ACT Party leader David Seymour will become New Zealand’s Acting Prime Minister next week when Botany MP and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon takes personal leave from July 14-20.
Luxon has this week attended the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) Summit in Washington DC in the United States. New Zealand is not a member of NATO.
Luxon met with US President Joe Biden and other world leaders including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and recently-elected UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer among others.
He also chaired an Indo-Pacific 4 meeting with representatives from Australia, Japan, and South Korea.
Luxon is now in California, where he’s met with the state’s Governor Gavin Newsom.
He’s finished what he labels a successful four-day visit to the US with meetings in California on his final day focusing on innovation and investment.
“It has been fantastic to be in San Francisco today seeing first-hand the deepening links between New Zealand and California,” Luxon says.
“New Zealand company EV Maritime is integral to the Bay Area’s transition to a more sustainable future, as they work towards incorporating their innovative propulsion technology to the fleet.
“My meeting with California Governor Gavin Newsom also showed there are plenty of further opportunities in green technologies, geothermal energy, aerospace, and renewable energy.
“I would like to thank him for his generous hosting and warm hospitality.”
Luxon says he and Newsom moved forward the collaboration between California and New Zealand on clean energy, with a statement committing to new work together on geothermal energy, offshore wind and transport decarbonisation.
“I met with a range of venture capitalists to promote the investment opportunity that New Zealand represents.
“The chance to meet the New Zealand interns at the NASA Ames Research Center was a highlight.
“The focus on innovation during my visit to Apple Park indicates to me that the future is bright, with Apple’s research work in Auckland creating high tech jobs for New Zealanders.”
Luxon’s visit also advanced New Zealand’s technology and investment opportunity with the United States.
“I am pleased New Zealand will be launching a bilateral technology dialogue with the US this year.
“As a trusted partner, this will offer yet another opportunity to engage in an area critical to our future prosperity.”
When Luxon returns to New Zealand he’ll take personal leave for the final week of Parliament’s three-week recess.
Seymour will fill in as Acting Prime Minister during that time as Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters will be overseas.
