Face of the Day

> Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has ruled out signing up to NZ First’s proposal to buy back BNZ. > > Winston Peters announced on Sunday that New Zealand would buy BNZ back from its Australian owners if NZ First were voted into government in November’s election. > > He said the bank would be merged with Kiwibank to form the “National Bank of New Zealand”. > > The plan quickly came up against strong criticism, with Finance Minister Nicola Willis labelling the idea “extremely reckless” and the Taxpayer’s Union chair Ruth Richardson calling it “bankruptcy of thinking”. > > Now, Christopher Luxon has ruled out agreeing to the idea – even if Peters brings it to coalition talks as a non-negotiable. > > Stuff REad More