Ryan Bridge: Luxon's rhetoric is starting to match the reality

Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

It’s fair to say Christopher Luxon’s had a rough run at the top.
The transition from CEO to PM hasn’t been all that smooth. His approval ratings have been way out of whack with those of any predecessor at the same time in their reigns. We hardly saw a honeymoon.

One of the problems has been communication.

You ask people and they tell you: it’s hard to connect with him. We don’t really get what he’s about.

His loudmouth coalition partners have largely filled the personality void to his detriment. As a business executive, you’ve got to optimistic. You’ve got to project positivity, and that positive, upbeat style has jarred with the reality of our economy.

The more he said things are improving and this economy is turning a corner, the more out of touch he has sounded.

Jacinda Ardern encountered this problem when she refused to call the cost of living crisis a crisis. You lose the room. It's like a bit like trying to entertain a crowd of Metallica fans with a choir - a bit of a bum note.

And that problems has befallen Luxon.

Until now.

Despite this morning's card data going sideways, there’s no doubt the economy’s on the up. We’re about to see another jump in GDP next week as we get Q1 data, which follows positive Q4 data.

Treasury reckons this current year will see growth hitting almost 3%. Thanks to our exporters and global conditions, there’s light at the end of the tunnel.

You can feel it - shops are filling up. Manufacturing’s on the up. Company’s are hiring.

And this is massive for Luxon because it means his rhetoric is starting to match the reality.

It’s the missing piece of the puzzle that could turn his political fortunes around.

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