There are questions of political judgement hanging over Christopher Luxon after it's been revealed he ordered a Tesla on the taxpayer dime.
While that's not a crime in itself, the National Party leader did it at the same time he was lambasting the Government for subsidising rich Tesla owners with the clean car feebate scheme.
As Leader of the Opposition, Luxon gets similar perks to ministers of the Crown. This includes chauffeur-driven Crown limos but also if he wants it, a car he can drive himself.
Parliamentary Services went to him last year and asked if he'd like a self-drive car, he said yes, and was given a list of approved cars - mainly electric and hybrid ones.
Despite already owning a Tesla, he chose to get another one. The order was placed, with the taxpayer picking up the bill.
This was in November last year when he was blasting the Government for subsidising Teslas for rich people - they get around $8000 discount as part of the Govt scheme.
His staffers saw this was a bad look and got him to cancel it.
Analysis
This again puts the spotlight on Luxon's political judgement.
Most MPs have a risk radar that goes off when things are politically dangerous - yet it didn't set his alarm bells off. And that should be, and clearly is, a concern for the Nats.
