Election 2023: National leader Christopher Luxon press conference interrupted by Freedoms NZ candidate

National Party leader Christopher Luxon was taking questions from reporters close to his Botany electorate in Auckland for the final Get New Zealand Back on Track public meeting when he was interrupted by a heckler.

Luxon was expecting to face a barrage of questions about potential coalitions after Labour leader Chris Hipkins yesterday ruled out working with New Zealand First.

Instead, he was interrupted by Freedoms New Zealand candidate Karl Mokaraka who jumped on top of a fence to yell at Luxon.

“You’re saying you’re the better of the two Chrises - will the real Mr Chris Luxon please stand up,” Mokaraka said.

Luxon responded: “Oh you’re a funny guy, mate, you’re a real funny guy. You’re no Slim Shady, buddy.

“Why don’t we come and chat to you afterwards, if you want to be respectful,” Luxon said.

Mokaraka, whose party leaders are Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki and lawyer Sue Grey, criticised Luxon for “not changing anything on abortion [or] transgender people”.

Luxon responded: “I don’t think you’re modelling out your values very well.”

Mokaraka continued: “You don’t listen to us. Where were you when the gun shootings happened?”

National leader Christopher Luxon press conference in Pakuranga interrupted by Karl Mokaraka, Freedoms New Zealand candidate. Photo / Dean Purcell

“Sir, do you think this is really helping your case?” Luxon responded.

“I’ll chat with you afterwards if you like. You’re being disrespectful.”

Mokaraka said he wanted to hold Luxon to account for not showing up to Ōtara.

“He’s only turned up to the white parts of the areas and the rich parts of the area. I’m after accountability.”

The press conference was derailed, and Luxon left the scene.

National leader Christopher Luxon's presser in Auckland's Pakaranga was interrupted by a heckler from the Freedoms New Zealand party. Photo / Dean Purcell

After reconvening the press conference in a different location, Luxon denied the claim made by the Freedoms candidate, saying he had spent time in low-socioeconomic areas.

“I didn’t find that respectful,” Luxon said of the interruption.

On tax bottom lines, Luxon said National’s position was against “band-Aid economics” and wanted to adjust tax thresholds to inflation. He would have more to say “very shortly” on National’s tax plan.

Speaking to Newstalk ZB this morning, Luxon would not address whether he would work with Winston Peters and his party.

“I’m just not wasting time on thinking about other parties and want people to vote National. I don’t want people to think about strategic voting,” he said.

“They are not in Parliament, and according to our internal polls they won’t make Parliament.”

On Saturday, the Herald reported leaked internal polling from Labour that had New Zealand First at 6 per cent - above the 5 per cent threshold to enter Parliament.

Earlier this month, Curia, which also polled for the National Party, had New Zealand First above 5 per cent in the most recent poll for the Taxpayers’ Union.

Asked if would work with Peters if he had to, Luxon didn’t give a definitive answer.

“I don’t know him very well, but at the moment, it’s not a consideration.

“I am not interested in talking about any other parties than the National Party and if people don’t focus [on] voting National and talk about strategic voting, it will only make things confusing.”

Hipkins made his announcement yesterday ahead of the last sitting week of the 53rd Parliament, which begins today, and the beginning of formal campaigning this weekend.

Hipkins claimed Peters, along with Luxon and Act leader David Seymour, would lead a “coalition of fear” and a “government of cuts, chaos and confusion”, and ruled out forming a government not just with New Zealand First, but with National and Act as well.