The prime minister said ‘what I’m saying to you’ 26 times in 30 minutes last weekend. But what did he actually say?

On Sunday morning, Christopher Luxon finally appeared on TVNZ’s Q+A for the first time since he was elected prime minister in 2023. The live television interview lasted 30 minutes, with journalist Jack Tame asking Luxon questions on everything from climate change to race relations to the economy. The pair sat at a round table in the TVNZ studio, Tame with a pile of notes beside him and Luxon winging it, with only a glass of water placed perilously close to his right elbow. 

As this was the first time the PM had appeared on Q+A all year, you would expect him to have a lot to say. And he did: Luxon said “what I say to you is this” (or variations of it) 26 times in 30 minutes. Tame was focused and persistent in getting straightforward answers to his questions, but Luxon was just as determined to tell us that he had something to say. Eventually, if we waited long enough, it seemed like he might even say it.

I learned a lot about the state of the nation from this episode of Q+A, but I also learned that people can say one thing many ways. Please join me on a thrilling linguistic journey through the PM’s Q+A word jungle, as we relive some of his best “what I say to you” moments. 

Again, what I would just say to you is

We’re out of the gates and we’re off, with Luxon straight into saying things. Tame states that New Zealand is now ranked 179 out of 190 countries on the international monetary fund record of GDP growth data, and this year has had lower growth than countries like Guinea Bissau, Chad and Iraq. “Why is that?” he asks the PM.

“Again, what I would just say to you is,” Luxon begins with a grin, “is that we have forgotten the immutable laws of economics.” Grinners are winners, and Luxon loves numbers a lot. 

Well, I would just say to you, Jack 

Luxon has lots to say to Jack Tame about forecasts (and who doesn’t?). Tame states that economic growth forecasts have continued to worsen, and cites last week’s monetary policy statement which forecasts even slower growth. “Why do the forecasts keep getting worse under your government?” he asks.

“Well I would just say to you, Jack,” Luxon says, with a smile still on his dial, “that I think all New Zealanders know it’s been a pretty tough time and we’ve inherited a hell of a mess.”

And again, what I’m saying is

Moments later, Tame presses Luxon on the issue of forecasts again. The economists, the reserve bank, treasury and all of Luxon’s staff “know exactly the kind of fiscal situation you inherited…and yet while you’ve been in government, the forecasts have gotten worse.”

“And again, what I’m saying is,” Luxon says, “that you have to take your medicine.” Incidentally, I tried to get an appointment with my GP today; the current wait is four weeks. 

What I would say to you is 

Luxon turns no-frills when Tame asks if he can point to any medium term GDP growth forecast that has improved under his leadership. “What I would say to you is,” the PM says, his hands outstretched as if trying to Jim Hickey those forecasts up before our eyes, “we still acknowledge we’ve got tough times.” When pressed further, Luxon admits he can’t point to any medium term growth forecast that showed improvement. “But isn’t it great that we’ve actually lowered inflation?” he counters brightly. 

I will just say / what I will say to you is

We’re now onto surpluses. Tame quotes a 2023 National Party press release that accused Labour finance minister Grant Robertson of having a credibility problem for not returning to surplus. With the National government delaying returning to surplus by one year, Tame asks: if it’s a credibility problem for Robertson, why isn’t it a credibility problem for Luxon? 

“I will just say, it was a credibility problem because for six years in a row, he overspent his operating allowance by $600 million on average,” Luxon says. Then we get a double banger, a two for one, a great deal in this economy. “What I will say to you is,” Luxon continues, “that we are working our way through and doing the right things.”

Oh Jack, Jack, Jack, I just say to you

The laughs come thick and fast when Tame asks why National is not honouring its promise to return to surplus. “Wouldn’t an economically literate government have worked this out sooner?” he questions. I missed the punchline, but it’s a gag that really tickles Luxon’s fancy. 

“Oh Jack, Jack, Jack, I just say to you,” Luxon says, chuckling in capitalist mirth, “economic management in this government is a hell of a lot better than what we would have seen in the previous administration.” 

I’m not saying that 

Look, he’s also not saying some stuff.

Well, I’d just say….

Tame: “Hang on, I haven’t even asked the question yet.”

Well I’d just say to you / Well I’ll just say to you / But what I’d say to you / What I’m saying to you

Luxon’s got a lot to say about poverty – four things, in fact. Tame asks whether the poorest New Zealanders are better off in relation to the rest of the population. After dancing around the answer, Luxon says he doesn’t know, then says there hasn’t been a change. When Tame points out evidence that shows the poorest New Zealanders have gotten poorer under a National government, Luxon drops not one, not two, but four “I’ll just say to you”s in a matter of minutes.  “You’re saying a lot of things to me, but you’re not actually answering my questions,” Tame tells the PM. 

What I’d just say to you is, um

When Luxon is asked if he consciously decided to support the Treaty Principles Bill through the first reading, knowing it would contribute to worsening crown/iwi relations. 

I would also just say to you though but that they though 

This one came towards the end of the interview, and made me wonder if Luxon had actually run out of things he wanted to say. It is, indeed, hard to say. 

I just say to you um but what I just say to you 

On to the topic of climate change, where Tame states that New Zealand has dropped seven places on the international climate change performance index rankings since Luxon became prime minister, and is now considered a low performer. Luxon says he doesn’t know why, but wants to say that the government is “very focused” on delivering Net Zero 2050. 

You say it best when you say nothing at all 

The prime minister began the interview by channelling his best David Brent and staring directly down the camera. He did exactly the same thing at the end. Proof that even saying nothing at all, can somehow still say a lot.

Q+A streams on TVNZ+.