Photography: Amalia Osborne.
If ever there was a reminder that even the best-laid plans can go awry, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s Christmas last year was it. With extended family converging at Premier House, the table was
set for a lovely long lunch – a much-anticipated chance to celebrate the year and spend quality time together.
Yet all this was almost derailed when, just before the festive feast was due to be served, it was discovered the turkey had been sitting in a cold oven for several hours. Cue a hastily rearranged Christmas Day, a turkey that took its sweet time to cook and a prime minister scrambling to entertain his guests while lunch turned into dinner.
“It turns out the oven at Premier House has not one but two on-switches!” laughs Christopher’s wife Amanda, still somewhat mortified at the memory.
A Christmas detour
Luckily, the PM quickly came up with a plan, leading 15 of his family members on an impromptu tour of Parliament to fill in the time while the turkey roasted. Beehive security guards might have been surprised to see the boss at work on December 25, but Christopher says it turned out to be a Christmas the family will never forget.
“We had to do a big pivot, but it was actually a really cool chance to show the family where I work because they hadn’t been to Parliament,” he says.
“We walked there and back, and I had my key card so I showed them my office and the debating chamber. “By the time we got back, everyone was hungry, the turkey was ready and it all turned out okay.”
Festive traditions at home
It’s a hot Sunday afternoon when the Weekly joins the Luxons at home in Auckland for our annual Christmas photoshoot. The tree is up, the matching PJs have been bought and happily, William, 26, who lives at home, and Melbourne-based Olivia, 24, have joined their parents to celebrate.
The PM jokes that it’s this photoshoot that signifies the start of the festive season for him.
“There’s a mark in the diary and that means it’s all go from here.”
Cherishing time together
But this is also a rare chance for the tight-knit four to have an afternoon together and it’s clear they’re relishing the chance to catch up.
Life these days is about grabbing family moments when they arise, says Christopher, who has barely had a break since he got the top job two years ago. That might mean a walk at the weekend with Amanda, watching 15 minutes of a Netflix show together between calls or a quick FaceTime chat with William and Olivia each day.
But come Christmas, Christopher, 55, will down tools, and finally have time to rest and recharge. And this year, the Luxons are keeping things simple. Instead of a full traditional spread, they’re trading the turkey and trimmings for a casual summer picnic on Christmas Eve with Amanda’s family.
A relaxed Christmas Eve feast
The menu will be relaxed, with Amanda, 57, planning a marinated side of salmon alongside fresh, summery salads.
“The main thing is it will be easy!” she laughs.
On Christmas morning, the Luxons will have a family lunch with Christopher’s family. The great news, he says, is his brother Karl is a chef.
“His food is always fantastic.”
When it comes to giving and receiving, Christopher says the only thing on his wishlist is quality time with whānau.
The gift of quality time
“There really is nothing I want because, for me, the real present is getting time with the family and being able to talk to them for longer than 15 minutes,” he says.
“I’m looking forward to catching up with everyone in a really relaxed way – just sitting around a table and having a chat. It’s that change of energy I’m looking forward to, actually.”
After Christmas, the Luxons will head away for a week or so of sunshine, family time and much-needed rest. There will still be papers to read and work to keep an eye on, but the pace will be slower. He’s looking forward to trading suits and ties for shorts and T-shirts, and can’t wait to get the boat out on the water for the first time since last summer. He’s hopeful he’ll reel in a decent snapper to cook on the barbecue.
“If not, it’ll be chicken and sausages!” he laughs.
Time to recharge and reflect
He says the holiday period is a good time to take stock of the year that’s been and start thinking ahead to 2026. He acknowledges it’s been a tough time for many Kiwis with the cost of living continuing to rise and many households under intense financial strain. But he says the Government is working hard to relieve the pressure.
“It’s been a challenging year for people in many parts of the country,” he says.
“But we’re doing all the right things to put New Zealand on a pathway to realise its potential in the coming years. And the signs are there – we’re seeing every week and every month there is positivity happening with new jobs being created, new projects being started, and that creates opportunity for people.”
A year of unexpected challenges
While most of Christopher’s focus has been on running the country, the Luxons have faced a few unexpected twists of their own this year. In July, Amanda spent five days in hospital with sepsis, an ordeal that the couple hasn’t spoken about publicly until now.
“It started with a little prickle in my finger,” recalls Amanda.
“It just got worse and worse, and eventually the doctors had to go in and open it up twice to clear the infection. I ended up staying in hospital for intravenous antibiotics for five days.”
Grateful for great care
Holding up her finger – still slightly red and swollen – she downplays the scare, insisting she was never too worried.
“The staff at Middlemore Hospital were phenomenal,” she enthuses. “I felt really well cared for and honestly, it was just a finger! I never felt concerned.”
Fortunately, Christopher was in the country and could be by her side.
“She took it all in her stride,” he says proudly.
“It was one of those unexpected things that happen, but she handled it brilliantly and we’ve moved on.”
Celebrating family milestones
On a brighter note, the couple was delighted to see William graduate this year with a Bachelor of Commerce. He’s now working full-time in merchandise planning at retail chain Flo & Frankie, while younger sister Olivia is still living in Melbourne and working for L’Oréal.
Christopher is proud of his close relationship with his children, despite the intensity of his job. He and Olivia are music lovers, and stay in touch daily with song recommendations. Olivia even gave her dad a waterproof speaker for the shower last Christmas and both are enjoying Taylor Swift’s new album.
Bonding through daily rituals
“I have Ophelia and Opalite on short rotation,” he says.
As well as this, every day, Christopher, Amanda and Olivia (and sometimes William, if he’s around) will do online puzzles, Wordle and Connections, together over FaceTime.
“It’s really important to have the discipline of some routines like this to keep us connected,” says Christopher, who is often away from home.
“Amanda and I will talk obviously every day, several times a day, but with the kids, I try to touch base at least once a day as well.”
He credits Amanda as being the rock of the family and says there is no way he could do his job without her unwavering support. And it’s not just on the home front – Amanda puts in many hours behind the scenes supporting her husband in his work too.
A partner on the world stage
She recently accompanied Christopher to summits in Malaysia and Korea, took part in partner programmes and formed relationships with other spouses of world leaders. She also works with embassy staff in Pacific nations.
“It’s really quite helpful for relationship building,” says Christopher.
“It’s not political work, but she can have some influence and those relationships are very useful. A lot of those countries are family focused, so it’s a real positive to have Amanda along.”
Looking ahead, with cautious optimism
There might be an election on the horizon, but for now, Christopher insists that’s not at the forefront of his mind. Instead, he’s focusing his efforts on fixing the economy so that the Government can deliver better public services. He hopes Kiwis are able to take a breather at Christmas and feel confident that a brighter year is around the corner.
“It’s been a big year and people deserve a good break,” he says.
“My hope is that everyone can take time to rest, recharge and re-energise with their loved ones. There’s a lot to look forward to and I’ve got every confidence that 2026 will be a much better year for all of us.”
