Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today flagged a possible reshuffle of his Cabinet in coming weeks as he contemplates the retirement of some politicians in his Government.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon kicked off his first interview on 九一星空无限talk ZB of 2026, in what is shaping up to be a challenging election year.
It comes hours before his State of the Nation speech, to be delivered later today at an Auckland Business Chamber event. He鈥檚 expected to highlight his Government鈥檚 work on law and order, education and reducing red tape.
Luxon told 九一星空无限talk ZB鈥檚 Mike Hosking there might be some in Cabinet within the National Party ranks who would retire from politics this year which could force a switch of ministerial positions.
However, there was 鈥渘o need for me to feel a compunction to come out at the beginning of the year鈥, he said.
He did not signal who or how many politicians would be ending their parliamentary career.
Hours out from today鈥檚 keynote speech, Luxon said he wouldn鈥檛 be announcing any new policy or an election date, but the latter was coming 鈥渧ery shortly鈥.
He said there were 鈥渆ncouraging鈥 indicators that an economic recovery was underway.
Luxon had till today stayed silent on recent global events, including Trump鈥檚 plan to take over Greenland and the arrest of Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro.
Asked if the Venezuelan takeover was illegal, he said it was 鈥渦ltimately for the US to explain鈥 but New Zealand had never supported Maduro鈥檚 regime.
Regarding Greenland, Luxon said New Zealand believed tariffs were bad news for the global economy and it would be better to have a discussion about how NATO - including the US - could work together over Arctic security concerns.
鈥淚t鈥檚 very clear the Greenlanders want to be part of Denmark. That is, you know, that is their decision as a sovereign nation to make that decision.鈥
Luxon said New Zealand should look at controlling what it could control - building a stronger economy and developing relationships at home and abroad.
Fixing basics, building future
The National Party has been focused on 鈥渇ixing the basics and building the future鈥 since late last year.
Luxon has flagged the Government鈥檚 intention to water down intensification plans for Auckland, which would have allowed capacity for two million homes in coming years. Writing for the Herald last week, political columnist Matthew Hooton predicted a U-turn could come as soon as today.
Luxon is not expected to reveal this year鈥檚 election date this morning; it鈥檚 likely to be unveiled on Wednesday at National鈥檚 annual caucus retreat in Christchurch.
While events in New Zealand have been relatively quiet over the holiday period, Luxon is likely to address global events, which have been ramping up.
The Prime Minister has so far remained silent on the United States鈥 kidnapping of Venezuela鈥檚 president Nicolas Maduro and anti-regime protests in Iran.
He has also not commented on US President Donald Trump鈥檚 designs on Greenland, with Trump threatening to use tariffs to force other countries to support a US takeover.
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has been more vocal, however.
The NZ First leader rebuked NZ鈥檚 Reserve Bank Governor Dr Anna Breman in a social media post last week, warning her to 鈥渟tay in her New Zealand lane鈥 after she signed a statement expressing 鈥渇ull solidarity鈥 with US Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell, who is under investigation by the US Justice Department.
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