1 00:00:00,440 --> 00:00:02,520 Speaker 1: If you didn't pick up on Christopher Luxen's State of 2 00:00:02,560 --> 00:00:05,000 Speaker 1: the Nation's speech yesterday, the Prime Minister is looking to 3 00:00:05,040 --> 00:00:08,680 Speaker 1: grow the economy because the country desperately needs economic growth. 4 00:00:09,080 --> 00:00:10,879 Speaker 1: Just in case you missed that, And yes, I am 5 00:00:10,920 --> 00:00:13,560 Speaker 1: being a little facetious. Actually, I thought the Prime Minister's 6 00:00:13,600 --> 00:00:16,840 Speaker 1: performance yesterday was good, both the speech and afterwards during 7 00:00:16,880 --> 00:00:19,720 Speaker 1: the press conference. Sure, he stuck to was message like 8 00:00:19,720 --> 00:00:22,640 Speaker 1: a self help guru trying to manifest an outcome, but 9 00:00:22,720 --> 00:00:25,320 Speaker 1: after taking a while to look comfortable or natural as 10 00:00:25,320 --> 00:00:29,000 Speaker 1: a politician, yesterday he sounded more authentic, like his founders groove. 11 00:00:29,200 --> 00:00:31,680 Speaker 1: He's confident in the direction he's taking the country, and 12 00:00:31,720 --> 00:00:34,720 Speaker 1: he's not trying to appeal to everyone. For a speech 13 00:00:34,760 --> 00:00:36,599 Speaker 1: designed to set the tone for the year, he did 14 00:00:36,640 --> 00:00:39,320 Speaker 1: a good job. Last year we saw the coalition government 15 00:00:39,360 --> 00:00:42,600 Speaker 1: repeal and reform everything from education to water and health 16 00:00:42,680 --> 00:00:45,240 Speaker 1: to greyhound racing. While there is still a way to 17 00:00:45,280 --> 00:00:47,280 Speaker 1: go with some of these, this year, the Prime Minister 18 00:00:47,320 --> 00:00:49,880 Speaker 1: has made as clear it's about dialing up the volume 19 00:00:49,920 --> 00:00:53,640 Speaker 1: on creating competition, allowing more foreign investment, and pushing for 20 00:00:53,680 --> 00:00:57,920 Speaker 1: government organizations to be more future focused. The Prime Minister 21 00:00:58,120 --> 00:01:00,000 Speaker 1: also suggested we need to grow up and shake off 22 00:01:00,000 --> 00:01:02,360 Speaker 1: our culture of saying no and start saying yes to 23 00:01:02,400 --> 00:01:05,560 Speaker 1: things like expanding the port of Totonger and more concerts 24 00:01:05,600 --> 00:01:08,720 Speaker 1: at Eden Park and unloading the dishwasher. Nope, that was 25 00:01:08,760 --> 00:01:11,600 Speaker 1: just me talking to my children. Luxon also used the 26 00:01:11,640 --> 00:01:14,800 Speaker 1: speech to make some announcements, the creation of invest New Zealand, 27 00:01:14,840 --> 00:01:18,199 Speaker 1: an agency to attract foreign investment, major reforms to Crown 28 00:01:18,280 --> 00:01:22,720 Speaker 1: Research Institutes, and their disestablishment of the Callahan Innovation, which, 29 00:01:22,800 --> 00:01:25,840 Speaker 1: due to Collins bluntly said at her post speech press conference, 30 00:01:25,880 --> 00:01:29,400 Speaker 1: had had its day. The new announcements are needed. National 31 00:01:29,400 --> 00:01:32,560 Speaker 1: Party MPs have been sounding very well media trained recently, 32 00:01:32,600 --> 00:01:35,800 Speaker 1: sticking to their messaging, avoiding answering questions with detail and 33 00:01:35,840 --> 00:01:38,000 Speaker 1: you know, the drill. As a result, they've been sounding 34 00:01:38,120 --> 00:01:40,520 Speaker 1: a little bit empty. When there's a lot of talking 35 00:01:40,800 --> 00:01:43,320 Speaker 1: but nothing has really been said, it's easy to lose interest. 36 00:01:43,560 --> 00:01:45,560 Speaker 1: But what struck me yesterday was how well the Prime 37 00:01:45,560 --> 00:01:49,080 Speaker 1: Minister was across questions thro anidom. Instead of reverting back 38 00:01:49,080 --> 00:01:51,880 Speaker 1: to the big picture, bland key messages, he can often 39 00:01:51,920 --> 00:01:55,160 Speaker 1: fall back on who throughout detail and examples. There will 40 00:01:55,200 --> 00:01:57,400 Speaker 1: be some pushback to some of his ideas such as 41 00:01:57,480 --> 00:02:00,640 Speaker 1: mining and gene technology. Making money is one thing, but 42 00:02:00,720 --> 00:02:03,000 Speaker 1: many New Zealanders will still want the government to balance 43 00:02:03,040 --> 00:02:06,800 Speaker 1: their pragmatic approach with consideration and respect for affected communities, 44 00:02:07,000 --> 00:02:10,440 Speaker 1: the environment, and the treating There is also perhaps wishful 45 00:02:10,520 --> 00:02:13,200 Speaker 1: sense from the Prime Minister that tax cuts, lower inflation 46 00:02:13,280 --> 00:02:15,880 Speaker 1: and falling ocr mean New Zealanders can move on from 47 00:02:15,880 --> 00:02:18,920 Speaker 1: focusing on the cost of living. I doubt he'll be 48 00:02:18,960 --> 00:02:22,200 Speaker 1: let off the hook that easily rises and rents, rates, 49 00:02:22,280 --> 00:02:26,560 Speaker 1: insurances and other costs are still impacting household budgets. Making 50 00:02:26,600 --> 00:02:29,160 Speaker 1: New Zealand a great place to live in years to 51 00:02:29,200 --> 00:02:32,000 Speaker 1: come is important. Love me some vision, but that doesn't 52 00:02:32,040 --> 00:02:34,480 Speaker 1: mean we should lose sight of today. But hey, if 53 00:02:34,520 --> 00:02:37,120 Speaker 1: the Side of the Nation speech is about getting out 54 00:02:37,200 --> 00:02:39,880 Speaker 1: the message, it's all about economic growth so we can 55 00:02:39,919 --> 00:02:44,080 Speaker 1: have better lives than got it loud and clear. Job done. 56 00:02:44,240 --> 00:02:47,240 Speaker 1: For more from early edition with Ryan Bridge. Listen live 57 00:02:47,360 --> 00:02:50,360 Speaker 1: to News Talks It be from five am weekdays, or 58 00:02:50,440 --> 00:02:52,320 Speaker 1: follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.