OPINION: Outgoing Air New Zealand boss Christopher Luxon is on the fast track to becoming the Prime Minister and now the hard stuff starts.
All the corporate business rules and mates looking after mates goes out the window. He's swimming with sharks now and nips turn into bites that turn into sudden death.
So here's my note to Chris:
Dear Chris,
Well done, breathe through your nose. Do, well actually, do not much for two or three years but at least make a couple of significant statements that stand out.
Do too much and it'll backfire - your friends will be on the other side of the chamber and your enemies will sit beside you in the National Party.
- Christopher Luxon selected as National candidate for Botany
- Former Air NZ chief executive Christopher Luxon to contest Botany candidacy
Watch your back mate and trust nobody.
Those that think their careers can be advanced by your leadership will back you, and those that you will replace will fight your every advancement and place you in a low ranking. You'll be in charge of small seeds and grains and garden gnomes.
Take it, be patient, and strike when the time is right.
Luxon's emergence is the greatest threat to Simon Bridges leadership bar nobody. Should Bridges lose Luxon is perfectly placed to take over. Should Bridges become Prime Minister, Luxon becomes a senior minister and leader in waiting.
It's win-win for Luxon. Except for this - who is he? What is he? What do we know?
He's a teetotalling Christian who drinks Coca Cola at parties.
Is he fun? Can he get his hands dirty?
He needs to drop all the corporate marketing speak and show us his real side, or has he led a life of blameless corporate, family and Christian excellence?
Is he Mr Perfect? And is that a good or bad thing? I can't tell anymore.
Duncan Garner is a host of The AM Show.
