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The premature anointing of Christopher Luxon as a National Party candidate could yet prove problematic for the party's leader Simon Bridges.
The former Air New Zealand boss has yet to get the formal stamp of approval as National's candidate in the Botany electorate - and then battle through a gloves-off campaign - if he does win his way into Parliament next year, talk will quickly turn to his chances as leader.
Mr Luxon isn't giving interviews until after the selection process has run its course - but plenty of others have weighed in on his political future.
RNZ deputy political editor Craig McCulloch.