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10:28 am, August 6th, 2026 - 26 comments
Categories: Christopher Luxon, national, same old national -
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The bad news continues for Christopher Luxon.
As I said earlier Luxon’s Luxon’s basic problem is that he is wealthy and he is sorted and he has no idea how tough most of us are finding things.
He has managed to offend the business sector, which is quite a rare feat for a National Prime Minister.
At different times he has said this about New Zealand businesses:
He also has an attraction to different forms of luxury transportation. He famously arranged for a black limousine to deliver him to the steps of Parliament so he appear be all powerful. This required him to be driven from his apartment and across the road to Parliament’s forecourt, a total of 200 metres. One wonders why he could not have walked.
And the latest example is not a great look. It has been disclosed that Luxon used an Air Force plane to fly him from a National Party fundraiser in Whanganui to his home in Auckland.
From Craig McCulloch at Radio New Zealand:
Christopher Luxon is defending his use of an Air Force flight after attending a National Party fundraiser, saying he has a “busy job” and “full schedule”.
Labour on Wednesday accused the prime minister of using the Defence Force as a “personal taxi service” for campaigning purposes.
Luxon flew from Whanganui to Auckland on a six-seater NZDF King Air plane on the evening of 23 July after attending a National Party fundraising dinner.
Speaking to reporters at Parliament, Luxon said he needed to get back to Auckland for a meeting the next morning and no Air New Zealand or Jetstar flights were available.
He said he had brought the meeting forward to 7am that he could also attend the funeral of former National MP Bill Birch that day.
“I needed to get back to that meeting… I couldn’t catch a commercial flight to get there after a full day in Feilding and Whanganui,” he said.
“Those planes need to be flying, and the pilots need the hours and the training anyway. It’s not costing the taxpayer any additional money.”
Using Luxon’s logic all of Government’s resources could be used to support National Party interests and we should be fine with it.
And his excuse is weak. He could have rescheduled the meeting the next morning or used video conferencing.
And his position is hypocritical. In 2024 he criticised Chris Hipkins for using Air Force flights and said that he would fly commercial flights instead although admittedly for international flights.
He is at the terminal stage where every week brings a new crisis. The cumulative effect of these sorts of events is career ending.
The only question is will he make it through to the election. And if he will be Prime Minister immediately afterwards.
The airforce has aeroplanes and helicopters sitting around waiting for a war or some other emergency. Their pilots need to have a minimum number of flying hours per year, likewise the aircraft need to be flown a minimum number of hours per year. Other countries use airforce aircraft for their political leaders.
How would you feel if Jacinda Ardern used the Air Force to fly her from a party fundraiser to her home?
There would be a Royal Commission of Enquiry by Luxon, Seymour and Winstone Peters and they would be burning effigy's outside Parliament.
Assuming Jacinda was the prime minister at the time, or a senior cabinet minister, I don’t see any problem. Senior government officials usually don’t organise their own travel arrangements, it’s all organised by their minders, including the police diplomatic protection guys. It’s what works best.
Public duties … fine.
Party fund-raising … not fine.
This isn't hard.
almost as bad as the chopper up the hill
The key issue here is that Luxon only used the Air Force plane because he went to a National Party fundraiser. He could have skipped the fundraiser and taken a commercial flight.
Many in the MSM are doing their best to obscure this fact.
Somebody in the MSM should ask Luxon "is he going to continue using Air Force planes for National Party fundraising."
Response to Terry: NZDF already has an adequate schedule of training flights and routine aircraft maintenance. They shouldn’t need to be an on-call taxi service for Luxon and the National Party because 1. That is not their job.
Listen he is the CEO/PM of NZ, he can do whatever he likes, just like Sir Donald Trump.
Okay then, maybe the airforce should buy a fleet of VIP passenger aircraft and helicopters for this purpose. It’s been a common enough practice for years for the prime minister to use the airforce. The prime minister is the prime minister 24/7, it shouldn’t matter which party the prime minister belongs to. Next you will be expecting the PM to fly economy and take an uber…
Yeah, Terry, maybe they should, but until then, Luxon should stop acting like an entitled prat. That's all.
You keep avoiding the point. Deliberately, no doubt.
Let's make it simple for you:
What was the government activity in Whanganui? What was the reason he was there? Was Luxon for example, also opening a school or hospital, in his role as PM?
But there was nothing. There was no reason for him to be there. None whatsoever.
Feel free to rebut with information to the contrary. Otherwise, you are claiming that Luxon should be allowed to use public tools for totally private gain. The definition of corruption.
"…Luxon used an Air Force plane to fly him from a National Party fundraiser in Whanganui to his home in Auckland."
Crikey! That's a long driveway.
I don't think they landed on his driveway, seriously. Maybe the Chopper took him from the Airport to his home in East Auckland.
Did Luxon change
headshats when entering the NZDF plane?How much did PM Luxon raise for the National Party?
Will he declare this to the appropriate channels?
Is the National Party experiencing a donation drought that they have to use the PM as prop?
Was the PM secretly visiting Te Puke?
What was for dinner?
"What was for dinner?"
Well, we do know, Winston ate his lunch.
Could have been one of Luxon’s last suppers.
Christ, Incognito – nooooooooo!
Who's the Judas then, in the upper supper room?
Here’s a hint for you.
All his minders are in agreement: Luxon should only be allowed plastic cutlery from now on. The only bone of contention is whether the bib should carry the National Party logo and whether it should be tight around his neck under his chin or over his mouth.
Did the National Party reimburse the NZDF for the costs of this travel Arrangement seems very dodgy to me.
It's a great idea IMHO.
I work in Westgate, right next to Whenuapai and my 93 year old mother is in Auckland Hospital, which has a helipad.
For the past 3 days, it took about an hour for the travel and parking, and I would be happy to help the airforce by giving them an opportunity to add value to their training time.
I've been getting home quite late and could do with an earlier night. Like Luxon, I'm a busy person with a full schedule.
Who do I call to arrange a chopper to take me from whenuapai to Auckland Hospital? Would the prime ministers office arrange it, or should I call my local MP?
Thanks for any advice.
Comment of the day!
The flimsy Luxon excuse, exposed.
Luxon might be a busy man, but clearly was not too busy to put aside his prime ministerial duties to go to a fund raising event for the National Party.