Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today flagged a possible reshuffle of his Cabinet in coming weeks as he contemplates the retirement of some politicians in his Government.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon kicked off his first interview on Newstalk ZB of 2026, in what is shaping up to be a challenging election year.
It comes hours before his State of the Nation speech, to be delivered later today at an Auckland Business Chamber event. He’s expected to highlight his Government’s work on law and order, education and reducing red tape.
Luxon told Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking there might be some in Cabinet within the National Party ranks who would retire from politics this year which could force a switch of ministerial positions.
However, there was “no need for me to feel a compunction to come out at the beginning of the year”, he said.
He did not signal who or how many politicians would be ending their parliamentary career.
Hours out from today’s keynote speech, Luxon said he wouldn’t be announcing any new policy or an election date, but the latter was coming “very shortly”.
He said there were “encouraging” indicators that an economic recovery was underway.
Luxon had till today stayed silent on recent global events, including Trump’s plan to take over Greenland and the arrest of Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro.
Asked if the Venezuelan takeover was illegal, he said it was “ultimately for the US to explain” but New Zealand had never supported Maduro’s regime.
Regarding Greenland, Luxon said New Zealand believed tariffs were bad news for the global economy and it would be better to have a discussion about how NATO - including the US - could work together over Arctic security concerns.
“It’s very clear the Greenlanders want to be part of Denmark. That is, you know, that is their decision as a sovereign nation to make that decision.”
Luxon said New Zealand should look at controlling what it could control - building a stronger economy and developing relationships at home and abroad.
The National Party has been focused on “fixing the basics and building the future” since late last year.
Luxon has flagged the Government’s intention to water down intensification plans for Auckland, which would have allowed capacity for two million homes in coming years. Writing for the Herald last week, political columnist Matthew Hooton predicted a U-turn could come as soon as today.
Luxon is not expected to reveal this year’s election date this morning; it’s likely to be unveiled on Wednesday at National’s annual caucus retreat in Christchurch.
While events in New Zealand have been relatively quiet over the holiday period, Luxon is likely to address global events, which have been ramping up.
The Prime Minister has so far remained silent on the United States’ kidnapping of Venezuela’s president Nicolas Maduro and anti-regime protests in Iran.
He has also not commented on US President Donald Trump’s designs on Greenland, with Trump threatening to use tariffs to force other countries to support a US takeover.
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has been more vocal, however.
The NZ First leader rebuked NZ’s Reserve Bank Governor Dr Anna Breman in a social media post last week, warning her to “stay in her New Zealand lane” after she signed a statement expressing “full solidarity” with US Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell, who is under investigation by the US Justice Department.
Sign up to The Daily H, a free newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.