Christopher Luxon walks back 'bizarre claim' about the Greens
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon retracted claims that the Green Party collaborated with foreign actors to attack the country. Luxon shifted the blame to media reports, though the Green Party denied any involvement.
Why it matters
Illustrates political tensions regarding climate policy and the accountability of government officials for unsubstantiated claims.
Christopher Luxon has walked back claims made by one of his ministers about the Greens, before then suggesting - wrongly - that they originated from the media.
Trade Minister Todd McClay , on Wednesday, accused the Green Party of "joining with foreign actors to attack New Zealand" in regards to a climate change complaint lodged with the European Commission.
The Greens quickly denied any involvement and McClay provided no evidence.
Asked for evidence on Friday, Luxon put the responsibility back on reporters to investigate whether the Green co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick had any involvement.
"That'd be up for you guys to accertain whether she has or hasn't," he said.
Luxon then suggested that the media had first raised the possibility of Swarbrick's involvement.
"I'm just saying that's not appropriate if that's the case. But equally, I'm sure she hasn't done that."
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