But when it
came to preparing for the birth of his first child with wife Amanda Luxon, he discovered the delivery room is a world away from the boardroom.
Speaking to Paula Bennett on the latest episode of Ask Me Anything, the National Party leader reveals that he failed his first big test of fatherhood.
“I wrote a six-page typed document about the birthing, the labour process,” Luxon says.
The plan included “a whole bag ready to go” packed with mixed tape, massage equipment and jigsaw puzzles.
“I got really into it, so I read every book known to mankind on what to expect when you’re expecting,” Luxon said.
“I’d sit up in bed, and I was telling Amanda, ‘Oh, wow, fascinating. The baby’s the size of a grain of rice today’.”
When the big day arrived, Luxon presented his delivery strategy to the project manager.
“I sort of said to the midwife, ‘Oh, hey, listen, look, I’ve got a birthing plan. We’re just going to have a series of escalating sort of actions as we go through the process’.”
That’s when Luxon found out he wasn’t in charge this time.
“She said, ‘Well, thank you very much, Mr Luxon … it’s not about you, it’s actually about Amanda’.”
Luxon took the feedback on board and by the time the couple welcomed their second child Olivia Luxon, he was happy to take on a supporting role.
“There was no birthing plan at that point.”
Luxon, who describes his 5-year-old self as “a very organised little chap”, has since learned there are times in life when you have to relinquish control.
“You do everything to the plan as best you can. You have a plan, but actually you’ve also got to hold it loosely.”
Perhaps if he hadn’t learnt to let go of the plan, Luxon might never have ended up running Air New Zealand, let alone the country.
While neither opportunity was on his to-do list, he’s glad he was open to them.
“You’ve go to keep yourself available for opportunities and where life may lead you.”
Listen to the full episode for more from Christopher Luxon on:
Why he would rather face a crocodile than a bear.The unusual sights and characters he’s encountered on the campaign trail.How he and his wife protect their family life from the pressures of politics.
Ask Me Anything is an NZ Herald podcast hosted by former Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett. New episodes are available every second Sunday.
You can follow the podcast at iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.