Australians love to steal New Zealand talent, and an Aussie TV presenter has started making moves to nab New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon.
Noting former Prime Minister Dame Jacinda Ardern's star power on the world stage, Sunrise host Matt (Shervo) Shirvington told Luxon, "if you go really well, we're going to try claim you right? Like Russell Crowe."
It's not just the Hollywood actor - Phar Lap, Pavlova and Crowded House are on the list of stolen Kiwis too.
"You do that a bit I notice that," Luxon joked back.
Shervo made the comments because of the Prime Minister's close ties to Australia. Luxon moved to Sydney with his wife, Amanda, after graduating from the University of Canterbury in 1992.
"We were based here for five years, we bought a house here, and we had our first child here," said Luxon. "It's a place that we know well - a very special country".
The story is one common with most New Zealanders - around 700,000 Kiwis live in Australia.
Luxon's whirlwind trip to Sydney was to build on the long-standing relationship by meeting with Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
"We know each other from previous lives," said Luxon.
The pair first met back in 2015 when Luxon was CEO of Air New Zealand.
"We get on really well, very well actually, very similar people, very similar personalities. Big extroverts."
It wasn't the only meeting Luxon was excited about.
It was Luxon's first international TV interview, and when Shervo wrapped up, he was quick to chime in with how much of a fan he was.
"Great to meet an athletic legend like yourself - I remember you from the 2000 Olympics," Luxon told Shervo.
Shervo is a former Olympian who represented Australia in the 100m and 200m sprints at the Sydney 2000 Olympics.
But fellow host Monique Wright made it clear Kiwis couldn't take Aussie talent joking, "You can't steal our Shervo - he's ours".
