Luxon Apologizes Over Small Business Remarks | Auckland News

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has issued a heartfelt apology for remarks that appeared to dismiss small business struggles, admitting he “got that wrong” and praising entrepreneurs as the backbone of the economy. His initial comments, which framed business concerns as “negative,” sparked backlash — prompting him to clarify he was focused on collaboration between government and industry, not downplaying real challenges. He also addressed a misinterpreted remark about not caring what the government thinks, explaining it was meant to stress the importance of customer experience and commercial success. Luxon emphasized the apology was personal, not political — no Cabinet pressure involved — and came from a desire to better express his respect for business owners. Meanwhile, the government rolled out new economic wins: extended fuel subsidies amid rising prices, a major public-private expressway deal, and growing business confidence. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/4ef55bbe38dbe366