Luxon apologises for telling struggling Rotorua businesses to ‘be adult’
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon apologised for comments made at a Rotorua business meeting where he called their outlook negative and urged them to act like adults.
Christopher Luxon attended a Rotorua Business Chamber breakfast where he responded to concerns about rising costs and falling customers by describing the outlook as negative and urging businesses to adopt an adult mentality rather than rely on government support. Business leaders said his lecture did not land well with owners facing real challenges. After initial defence of his comments, Luxon later apologised, saying he got it wrong and did not properly acknowledge the pressures small business owners face.
Covered byRNZStuffNZ Herald1NewsNewstalk ZBOtago Daily TimesThe SpinoffNot covered byNewsroomBusinessDeskinterest.co.nz
Coverage across the news outlets we track, as at publication.
What outlets are saying
NZ Herald
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon responds to Rotorua business ownersâ deflated economic confidence
PM calls the outlook 'quite negative' and tells business owners to 'be adult'.
Stuff
âBe adultâ: PMâs Office hits back at âmischaracterisationâ of comments to business owners
Christopher Luxon was told Rotorua business ownersâ confidence was at a low.
Stuff
Seymour says PMâs comments on business owners is 'valid' in some cases
Labour has accused the prime minister of being "out of touch" and "telling struggling business owners to grow up" instead of owning the "weak economy".
Otago Daily Times
PMâs description of NZ businesses valid: Seymour
Stuff
Luxon explains his call for businesses to âbe adult, adult, adultâ
Christopher Luxon was told Rotorua business ownersâ confidence was at a low.
Stuff
Lecture from PM âdidnât land wellâ, Rotorua business leader says
The president of the Rotorua Business Chamber told Stuff Christopher Luxonâs comments were misjudged as businesses didnât need a âlectureâ.
NZ Herald
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon faces questions over claim business sector is ânegativeâ, should act like an âadultâ
The National leader is being accused of being out of touch.
Newstalk ZB
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon faces questions over claim business sector is ânegativeâ, should act like an âadultâ
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon will face questions this afternoon over his claim business is taking a ânegative viewâ of economic conditions and should act like an âadultâ.
1News
'I got that wrong': Luxon apologises for remarks about small businesses
"I am sorry if my comments do not properly acknowledge the challenges that many small business owners are facing, and that I got that wrong."
Otago Daily Times
PM apologises for remarks made to business community
RNZ
No need for Luxon to apologise over Rotorua business meeting comments, mayor says
Luxon has apologised for saying some businesses have a "parent-child mentality" and too often look to the government for help.
The Spinoff
You should all be using Claude, Luxon told Rotorua businesspeople. So we did
We fired up the AI chatbot to assess the prime ministerâs comments in response to what he called a ânegative viewâ question. When the prime minister saw the way his âfireside chatâ at the Rotorua Business Chamber on Friday morningâŠ
The Spinoff
Christopher Luxon had a rough day (and may have another one today)
Spare a thought for the prime minister who had to apologise for his comments to Rotorua business leaders and answer endless questions about Winston Peters, writes Henry Oliver in todayâs excerpt from The Bulletin. To receive The Bulletin in fullâŠ
1News
Rotorua chamber trusts 'genuine reflection' behind Luxon apology
Rotorua Business Chamber president Paul Ingram told Breakfast the "parent-child" comparison didn't land in a room of resilient owners.
NZ Herald
âObviously the words didnât come out quite rightâ – National MPs arrive at Parliament after Christopher Luxon apology
MPs have arrived for their weekly caucus meeting.
Newstalk ZB
National MPs arrive at Parliament after Christopher Luxon apology
National Party Deputy leader Nicola Willis defended her leader Christopher Luxon this morning, saying that Luxonâs decision to apologise for remarks made to Rotorua businesses would not cause another round of leadership speculation.
Stuff
Luxon wants AI to be a ânumber one focusâ for SMEs – but is it for his govt?
The PM seemingly lectured Rotorua businesses about how to survive the current economic challenges – and among his solutions was AI. So does his govt have an AI plan?
NZ Herald
Can Luxon repair the damage with small business before the election? â The Front Page
The Prime Minister apologised after business owners called him out of touch.
Newstalk ZB
Christopher Luxon: Prime Minister takes talkback live in studio with Kerre Woodham
The 2026 election is less than a hundred days away.
NZ Herald
Christopher Luxon doesnât understand NZ small businesses are forced to worry about the Government â Simon Bridges
OPINION: The PM's 'adult' comments imply small businesses are free in NZ. They aren't.