Wellington: Christopher Luxon was sworn in as the Prime Minister of New Zealand on Monday and said that his top priority is to improve the economy. Luxon, 53, a former businessman, is leading a conservative coalition that won the general elections last month.
Luxon’s National Party struck a deal with two smaller parties, ACT New Zealand and the Maori Party, on Friday to form a government. The coalition has 64 seats in the 120-member parliament, giving it a slim majority. Luxon replaced Jacinda Ardern, who had been the Prime Minister since 2017 and led the Labour Party.
Governor-General Cindy Kiro presided over the swearing-in ceremony at Government House in Wellington. Luxon took the oath of office and received the warrant of appointment from Kiro. He also appointed his cabinet ministers, who were sworn in along with him.
The new Prime Minister plans to finalize the 100-day plan
After the ceremony, Luxon told reporters that he was honored and humbled by the responsibility. He said he will hold the first cabinet meeting on Tuesday and will soon finalize the 100-day plan. He said the plan will focus on the key issues facing the country, such as the economy, health, education, housing, and climate change.
Luxon said he needed to get information on the government’s financial position, as he was concerned that it had been worsening for the last several months. He said he will review the budget and the fiscal outlook and will make adjustments if necessary. He said he will also work with the Reserve Bank to ensure that inflation and interest rates are kept under control.
Luxon has also promised to reduce the size of the government bureaucracy, including a 6.5 percent reduction in the number of employees in the public service. He said this would save about NZ$1 billion (US$700 million) over four years, which could be used for other priorities. Luxon said it would depend on the ministry’s chief executives how to make the cuts. He said they could stop some programs, not fill some vacancies, or remove some employees.
The new Prime Minister has a background in business and aviation
Luxon has a background in business and aviation, having worked for Unilever and Air New Zealand. He was the chief executive of Air New Zealand from 2013 to 2019 and was credited with turning around the airline’s fortunes. He joined politics in 2019, and became the leader of the National Party in October 2021, after the party had suffered two consecutive defeats under different leaders.
Luxon is seen as a moderate and pragmatic leader, who can appeal to both urban and rural voters. He has said that he wants to build a more inclusive and prosperous New Zealand, where everyone has an opportunity to succeed. He has also said that he wants to strengthen the country’s relationships with its allies and partners, especially in the Asia-Pacific region.
