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Report: Air NZ chief executive eyeing Botany seat

Author
Newstalk ZB ,
Publish Date
Tue, 28 May 2019, 3:45PM
Christopher Luxon is National's pick for Botany, says Barry Soper. (Photo / NZ Herald)

Report: Air NZ chief executive eyeing Botany seat

Author
Newstalk ZB ,
Publish Date
Tue, 28 May 2019, 3:45PM

Air New Zealand's chairman is dismissing claims the company's chief executive is considering a move to politics.

Newstalk ZB political editor Barry Soper says he understands that Christopher Luxon wants to get into politics.

It comes after National list MP Alfred Ngaro decided against splitting away from the party to form a Christian-focused group.

Soper told Andrew Dickens that one reason why Ngaro has decided against this was that the Botany seat, which he was eyeing as a possibility, is instead being reserved for Luxon.

"The head of Air New Zealand wants to get into politics. He's a relatively young man. He's approaching 50, and I believe he probably has leadership aspirations."

He says that Ngaro has seen that he is safer in National, now that Botany is out of the question.

The Botany seat is held by Independent MP Jami-Lee Ross.

It had been held by National since it was first contested in 2008 - up until Ross left the party last year.

However, Air New Zealand board chair Tony Carter told NewstalkZB Luxon has confirmed he remains committed to Air New Zealand.

New Zealand Herald aviation editor Grant Bradley told Andrew Dickens that there have been political rumours surrounding Luxon for years.

"He was meant to be standing at Northcote last year, but that didn't happen."

Bradley says that it is a matter of timing for Luxon.

 

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