3 Takeaways from Christopher Luxon's Press Conference

From Treaty Principles to Barring Journalists (Plus laughing at Simeon "Shortly")

Mountain Tui

Nov 11, 2024

Highlights of Chris Luxon press conference yesterday (video at end):

1. Christopher Luxon maligns Newsroom’s investigative journalist Aaron Smale for what he called behavioural issues.

Yesterday, it was revealed Speaker Gary Brownlee had withdrew Smale’s accreditation, preventing Smale from attending the Abuse in Care apology at Parliament today.
Smale is an investigative journalist who has devoted eight years of his life to covering abuse of children and others in state care.

Newsroom’s article states: “The Beehive had complained over Smale’s persistent and forceful questioning of Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in July, and a similar complaint was made after he pressed Children’s Minister Karen Chhour over boot camps for young offenders, which Smale concedes was argumentative.”
Brownlee backed down after outrage from survivors, victims’ lawyers and justice advocated.
Smale will attend today as the nation prepares for official apology to abuse survivors

Stopping journalists who ask hard questions, or who are deemed not respectful enough, is chilling stuff - and while Luxon has reformed his behaviour and is acting more jovial in this week’s press conference, his underlying authoritarian tendencies he’s displayed over the last year haven’t gone away.

Stripping Smale’s media accreditation was chilling.

Yesterday, an NZME journalist asked Luxon a question and each time apologised in advance to the PM - in a press conference.

I had to shake my head.

2. Christopher Luxon repeats that he will not support the Treaty Principles Bill past second reading

He acknowledges it’s causing division in the country but says it is part of MMP and he is proud of the 3 party coalition that he has pulled together, calling his government “cohesive” and “stable”.
He refuses to allow a conscience vote after the Green Party calls for one on the Treaty Principles Bill
Luxon says he does not regret supporting the Treaty Principles Bill as part of the Coalition agreement
He calls it David Seymour’s “pet project” and bats away a question about David Seymour calling Luxon “anti-democratic”.
He said he would be comfortable meeting the Hikoi (although it felt tentative at best)
He says “peaceful” protests are allowed - noting that Mark Mitchell has been posturing about unlawfulness over the last week, painting the protest as potentially violent despite the positivity and energy of organisers.
It’s not that there can’t be violence in any protest, but Mitchell’s repeated inference and association of lawlessness with the Hikoi is noteworthy. And NZME’s eager repetition of the inference feels calculated. This is one of a few headlines around it:
Contrast this with messages from organisers emphasising peace, and taking care of each other - especially the vulnerable, elderly and tamariki:

Last week, Labour asked National why they are allowing a second reading of the Treaty Principles Bill (called the "worst, most comprehensive breach of the Treaty/te Tiriti in modern times" by NZ’s judiciary)

This is relevant beacuse National say they don’t intend to support it yet are allowing a second reading.

National merely responded it will.

National have also allowed an extraordinary 6 month select committee process - maximising opportunities for Hobsons Pledge, ACT and overseas surrogates to act on inciting division and spreading disinformation.

It cites its reason as “democracy”.

Contrast this to the offshore mining bill, which this government sprung on the public without notice, allowing only 4 days for public submissions.

Or how this government government ignored pleas from over 80% of schools not to lower school speed limits in Auckland.

And ignored the 95% + of local councils that did not want to reverse Maori wards - with even National Party aligned Mayors arguing elevating Maori, helps all New Zealanders.

“Extremely conservative” estimates of how much it is taking to progress the bill are $4mn, but what’s not captured is the amount of energy and focus it is creating.

And the diversion it creates as for example, in only one area, National strip $2bn from our health care system - despite first claiming the deficit was $1.4bn (another lie in the first place).

Luxon keeps saying that neither he nor David Seymour got what they wanted on the Treaty Principles Bill - but the truth is they both did:

Seymour contrives a problem and gains maximum publicity to advance his cause for his backers, and,
Luxon panders to wealthy interests such as the Wright Family while telling National voters he doesn’t like the bill or want it at all.

Of course, Luxon didn’t account for Seymour eating his lunch as Seymour continues to rise as NZ’s hero of human rights (Aotearoa’s big lie) but Luxon’s a great negotiator, didn’t you hear him say so?

3. Christopher Luxon and Erica Stanford say that compensation for Abuse in Care survivors is “complex”

Today the Nation apologises to Abuse in Care survivors in a formal ceremony. To survivors who have survived, it can mean a lot and the ceremony is being conducted with gravitas and professionalism and apparent sincerity.

However, the apology feels hollow as the government brings back boot camps that Karen Chhour admits exposes youths to abuse in leaked documents, refuses to provide details or advance compensation to survivors (including eligibility), and is planning to bring more youths into the criminal justice system - despite Sir Peter Gluckmann telling the PM that this will just increase cycles of crime.

The government has also excluded the justice system and police from its scope.

Laura Walters from the excellent Newsroom sums it up well:

An apology, but no redress; law changes, but not reform; a Solicitor-General who says sorry, but won’t step down. What to expect from the Government’s national apology to abuse survivors.