Analysis: Christopher Luxon can now put a big tick next to a basic but important diplomatic task on his to-do list, writes 1News political reporter Felix Desmarais.
"Aviation nerds."
That's how Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described himself and Christopher Luxon at a press conference in Sydney today.
"Planiac" ― plane maniac ― was the word Luxon used.
The Aussie PM was joking about the pair's pre-existing friendship, which began when he was the Transport and Infrastructure Minister and Luxon the chief executive of Air New Zealand.
Luxon even humble-bragged earlier this week that it was he who provided the introductions between the incoming Ardern-led Labour Government and Albanese back in 2017.
While Albanese's expression was intended as a self-deprecating ice-breaker at the top of their joint press conference, 1News has it on good authority there was a strong element of truth in the joke, with the two gregarious leaders spending a not-insignificant amount of time during their bilateral meeting discussing, well, aviation nerd stuff.
But stuff got done too ― the meeting was also described as "warm and business-like".
The trip was thrown into a relative uncertainty earlier this week with the Defence Force 757 “VIP” plane Luxon was due to fly to Sydney on needing last minute repairs. The 30-plus-year-old plane was mercifully repaired in time for the PM to avoid having to find alternate transport across the Tasman.
Luxon said he discussed the plane woes with Albanese, albeit stopping short of asking for Australia to hook its eastern cousins up with a new aircraft.
But it’s clear the relationship is quite a comfortable one. Indeed, that’s the term Luxon used to describe it.
“We both connected earlier in very different roles in my past life and we enjoy each other’s company," he told reporters this afternoon.
He said it was great to catch up with Albanese over lunch at Kirribilli House ― the Australian Prime Minister’s Sydney residence ― the lunch date even running over time due to the two "talking about a whole bunch of stuff".
Luxon, an exuberant extrovert, is liable to talk about "a bunch of stuff" with almost anyone. It’s a useful trait in a prime minister and a genuine part of his personality. But it bodes well the two get along so well, well enough to go over time at a lunch yakking.
It’s advantageous to both countries, but perhaps particularly New Zealand, that the foundation of their relationship was laid long before either of them were prime ministers.
Luxon was also clear that Albanese, being a Labor prime minister and him on the other side of the political divide, is not an impediment to their relationship. But it makes sense that their prior, relatively apolitical friendship has also strengthened the relationship.
And the relationship between the two men - just as with Chris Hipkins, who also shared a warm relationship (although not as long-standing) with Albanese ― is vital for New Zealand’s safety and success. Australia, as Luxon said on Monday, is New Zealand’s only ally.
Luxon didn't do perfectly. For example, he muffed up a little bit of guest / host etiquette by briefly "taking control" of a press conference over Albanese by calling on journalists for their questions. But such a thing is a minor hiccup, and perhaps speaks to the small issues that arise from Luxon's relative inexperience as a politician.
This suggests while that inexperience sometimes shows, it's not make or break. It was a solid performance and he will likely be satisfied with his first foray into diplomacy.
Today’s trip to Sydney was nothing groundbreaking, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t important. It was part of the regular maintenance of a crucial diplomatic link.
Let’s just hope it only improves with age ― unlike the Defence Force 757 he flew in on.
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