Christopher Luxon

About

Politician and former businessman who, only three years after entering politics, earned the position of Prime Minister-elect of New Zealand in October of 2023. He had previously served as a Member of Parliament for Botany beginning in 2020, as well as the New Zealand National Party leader starting in 2021. He won the 2023 general election with over 40% of the vote after having run a campaign based on policies including lower taxes, anti-gang legislation, environmental action to reduce climate change, gender pay equity and equality for the LGBTQIA+ community, middle-income tax cuts, and crime reduction. 

Before Fame

He graduated from the University of Canterbury with a master of commerce degree. Before undertaking his political career, he worked as the CEO of Air New Zealand. He earned the position in the year 2012 after having joined the company as group general manager the previous year. Prior to that, he worked for Unilever beginning in the year 1993, where he eventually became CEO of its Canadian operations. 

Trivia

He has stated that he enjoys working on DIY projects in his spare time, as well as listening to country music and waterskiing. He is a supporter of the New Zealand national rugby union team known as the All Blacks, and he attended the team's World Cup quarter-final match against Ireland. 

Family Life

He is the son of sales executive Graham Luxon and psychotherapist Kathleen Turnbull. He has two younger brothers named Matthew and Karl. He married his high school sweetheart Amanda when he was just 23 years old. He and Amanda are the parents of a son named William and a daughter named Olivia. 

Associated With

When he assumed office as Leader of the Opposition in November of 2021, he served under former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and succeeded former Opposition Leader Judith Collins. In May of 2023, he accompanied former Prime Minister Chris Hipkins to the coronation of King Charles III as part of the official New Zealand delegation.