Jono, Ben & Megan - The Podcast - BONUS: Chris Luxon On Ram Raids and 5 Words!

Episode Date: October 3, 2022

On this bonus episode National leader Chris Luxon tries to win one lucky listener $5,000!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Hits, with a bonus podcast from Jono and Ben. Morning, now Christopher Luxon from the National Party joins us in the studio. Good morning, how you doing? Good to be with you. Oh there you go, I'll sort those headphones out. Oh yeah. Oh sorry mate. Yeah no, there you go, you can check them on.

It's lovely to see you Chris, how's things mate? It's going well, it's been really good since I've seen you last. Every time I see you on social media, you're everywhere. Oh well. You're keeping busy. Well I try and get out of Wellington as fast as I can to be honest with you, so I sort of go there Tuesday, Wednesdays, and then hit two or three towns across New Zealand,

and you meet just the best people. Well, because as far as meeting people go, you meet a lot of that. But I was reading yesterday, and this reminded me a lot of my mate Jono, which we've said in the past, you guys look a bit similar, but also you do something else very similar. He does look, he's a good looking man. You're the more successful one. Nicola Wells, obviously deputy for the National Party,

she says you talk to everyone at airports. Like you just keep talking. And he does exactly the same thing. I'm like, the plane is leaving. We've been called over the loudspeaker and he's still chatting to people. So obviously you do the same. I'm a big extrovert.

So you get a lot of energy from actually talking to people, right? And that's the fun part of the job. So, I mean, it's just incredible people everywhere across this country doing amazing things. And so you just want to get out and actually get a feel of how you can help them because that's the role of government, I mean, it's just incredible people everywhere across this country doing amazing things. And so you just want to get out and actually get a feel of how you can help them because that's the role of government, I think, to help people get ahead. So, no, it's a real privilege to do the job and I'm really enjoying it.

You went to Hamilton yesterday. You visited Michael Hill Jeweller. They got robbed last week, didn't they? Yeah, it was quite frightening. Last Saturday, actually, in daylight robbery, literally daylight robbery at 10 or 11 in the morning. And, actually, in daylight robbery, literally daylight robbery, at 10 or 11 in the morning. And, you know, just put yourself in the shoes of the staff. I mean, they went to work to do their job and they didn't expect to have a violent sort of smash and grab sort of attack that happened in that mall.

It's been quite shocking to all the folk in Hamilton. And so I just went down there to sort of say hi and just to check in with them and see how they're going. And, yeah, amazing people. And the company's doing a good job getting around them. But equally, it's been awesome. You see the best of people as well because the people at Hamilton brought them donuts. Oh, that's nice.

And I've been supporting them as well. It's funny not to get too serious for a second here, but the Ram Rays are a big topic of conversation. I keep telling Benny he should stop doing them. But he's like, no, it's good in the middle of the night. You don't get a bit of extra stuff on the way. No, it's not. But what can you do? It's so scary. How do you stop it? I mean, there's good in the middle of the night. You don't get a bit of extra stuff on the way. But what can you do?

Like, how do you stop it? I mean, there's two things that aren't happening. One is we're not protecting victims or potential victims well enough. So, you know, actually making sure that, you know, dairy owners can actually harden up their security arrangements and we support them doing that. But the bigger issue is there just aren't any consequences for these kids. And a lot of it is there's a range

of consequences from family group conferences for first-time offenders right through to community service, home detention, and ultimately youth detention centres. But you've got to use those consequences a bit more, I think. And the other piece that's linked to it very strongly is kids aren't in school. And in New Zealand, the most startling thing I've discovered since coming to politics is only 46% of our kids are attending school regularly at the moment. 46%? Yeah, and that's a real worry. And that's a real worry because it's not just...

Is it habits through sort of like COVID and lockdowns and stuff potentially? They say sort of less than half of it's linked to COVID and illness. But clearly, you know, routines have been altered since COVID and lockdown periods. But whatever it is, we've got to be able to get our kids back to school. And certainly as a parent, there's a lot of things that make it easier to get to school now. Free lunches, free breakfasts, free period products,

subsidised uniforms. And that's great and we should keep doing that. But we've just got to get them into school because the outlook then for the country and the future isn't great if we haven't got our kids learning some numeracy and literacy. Now, speaking of younger days, there's a photo I found last night.

Oh, it's great. Christopher Luxon online. Now, you're in a McDonald's uniform. Did you used to work at McDonald's? I love that job. Oh, yeah. It was great. And a great head of hair, too.

Yeah, I know. When did that go? Probably in my late 20s, early 30s. You hold on to it for a couple of years and you're like, what am I doing? I had the same journey, Chris. Yeah, and then you just go, no, this ain't, I've just got to embrace it and go with it.

But look great, yeah. Blonde hair, blonde locks. I love that job. It was a big deal when McDonald's came to Christchurch and there was 1,500 kids that applied for the jobs there. Really? But I just loved running that drive-thru. It was just fantastic. Were you the boss of the drive-thru? Well, sort of. I just got, I loved it. It was fantastic. So I'd like to go back there one day and just sort of

do a drive-thru. Do a shift? Yeah, it'd be great. It'd be really good fun. Now, you do a lot, like you say, you get out and about quite a lot, and there's always going to be people who disagree with your politics. What's the funniest sledge you've heard in public? Have people been yelling out stuff to you, Chris? No, actually, people are really good to me. I had one incident in Palmerston North where I think it was anti-vax protesters surrounded a building and 16 local constabulary police officers came by to help out.

But apart from that, honestly, I don't have any challenges. And I actually think it's really good that the politicians get out and about and see people, and that's what makes New Zealand special because it doesn't happen anywhere else in the world. Now, the poll this week has got you and ACT governing alone. Seems like there's a poll released every 10 minutes. Do you read too much into them? Do you get excited by them?

No, not really. I mean, the way you sort of look at it is sort of what's the trend. And the trend over the last nine to ten months is that, you know, people think we're getting our act together and we've got good ideas and, you know, they're over the government not delivering really. And so, you know, they're encouraging. And we've made good progress actually in the last nine to ten months and I'm really proud of the team.

And we've got a lot more to do though. Are you like saying to your team between now and the election, just don't screw it up? Well, you're constructively dissatisfied, right? I'm one of those people who's just like, there's always more to do. There's always better things to achieve. And so, yeah, so the team's really focused. But, I mean, this cost of living crisis is a real challenge for people.

They want the economy well managed. And they want better public services, right? And at the moment, crime, health, education, housing, all of that stuff's going backwards. Well, we've got $5,000 that could be won this morning on the show. We'll help someone and we're going to put you in the soundproof booth

next and see if you can match up $5,000. Are you keen to do that? I'm keen. I'm up for it. Alright, so I 100 the hits. We've got a guarantee $5,000 to be won this morning and we'll see if we can give it away with Christopher Luxon next. Let's go. Five words for 5K must be won every day. It is our game of word association.

We play it every morning on THE HITS, and we've got a guaranteed $5,000 winner today thanks to Gas Petrol Service Stations. We'll keep playing until the money is given away, and Christopher Luxon, we've managed to talk you into being the first person to go into the soundproof fund. This will be fun. This will be great. So thank you for doing this. Now, we've managed to talk you into being the first person to go into the soundproof booth. This'll be fun. This'll be great.

Thank you for doing this. Now we need to figure out how much tax would you make the winner pay on $5,000 there, Christopher Luxon? Oh look, I think they need all the money they can get at the moment, don't they? Yeah. Let's welcome in Dominic. Dominic from Auckland, how are you? I'm good, thanks. How are you guys this morning? We're doing well. It's good to have

you on New Zealand's Breakfast now. $5,000 if Christopher Luxon wins this for you. What are you going to spend it on? Hopefully a trip to Queenstown. Hold on. Where are you from? Auckland. An Aucklander in Queenstown?

I know. It's never happened before. It hasn't. Do you want to offer any words of advice to Christopher? Just help me out. I'll do my best. I promise you I'll try really hard

Alright Chris You can head on To the soundproof booth Alright And then when you're in there And you can't hear We'll say our words today And for the first game

Because we've got Chris playing They're all election themed You know Political themed Alright He's locked the door Chris Luxon Can't hear a thing right now

Dominique Thanks to Gas Petrol Service Stations, five grand must go today. What pops into your head when I say national? Party. Yeah, yeah, I was thinking national party. Jeez, you keep just hanging on for that. Chris, obviously Chris Luxon in the booth.

Are we thinking Chris for that one or not? Chris is the word. Yeah, Chris Luxon in the booth. Are we thinking Chris for that one or not? Chris is the word. Yeah, Chris Luxon. Luxon. Backbencher is word number three. Backbencher. MP. Tax is word number four.

Tax. Tough words, tough words. What would you say for tax? Bracket? Tax, bracket. Tax is a tough one. It is a really tough one. And election is the final word.

Election. Getting a bit of help in the background, which is good. I am, I am. You need it. It's tough. I think we've made it tough for you this morning.

Election night. Election. Night. Night. Election night. Those are the five words. You happy with them, Dominique? No, yep.

No, yep. All right, we're going to get Chris back out to the soundproof booth. He's coming back out first now. Dominique. He's coming back out for us now. Dominique, she's 50% confident there, Chris. Yeah. 50% confident.

They were quite tough. All I could hear was rainwater. Now, the intense music begins. This is more hardcore than question time, Chris Luxon. This is harder. All right, let's go to the first word. Word one, $25. National was the first word.

What pops into your head, Chris Luxon, when I say national? Party. Yeah, you would be correct. Well done. Dominique, you need to decide if we're advancing on to the $50 round. Yes, please. All right. Word two, $50.

Chris. Luxon. Yeah, there we go. Two from two. Oh, that's great. We're getting closer to $50. Low hanging fruit there. Okay. Dominique, do you want to go to the $100 word? Yeah, two from two. Oh, that's great. We're getting close to the question. Low-hanging fruit there. Okay, Dominic, do you want to go to the $100 word?

Yeah, why not? Okay. Word three, $100. Backbencher. MP. Oh! Yes! Dominic!

Yes, so good. So now do you want to jump up to $500? Oh, this is getting serious. Bearing in mind if you walk away. Yeah, okay, you get nothing if you get the wrong to jump up to $500? Oh, this is getting serious. Bearing in mind, if you walk away, yeah, okay, you get nothing. If you get you're on. Word four, $500. Dominique, I hope I get this right.

Tax. Break. No, no. Bracket. Bracket. I thought you were going to say. So close. Dominique, I'm so sorry. And election was the final one.

What would you say for election? Night. Oh, jeez. I get four election? Night. Oh! Jeez. Four out of five. Oh, Dominic. So Dominic gets nothing. Nothing. She could have tapped out at the 100, obviously,

because you had that correct, but yeah. Oh, that was so close. Tax break. Tax bracket. Yeah. Jeez. Come on, Chris. I'm sorry, Dominic.

Please have a good day. Don't let it ruin it for you. You did a really good job there, both of you guys.