers.

“I need to work more on this corporate speak, but that’s just the way I am naturally.”

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

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is in the studio with Guyon Espiner for 30 minutes.
Photograph: RNZ/Cole Eastham-Farrelly

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Luxon says he is a PM ‘outside the system’

Luxon has a large residential portfolio. He is recently auctioning one of his properties – Its third entry into the list in as many months.

HE Paid back $52,000 allowance to live in her own mortgage-free flat in Wellington when the public reaction turned out to be, in his words, “distracting.”

Asked if there was anything he would have done differently, a year into his first term as prime minister, Luxon said he wanted to avoid coming to the end of his term and regretted “we didn’t go fast enough and we weren’t brave enough”. sufficient”.

“We want more accountability from public services.

“I’m sure I made mistakes. I could have expressed myself better, I’m sure.

“It’s about economics. It’s about law and order… but again, it’s great to have so many people from so many different backgrounds as well as someone who comes from outside the system. “I’m hoping that someone like me can be in political life in New Zealand and bring the necessary skills to the job. “

No CGT as long as Luxon is PM

Luxon also said he would reject any capital gains tax (CGT) during his term as prime minister. Poll showing broad support for a form of CGT.

“Yes (I’m excluding CGT) because I don’t believe that’s the right answer for New Zealand.”

Inside 30th new episode featuring Guyon EspinerAfter ANZ chief executive Antonia Watson said she supported some form of CGT, Labor finance spokeswoman Barbara Edmonds challenged National, saying it was “afraid” of the CGT. previous episode of the program.

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

Tax on capital gains will affect everyone’s profits, from small business owners selling their own businesses to those earning interest on their Kiwisaver accounts.

He said New Zealand currently ranked 38th out of 38 countries in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) for attracting capital investment and introducing CGT to improve this “doesn’t make sense”.

New Zealand is one of three countries in the OECD that does not impose any form of tax on capital gains, and both they and the International Monetary Fund have proposed CGT as a way to address economic and housing inequality in New Zealand.

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