Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has shrugged off being lowly-ranked by big business leaders and says he isn’t worried by chatter about his leadership.
The Prime Minister and his Finance Minister, Nicola Willis, were ranked 15th and 13th respectively out of Cabinet ratings in the NZ Herald’s annual Mood of the Boardroom, released today.
Luxon scored 2.96 while Willis scored 3.09 out of 5, where one would be “not impressive” while five was “very impressive”. Instead, top-ranking ministers included Erica Stanford, Winston Peters and Chris Bishop, who scored 4.38, 3.82 and 3.80, respectively.
Responses from 150 chief executives and business leaders inform the results, which have been carried out yearly over the past two decades. Luxon was asked about the result at an event to open a new airfield expansion at Auckland Airport this morning.
He responded: “It’s been a very challenging time for New Zealand. There are a number of businesses that are doing well, and others that are struggling. I fully understand everyone wants it to happen quicker and faster.”
Luxon said the coalition was focused on creating conditions for growth, including investing in education, science, technology, and “getting rid of red tape”.
“But then it’s up to the businesses to go out and actually create that growth as well. Look, I fully understand we’re going through a very difficult recovery, and there’ll be a range of opinions across all of our society around,” Luxon said.
The Prime Minister was ranked 15th in the annual Mood of the Boardroom survey. (Source: 1News)
Where the PM ranked better in the survey included his ability to leverage his personal brand for Kiwi businesses’ advantage internationally, keeping Cabinet colleagues focused on delivery, and his focus on New Zealand’s defence and national security.
One CEO also reportedly said some underestimated the work Luxon had put into managing his three-party coalition government.
PM critiqued by business leaders
Luxon, who was previously the chief executive of Air New Zealand and seen as a senior business leader, was critiqued by his former peers in the survey.
The Herald reported “frequent comments” that the PM was described as a poor listener and didn’t take constructive feedback well. When that was put to Luxon, he said he was focused on more than just the people who responded to the survey.
“I have a lot of engagements with business leaders. I’ve obviously come from — as a CEO of a corporate background. I try and listen to those views as best as I possibly can.
“But my job as Prime Minister of New Zealand is to create the conditions for growth, and to actually think about the five million people that are in this country, not just the 150 that are filling in the survey.”
PM reacts after business leaders rank him 15th among ministers – Watch on TVNZ+
The National leader said he was not looking to step down, when asked, and said he didn’t believe he lost the backing of the business community.
“I’m here to do a job,” he said.
“I came to politics four years ago because this is an awesome country. It’s got fantastic potential, and we’re damn well going to go make it and get realised.”
He was also asked about why Education Minister Erica Stanford, often raised as a possible future leadership contender, was ranked number one.
Luxon spoke about how the National Party recovered since the 2020 election to win at the last election after deciding to “play as a team”.
“After the disaster of 2020 we decided we’re going to play as a team, and that means my job as the Prime Minister, and as the leader of the team, is to make sure I’ve got the right people in the right positions on the team at the right time, with enough clarity and support to go off and do the task they need to do.
“I’m very proud of the National ministers that I think are all performing exceptionally well. I’m also very proud of the fact that we have made a coalition work, and given strong and stable government to New Zealand. That’s something I’m very proud of.”
