AUCKLAND, New Zealand. New Zealand has elected former businessman Christopher Luxon as its next prime minister following a decisive election victory on Saturday. The election marks a significant change in leadership after six years of liberal governance, predominantly under the leadership of Jacinda Ardern.
As ballots continue to be counted, the exact composition of Luxon’s government is yet to be determined. In his victory speech, Luxon declared, “You have reached for hope, and you have voted for change.” His supporters enthusiastically chanted his campaign slogan, which promised to steer the country “back on track.”
Outgoing Prime Minister Chris Hipkins, who took over from Ardern in January and held the position for just nine months, conceded to Luxon, expressing disappointment at the election results. “But I want you to be proud of what we achieved over the last six years,” he told supporters at an event in Wellington.
Ardern’s surprise departure from the prime minister’s office earlier this year was a pivotal moment in New Zealand’s political landscape. She cited not having “enough in the tank” to do the job justice as the reason for her resignation. Ardern had won the previous election in a landslide victory, but her popularity waned as public fatigue with COVID-19 restrictions and concerns about inflation’s impact on the economy grew.
With all regular votes counted, Luxon’s National Party secured 39% of the vote. Under New Zealand’s proportional voting system, Luxon, aged 53, intends to form an alliance with the libertarian ACT Party.
In contrast, the Labour Party, led by Hipkins, received just 27% of the vote, a little over half of the proportion it had secured in the previous election under Ardern. Approximately 20% of the total votes are yet to be counted, primarily comprising special votes.
Among the notable losses in the election was Nanaia Mahuta, the foreign minister. Additionally, the race between National and Labour remains highly competitive in Mount Albert, an electorate traditionally held by the Labour Party and a former stronghold of former Labour Prime Minister Helen Clark.
The National Party candidate for Mount Albert, Melissa Lee, expressed both excitement and nervousness about the final result, acknowledging the historical dominance of the Labour Party in the constituency. Lee shared that during her door-knocking efforts, voters expressed dissatisfaction with the current government, primarily citing economic concerns and rising living costs.
While there is a possibility that Labour may retain the seat when all votes are tallied, initial assessments indicate a challenging election for the left, according to veteran conservative pollster David Farrar.
Throughout the campaign, Luxon pledged to implement tax cuts for middle-income earners and a tougher stance on crime. In contrast, Hipkins had promised free dental care for individuals under 30 and the removal of sales taxes on fruits and vegetables.
The election also raised questions about the government’s relationship with Indigenous Māori. Luxon has vowed to eliminate the Māori Health Authority, which he argues creates a divided healthcare system. Hipkins, on the other hand, has defended the co-governance efforts and accused Luxon of tolerating racism.
Hipkins faced several crises during his brief time as prime minister, including deadly floods and a cyclone in New Zealand. To address these challenges, he swiftly abandoned some of Ardern’s more contentious policies, adopting a “back to basics” approach focused on addressing the escalating cost of living.
The election campaign, which spanned six weeks, saw both Hipkins and Luxon crisscrossing the country and engaging with the media. Luxon, a political newcomer with a background as the CEO of Unilever Canada and Air New Zealand, pledged to crack down on criminal gangs and tackle rising crime rates. He also garnered support by promising a new tunnel project to address traffic congestion in the capital.
While Luxon held his ground against the more experienced Hipkins in televised debates, he faced criticism for appearing out of touch with the cost of living after stating that he spent “about sixty bucks” ($36) per week on food during a debate. The comment was widely ridiculed on social media.
Gary P Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
