Tips from Christopher Luxon for Elon Musk as Donald Trump announces role for Tesla, X chief

Luxon’s coalition government has also wanted to cut back on regulations seeking efficiencies within government services to limit expenditure.

Asked by the Herald what tips he would send Musk, Luxon said: “I’m just saying: stay focused on the results, make sure you get your money’s worth and that every dollar counts towards improving the daily lives of your citizens.”

Musk has previously expressed interest in Luxon’s board.

Last October, Musk congratulated him on National’s election victory. In September, Musk responded to X on a video Luxon shared of him in Malaysia. He said: “I like the new Prime Minister of New Zealand,” who, he said, “had good energy and talks directly to the public.”

Musk became a major supporter of Trump before the election the former president’s re-election last week. He has previously spoken out about the need to find government efficiency and suggested giving the agency the acronym Doge, in what appears to be a reference to the Japanese Shiba Inu dog meme and the cryptocurrency Dogecoin.

Trump said the doge would provide his administration with advice and guidance to implement large-scale structural reforms and “create an entrepreneurial approach to government that has never been seen before.” He said the department’s work will be completed by July 4, 2026 – the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

Luxon had his first conversation with Trump on Tuesdaywhich the New Zealand Prime Minister called “very positive”. He said Trump had a “clear” respect for New Zealand.

“He called me and we congratulated him about his election victory. We talked a bit… he’s very attached to New Zealand, it’s a place he speaks very positively about.

“He was aware of our new government and myself… he spoke very warmly about New Zealand. We both talked about the long relationship the two countries have together as two important democracies.”

The conversation focused on economic challenges in their respective countries and global conflicts, especially Ukraine and the Middle East.

“It was really just a relational opportunity to say hello. We agreed that we would meet in person at a future forum.”

He told the Herald that Musk was not part of Tuesday’s conversation.

Jamie Ensor is a political reporter in the NZ Herald press gallery team based in Parliament. He was previously a TV reporter and digital producer at Newshub’s press gallery office.