There are politicians, and then there's New Zealand's Christopher Luxon. Just when you thought integrity in politics couldn't be less aerodynamic, Luxon takes flight into uncharted territory...
When he's not battling bureaucratic turbulence in the halls of government, Chris Luxon, the former CEO of Air New Zealand turned political mogul-come-extraordinaire, retreats to his backyard to engage in a rather unconventional pastime that has left his constituents and colleagues both bemused and befuddled.
Now, we've had politicians sing. We've had politicians dance. We've even had one who could play the saxophone like a jazz maestro on late-night television. But the sight of a robust, mature man like Luxon, with a supposed serious demeanor, flying a toy airplane around while mimicking the sounds of a Boeing 747 ascending has sent the political and comedy worlds into an absolute frenzy.
Luxon's interesting... ahem... 'hobby', was caught on camera by a neighborhood watch member who, for legal reasons and sheer embarrassment, wishes to remain anonymous. The witness could initially only muster an incredulous eyebrow arch before collecting themselves enough to capture Luxon's spectacle of political turbulence and immersive role play for prosperity sake.
"Luxon was circling his backyard with the toy plane doing loopty loops, making engine sounds and even radio communication checks, like 'Roger that, Auckland Tower! Clear for takeoff! Zoom, Zoom!'" the baffled neighbor told The Wibble.
Following his secretive, yet bracing bout of aviation enthusiasm, Luxon unveiled his impromptu landing strip involving garden elves and a 'happy landing' sign, apparently crafted from weather-beaten plywood and an unfinished tin of Christmas glitter.
When asked for comment, Luxon, flushed redder than the nose of his toy airliner, admitted, "It keeps me grounded," neglecting the obvious irony of his statement. "To be honest, I don't see what all the fuss is about. I'm living proof that you should never let go of your childhood dreams."
At this point, whether Luxon is setting a new standard for politicians, or if his political aspirations have stalled at the runway, remains up in the air...
In a (tail)spin of positive findings, Air New Zealand sales have taken off among younger demographics, with NZ First's Fletcher Tabuteau even suggesting that "Chris' antics, if you can call it that, should be featured in our next tourism campaign!"
In true Kiwi fashion, instead of bearing the brunt of political nit-picking, Luxon's unfettered commitment to his former employer and his sophomoric enthusiasm seems to have captivated the public's attention right off the radar and into comic novelty.
And so, the question on everyone's lips isn't about foreign policy or climate change, it's, "Will Chris Luxon please share the blueprint for his 'Backyard Air Traffic Control Tower'?"
In the wake of this event, one thing is clear, politics has clearly taken flight with Luxon at the control tower. All we can do now is fasten our seatbelts, sit back and enjoy the ride. Meanwhile, Luxon might have just redefined the phrase, 'Sky's the Limit'. Only, it's all happening in his own backyard!