Your letters: Tale of the two Chris’s

Over the long weekend, I read a lot of political blurb and thought about how shallow this period has been as far as the current government is concerned. If I compare the two main teams, the brains come out really in favour of the opposition. Compare the two Chris’s: one has never done a real day’s work, and the other has run several huge multinational companies. 

Prime Minister Chris left school, went to university and studied for a BA in political science. He was also heavily into the internal left politics of the student movement. In fact, he was arrested at this time for taking part in a protest against a bill going through Parliament and found guilty at that time. He also had time advising Trevor Mallard - I rest my case on that position.  I think he was part of the team that shut down the exploration and oil industry in Taranaki. He held portfolios of Education, now down the drain, and Police, now in such a poor state most people fear for their safety after dark in most towns in New Zealand. He has been Minister of the Public Service which now has more FTEs and contractors than at any time in our history. Our inflation and price-crazy items of everyday necessity have all occurred during his time in power.

Chris Luxon went to university after leaving school and gained a Master's Degree in Commerce and Business Studies. He then worked for Unilever, in senior positions in five countries before rising to President of their Canadian Operations. He succeeded Rob Fyfe as Chief Executive of Air New Zealand. Under his watch, Air NZ rose to become exceptionally profitable and the most trusted airline in Australia as well. He was asked to be on the board of Virgin and Tourism NZ at this time and was considered to have a substantial influence on their success too. 

Luxon is known to be a likeable, honest man, who has strong qualities in leadership and has a history of leading from the front with great expectations from his chosen fellow senior managers. I have heard him say he expects his people to report regularly on all progress of their portfolios both internally, and into the public arena. He is the man I think, given the chance, will pull New Zealand out of the financial disaster we are in more efficiently. And leave the country better for our future generations than the debt the current government is now at $129,000,000,000 (that is billions). 

I will vote “Party Vote” National to ensure our grandchildren don’t live in a financially ruined country that pays more interest on the loans they have run up than they spend on Education or Health.   

John Bain

Whangarei

For debt figures see: https://tradingeconomics.com/new-zealand/government-debt