It was not the reception a Prime Minister would hope for. Christopher Luxon was booed by sections of the crowd at the ANZ Premiership netball final on Sunday night, with the incident captured on the official broadcast.
The final was held at Trusts Arena in Henderson. As Luxon's name was announced over the loudspeakers, audible boos could be heard coming from the stands. While the moment passed quickly, it did not go unnoticed by viewers, players and media alike.
The jeering comes at a time when the government is facing mounting criticism over its handling of key issues, including cost of living pressures, public sector cuts and stalled progress on pay equity. The Prime Minister's appearance at the match was intended as a ceremonial one, but the reaction from the crowd suggests a level of public dissatisfaction that may be deeper than National is prepared to acknowledge.
This is not the first time Luxon has received this kind of reception in a public setting. Similar boos were heard at a Warriors game when he was shown on the big screen at Mt Smart Stadium.
While some may brush it off as a vocal minority, the fact that a crowd at a family-friendly sporting event felt compelled to express disapproval in this way should be cause for concern within National’s ranks.
Public frustration has been growing across various fronts. Cuts to the public service, uncertainty in education and health, and the government's decisions on Treaty matters have all contributed to growing unease. Many National voters who backed the party in 2023 may now be questioning their support.
If a Prime Minister is being booed at a netball final, it raises a bigger question. Are voters already looking elsewhere ahead of the 2026 election? The early signs suggest the answer might be yes.
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