Almost one million New Zealanders get to hear from the PM via the interviewing skills of some of this country’s top broadcasters between 7am and 8am each Monday – O’Brien or Chris Chang on TVNZ Breakfast, Mike Hosking on Newstalk ZB and, from today, Campbell (or Ingrid Hipkiss) on RNZ’s Morning Report.
As Media Insider revealed on Friday, Smalley has been called in to help Luxon and National’s Auckland MPs with their media and communications strategies over the next few weeks.
Smalley has worked alongside several of the Monday morning broadcasters during her own media career and is expected to offer good insights into each of their approaches.
So, how did Luxon fare today?
7.05am-7.15am: Chris Chang, TVNZ Breakfast
PM Christopher Luxon and birthday boy Chris Chang. Screengrab / TVNZ
Topics: Storm response; US-Iran and NZ’s response to latest Trump social post; Singapore fuel discussions; polls; miscarriage leave … and Celebrity Treasure Island
PM’s rating: 6
Interviewer rating: 6
Curve ball! Just as we were all set for the third week of a Tova O’Brien v Christopher Luxon head-to-head interview, TVNZ producers changed things up, with Breakfast co-host and birthday boy Chris Chang taking the lead.
Our very own de-escalation. No flustered PM and with it, a run-of-the-mill, dry interview. The responses from Luxon were no different to what he’s been citing in recent weeks – reluctant to comment specifically on Donald Trump’s social media posts, and the US’s latest position.
“What we really need to see is a de-escalation. We need to see those parties in negotiations. Ultimately, a negotiated solution is what’s needed.”
And: “What we have to recognise is we can’t control this global event, but we have our values, and we need to articulate those, which we’ve been doing – urging restraint, urging a negotiated settlement, all of those things that are necessary to rebuild trust, to get to, you know, an end to this conflict.”
Chang asked him about the recent polls. The PM said he didn’t comment on polls (zzzz!) before responding (kind of) for the next few minutes to poll-related questions.
“I have a question … in the cheap seats!” chipped in O’Brien as the interview was wrapping up.
Oh, good, a hard question coming.
“Which of your MPs would you send off to Celebrity Treasure Island?” she asked.
“I’m obviously very focused on the fuel crisis, so I can’t, I’m too busy.”
O’Brien couldn’t resist: “You could exile Chris Bishop.”
Luxon ignored that completely. “You could actually send Judith Collins. She’d get things in order very, very quickly.”
7.37am-7.48am: Mike Hosking, Newstalk ZB
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon answers questions from Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking. Photo / Michael Craig
Topics: Singapore fuel deal; Govt’s fuel crisis response; India free-trade agreement; Govt-Auckland deal; LNG deal.
PM’s rating: 8
Interviewer rating: 7
Luxon’s most assured appearance of the morning – and possibly one of his best in recent weeks. This is friendly, familiar territory. “Good morning, Mike, good to be with you!”
And where TVNZ and RNZ focused on the former Cyclone Vaianu response, Hosking – like Vaianu – had well and truly moved on. The storm didn’t come up at all.
Hosking had done his homework on the international fuel crisis, and his questions on the Singapore fuel deal shone through, as did his broader observations of the Government’s fuel response. Now he wants assurances from Luxon.
“So what I want to know is: We’re fine. We will get through this without a problem?”
Luxon: “Yeah, we are. When we talk to the importers, there’s no risk to their future orders. They’re all highly confident as they get into May … into mid to late May even, and beyond.”
Hosking brings his own attitude to these exchanges, and listeners are never in doubt where he stands.
“Without boring the whole country, what’s this Auckland City deal about?” Hosking asked at one stage.
It was the lowest point of the interview as the PM then came close to boring the whole country.
7.52am-8am: John Campbell, RNZ National
John Campbell is no stranger to interviewing prime ministers – this file photo is from his own time as TVNZ Breakfast host. Screengrab / TVNZ
Topics: Storm response
PM’s rating: 7
Interviewer rating: 7
The PM used charm to open his Morning Report interview with new host John Campbell.
“How’s the first day at the new school going?”
“It’s going well,” responded Campbell. He joked that he must have failed numerous exams, as it was his fourth time back at the school of RNZ.
Unlike TVNZ and Newstalk ZB – and possibly because this was the most squeezed interview, timing-wise – there was just one topic on RNZ’s agenda: Cyclone Vaianu, and the Government’s broader response to climate events, especially on the East Coast.
Campbell was authoritative – a couple of interruptions and a couple of longer framed questions, but he allowed the PM time to answer, without allowing him to waffle. He listened to responses and engaged.
And the PM added more charm: “John, [in the] last flood, I was up in Hicks Bay, State Highway 35 – you know that area incredibly well. You’ve done a number of stories from there.”
By any measure, it was a fair, balanced interview.
Those who dislike (or like) Luxon, Hosking or Campbell won’t have been swayed in their opinions today.
But no doubt to the relief of the PM, Smalley and his wider team, he came through the three interviews with national issues at the forefront, and no personal communication hiccups.
Editor-at-Large Shayne Currie is one of New Zealand’s most experienced senior journalists and media leaders. He has held executive and senior editorial roles at NZME including Managing Editor, NZ Herald Editor and Herald on Sunday Editor and has a small shareholding in NZME.