There was fire in the House on Tuesday afternoon as Christopher Luxon speculated Chris Hipkins' time as Labour leader could soon be up and accused the former Prime Minister of bringing his family into the debate.
At the end of Luxon's answer to Hipkins' first question during Question Time, he added that he wanted to wish the Labour leader a Merry Christmas and the best of luck in the New Year "in whatever role Kieran McAnulty gives him".
There has previously been speculation McAnulty could be a future Labour leader, but he's said he doesn't want the role. Hipkins has said he intends to be the leader heading into the 2026 election.
It's a role reversal of sorts after Labour – when in Government – used to suggest during Question Time that National deputy leader Nicola Willis was readying to roll Luxon as leader.
Later in the exchange, Hipkins asked the Prime Minister whether he agreed with a previous comment Luxon made as Opposition leader: "I think if I can pay, I should pay".
While Luxon made that comment in May in regard to $5 prescription fees, Hipkins raised it in the context of the Clean Car Discount, which Luxon's family used to get a new car. Luxon's Government has since repealed legislation enabling that scheme.
Luxon replied: "We've talked about this before, those are the affairs of my wife."
Hipkins went on to ask if Luxon would pay back the money.
Luxon again said the car was owned by his wife and they were her financial affairs.
"I wouldn't bring in the affairs of your family member into public discourse because she's not the public figure," Luxon said.
Speaker Gerry Brownlee said that was a "fair point", but Hipkins stood to say that it was Luxon who brought his wife into the discussion.
"If a minister mentions their family in the answer to a question, in order to avoid answering the question, it is legitimate to therefore ask them follow up statements about their own statements."
Leader of the House Chris Bishop called it "wholly absurd".
"The line of questioning is out of order because it relates to matters that are not within the Prime Minister's responsibility."
