PM’s public meeting garners applause, pointed questions, and protester ousted

Friday, 3 July 2026

National Party leader Christopher Luxon spoke to more than 250 people at a town hall-style meeting at Hamilton Boys’ High School.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s public meeting in Hamilton was punctuated by cheers, boos, and pointed questions, with one attendee forcibly removed from the hall after tensions spilled over.

More than 250 people from across the political spectrum packed into Hamilton Boys’ High School’s hall to listen to the National Party leader, who was joined by Taupō MP Louise Upston, Hamilton West MP Tama Potaka, and National’s Port Waikato candidate Matthew Paul.

The hall was packed, with voters from across the political spectrum attending the meeting.

Before the meeting began, attendees circled a full car park while pro-Palestine protesters gathered outside the school gates. One activist told the Waikato Times they planned to “put the Prime Minister on the spot”.

Inside, National Party banners bearing the slogan, “Fixing the basics, building the future” lined the stage as the smell of deodorant lingered in the hall, only recently vacated by teen boys.

Questions put to the Prime Minister ranged from superannuation to whether New Zealand would withdraw from the Paris Agreement.

As Luxon took to the stage, he was greeted with a standing ovation from many in the audience - though some booing could also be heard amongst the cheering.

He began his address by telling the crowd the world order was changing and there was an opportunity to build “a stronger New Zealand, a more secure New Zealand here at home” amongst global volatility.

“I don't need to do this job, but I choose to do this job because I fundamentally believe having lived and worked overseas for 16 years this is the best damn country on earth,” he said.

One attendee was forcibly ousted by security after calling Luxon a ‘gutless coward’ following a question about New Zealand’s stance on conflict in Palestine.

“We've got so much potential in this place and we've got so much opportunity that we have to realise and set it up for our kids and our grandkids.”

At the core of National’s plans was encouraging economic growth, restoring law and order, and improving education outcomes, Luxon said, though he acknowledged many New Zealanders were yet to feel better off.

“In the next four years what we think will happen is that the economy will grow close to 3%, he said, adding 220,000 new jobs would created in that time.

Among the attendees was National Party supporter Jim Findlay, who told the Waikato Times before the meeting he was there to hear what Christopher Luxon had to offer, although he doubted the issue most important to him - leaving the “nonsense” Paris climate accord - would be discussed.

While he was a National supporter, he wasn’t ruling out heading along and seeing what other parties had to say.

Luxon speaks to attendees after the meeting finished.

“I'll go to some of the public meetings occasionally and give them a bit of a stir up.”

Also in the audience was Sakhraj Dosanjh. While not a National supporter himself, he was there to hear the party’s views and participate in a healthy debate.

It was up in the air who won the upcoming election, he said, before adding “I think anything’s better than what we’ve currently got”.

While much of the audience skewed older, there was also a smattering of young people among the crowd.

Senior high school students Ethan and Olly told the Times they had mainly come along to see the Prime Minister.

A Palestine protestor is evicted from a public meeting where Prime Minister Christopher Luxon was speaking on Thursday night.

Asked if politics felt relevant among their peers, many of whom would be able to vote for the first time at this year’s election, Ethan replied it “100%” was.

“It’s really important to know what you’re voting for, what you want,” he said.

Audience questions ranged from the cost of living to superannuation.

One audience member, who said he had worked in the trades before retiring early because of physical health issues, questioned whether National would raise the superannuation age to 67.

Luxon stressed no decision had been made and any change would be gradual. First and foremost, he said, they would raise Kiwisaver contributions and look at making the scheme compulsory.

“We haven't got a final policy, we will take one to the election on it.”

Another attendee asked whether a re-elected National government would withdraw New Zealand from the Paris Agreement.

Luxon replied he understood the argument, but remaining in the agreement was in the country’s economic interests.

“There's a good reason for why our government hasn't taken New Zealand out of Paris, and that is quite simply that we have the best farmers in the world, the most carbon efficient farmers in the world.”

He argued leaving the agreement would damage New Zealand exporters and leave the country worse off.

The mood in the hall later shifted during questions about New Zealand’s position on Palestine, with some audience members becoming increasingly vocal before one person was forcibly ousted by security after calling Luxon a “gutless coward”.

Following the confrontation, Potaka reminded the audience they had been asked to be respectful at the start of the meeting, telling the questioners, “don’t make a speech”.