PM Luxon to address media after meeting Australian counterpart amid new polling

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is set to appear on "Mike Hosking Breakfast" following a meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. The two leaders issued a joint statement addressing global instability, particularly in the Middle East, and condemning anti-immigration sentiments.

Luxon's media appearance comes as new polling indicates a significant portion of New Zealanders believe the quality of public services has not improved, or has worsened, under the current coalition government. A union-commissioned Talbot Mills poll revealed that only a quarter of respondents felt public services had improved since the National-NZF-Act government took office. This sentiment was voiced before Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced plans to cut approximately 8,700 public service roles.

Fleur Fitzsimons, national secretary of the Public Service Association (PSA), criticized the planned cuts, stating they would further erode essential services. She expressed skepticism about the government's claims that artificial intelligence could replace public servants. The poll also indicated public opinion on employment law reforms, with 41% believing employers would benefit most, compared to only 11% who thought working people would gain the most.

Further scrutiny surrounds a previously undisclosed billion-dollar spending allocation for the upcoming four years. While Budget 2026 details spending for the 2026/27 fiscal year, a Treasury document revealed a portion of Budget 2027 had already been pre-allocated. This funding, starting at $22 million for 2027/28 and rising to about half a billion annually, totals over $1 billion in the four-year forecast. A spokesperson for Finance Minister Nicola Willis stated the funding is for an initiative still under consideration, with details to be released later this year.

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no evidence to support the Government’s claims that AI can replace public servants