Clive Bibby: An insensitive response and a lost opportunity

A classic example of why PM Christopher Luxon is losing support amongst what should have been his most traditional supporters is his treatment of the current Air New Zealand CEO's performance in charge of the Nation's airline during the last turbulent trading year.

Heather du Plessis-Allan: Luxon does his best work overseas

Is it just me, or did anyone else notice what a contrast it was watching Christopher Luxon cracking jokes with Anthony Albanese, compared to what it was like when Jacinda Ardern visited Australia?

For all her kindness and communication when she was Prime Minister, she would use those trips to Australia to give then–Prime Minister Scott Morrison a tongue-lashing—usually over the 501 deportees, which was pointless because the Aussies weren’t going to change their minds.

Perspective with Heather du Plessis-Allan: Has Luxon entered 'dead man walking' territory?

Look, I know we’re all going to have different points at which we think the media reaction to a news story gets silly but for me, that point was this morning.

Members of the media chasing the Prime Minister through Wellington Airport, asking whether he was considering resigning and whether he had the full support of his caucus seemed a little bit silly to me. Silly because it’s not as if he’s gone to ground for the past four days, is it?

Perspective with Heather du Plessis-Allan: Why doesn't Luxon want to take a position on the Iran strikes?

All right, we need to talk about Chris Luxon and that performance yesterday.

“Oh, I mean… we obviously understand… we’re not saying that… what we’re saying is… we… we… we understand this… I don’t know how to be any clearer, guys…”

You know what’s going wrong here, eh? The Prime Minister doesn’t want to say what he actually thinks. He doesn’t want to take a position on the air strikes on Iran.

Perspective with Heather du Plessis-Allan: Did Labour just save Luxon's skin?

If yesterday told us anything, it's that National doesn't have to replace Chris Luxon as urgently as some in the party were saying just a couple of weeks ago.

Because if Labour carries on like they did yesterday, National is probably going to be fine for next year, aren't they?