43 Facts About Christopher Luxon

Christopher Luxon has been the Member of Parliament for the Botany electorate since the 2020 general election.

Christopher Luxon was the chief executive officer of Air New Zealand from 2012 to 2019.

Christopher Luxon has been leader since 30 November 2021, succeeding Collins.

Christopher Luxon was born in Christchurch on 19 July 1970 and lived there until age 7 when his family moved to Howick in Auckland.

Christopher Luxon studied at the University of Canterbury from 1989 to 1992, gaining a Master of Commerce degree.

Christopher Luxon worked for Unilever from 1993 to 2011, being based in Wellington, Sydney, London, Chicago and Toronto.

Christopher Luxon rose to be the President and chief executive officer of its Canadian operations.

Christopher Luxon joined Air New Zealand as Group General Manager in May 2011 and was named the chief executive officer on 19 June 2012, succeeding Rob Fyfe at the end of that year.

Christopher Luxon joined the boards of the Tourism Industry Association New Zealand and Virgin Australia in 2014.

On 20 June 2019, Christopher Luxon announced that he was resigning from Air New Zealand and hinted at a possible career with the National Party.

In February 2021, it was revealed that while Christopher Luxon was CEO of Air New Zealand, its contracting business unit Gas Turbines was assisting Royal Saudi Navy vessels, despite them blocking essential supplies like water, food and medical assistance from Yemen.

Christopher Luxon later admitted that Air New Zealand not having a process where its chief executive would be told about all military contracts "was a mistake".

Christopher Luxon won in a selection contest with National Party list MP Agnes Loheni, Howick Local Board deputy chair Katrina Bungard, cancer drug campaigner Troy Elliott, and tech businessman Jake Bezzant, who was later selected as National's candidate for Upper Harbour.

In early August 2022, Christopher Luxon accompanied Prime Minister Ardern, Minister of Arts, Culture and Heritage Carmel Sepuloni and Minister of Pacific Peoples William Sio on a state visit to Samoa to mark the 60th anniversary of Samoa's independence and affirm bilateral relations between the two countries.

In November 2019, Christopher Luxon said he was against abortion, euthanasia, and legalising recreational cannabis, though at the same time he supported medicinal cannabis.

In early May 2023, Christopher Luxon accepted an invitation from Prime Minister Chris Hipkins to attend the coronation of Charles III as part of the official New Zealand delegation.

Christopher Luxon confirmed that his personal views are anti-abortion, but said he would not change abortion laws should he become prime minister.

Christopher Luxon was questioned about being one of only 15 MPs to vote against the first reading of a member's bill that would establish safe areas around abortion facilities.

Christopher Luxon said that he was now able to support the bill following changes to it at the select committee stage that made it compliant with the New Zealand Bill of Rights.

In late November 2021, Christopher Luxon reiterated support for National's vote against the Conversion Practices Prohibition Legislation Bill, but said the practice was "abhorrent".

In early February 2022, Christopher Luxon announced that National MPs would be allowed a conscience vote on the conversion practices legislation; abandoning Collins' "bloc-voting" position.

Christopher Luxon reversed his earlier opposition to the legislation, stating that he supported New Zealand's LGBTQI+ community.

On 8 December 2021, Christopher Luxon called for the lifting of Auckland's border restrictions with Northland after The New Zealand Herald reported that the Ministry of Health had proposed that the Auckland border should be lifted in tandem with the country's transition into the COVID-19 Protection Framework on 3 December.

On 8 January 2022, Christopher Luxon talked to National MP Harete Hipango about a photo that she had posted on social media, which showed her posing with members of the anti-vaccination group Voices for Freedom.

In early February 2022, Christopher Luxon called for rapid antigen testing to be conducted in schools twice a week for both students and teachers, citing the examples of New South Wales and Victoria.

On 9 February 2022, Christopher Luxon called for the Government to issue a clear timeline for ending vaccine mandates.

In 3 May 2023, Christopher Luxon acknowledged the historical sensitivity around the dawn raids of the 1970s which disproportionately targeted Pasifika New Zealanders.

Christopher Luxon's remarks came in response to media coverage of the agency's recent dawn raid tactics against visa overstayers, which had attracted criticism from Deputy Prime Minister Carmel Sepuloni for re-traumatising the Pasifika community.

In late January 2023, Christopher Luxon stated that National opposed co-governance in the delivery of public services such as health, education and critical infrastructure.

Christopher Luxon clarified that National was not opposed to Maori involvement in decision-making and expressed supported for "self-driven" initiatives within the Maori community such as Whanau Ora, kohanga reo and charter schools.

On 25 January, Christopher Luxon stated that Maori seats "doesn't make a lot of sense" but reiterated an earlier commitment in March 2022 that the National Party would stand candidates in at least two of them.

On 10 May 2023, Christopher Luxon ruled out working with Te Pati Maori if National formed the next government at the 2023 New Zealand general election.

Christopher Luxon cited National's disagreement with the Maori Party's support for co-governance in public services and alleged separatism.

Christopher Luxon criticised Te Pati Maori's MPs Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Rawiri Waititi for staging a haka welcoming for Labour MP Meka Whaitiri when Parliament was welcoming the coronation of Charles III.

Christopher Luxon unveiled National's new law and order policies in the midst of rising gang activity and gang warfare in 2022.

In early July 2022, Christopher Luxon stated that a future National Government would work with community providers to sponsor job coaches for young people under the age of 25 years who have been on the Jobseeker benefit for three months.

In mid November 2022, Christopher Luxon announced that the National Party's youth crime policies would include creating a new Young Serious Offender category for juvenile offenders and establishing boot camps known as Youth Offender Military Academies.

Christopher Luxon had a Catholic upbringing, describes himself as a Christian or non-denominational Christian, and has been described as an evangelical Christian.

Christopher Luxon has attended a Baptist church in Auckland as a child, a Presbyterian church in Australia, an Anglican church in England, and non-denominational churches in the United States, Canada and New Zealand.

Christopher Luxon met his wife Amanda at a church youth group and they married when he was 23.

Christopher Luxon says he enjoys DIY, listens to country music and likes to waterski.

In late July 2022, Christopher Luxon confirmed he was on a family holiday in Hawaii during the parliamentary recess when a Facebook video post published on 21 July implied he was visiting Te Puke at that time.

Christopher Luxon attributed the confusion to a delay in his social media team updating his whereabouts over the previous week, which he said was a mistake.