'Indian entrepreneurs should invest in New Zealand': PM Christopher Luxon on Nikhil Kamath’s podcast

The Prime Minister also addressed perceptions around the country’s geographic isolation.

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon recently made an appearance on entrepreneur Nikhil Kamath’s popular podcast, "WTF is with Nikhil Kamath", where he offered insights into public life, global engagement, the future of politics, and New Zealand’s ambitions to attract foreign investment — particularly from Indian entrepreneurs.

During the wide-ranging conversation, Prime Minister Luxon discussed the challenges of public scrutiny, his approach to leadership, and his personal philosophy, while also making a strong case for New Zealand as an attractive destination for international investors.

“We as a country, to lift the collective living standards of New Zealanders, need to attract more foreign investment. We need to make sure we attract trade and investment,” Luxon said.

He elaborated on the government’s efforts to encourage global investors, particularly those who bring more than just capital. “Someone who can bring in not just capital for an investment, but also bring knowledge, the know-how and skills, and access to markets is valuable to New Zealand businesses,” he stated.

Luxon highlighted the recent launch of the Active Investor Visa, a new initiative designed to attract high-calibre investors by offering a clear path to residency. “We’ve just launched, actually, what we call the Active Investor Visa, which offers a pathway to residency in three years. This is a great opportunity to get that connectivity in New Zealand,” he explained.

The Prime Minister also addressed perceptions around the country’s geographic isolation, asserting that New Zealand is far from being inward-looking. “Despite our distance and where we are placed in the world, we are not an inward-looking people, we're very outward-looking people. We are very engaged in the world, despite our remoteness at times or our geography,” he said.

The conversation also ventured into the potential of unconventional leaders in politics. Luxon responded to Kamath’s question about whether entrepreneurs, artists, and business minds could shape the future of governance, reflecting on the unique contributions such individuals can make in public service.

In a more personal segment, Kamath noted that Luxon’s social media bio lists “Husband, father, brother, and son” before “Prime Minister.” In response, Luxon offered a thoughtful reflection on identity and purpose. “Who you are and the relationships that you have is what life's ultimately all about. If you put all of your identity into a title and into some perceived status, that will come and go,” he said.

“At some point, I will no longer be Prime Minister of New Zealand, and I absolutely love this job, but I’m not defined by the job,” he added.