National leader Christopher Luxon has been immortalised in puppet form at the Backbencher pub in the capital.
National Party leader Christopher Luxon with his new puppet at Backbencher Gastropub in Wellington. Photo: RNZ / Katie Scotcher
The pub across the road from Parliament has a long running tradition of creating caricature-style puppets inspired by New Zealand politicians.
Luxon's figure, inspired by his career at Air New Zealand and a popular nursery rhyme, was unveiled last night.
Backbencher owner Alistair Boyce admitted the big reveal had not been a long time coming.
"Christopher Luxon is, in fact, the MP who's had the least time in Parliament before he's got his puppet."
Luxon's likeness sports a blue suit with Air New Zealand-inspired tie and cufflinks.
The puppet, which exaggerates the former airline boss's bald head, also sits on a brick wall.
"I can see the inspiration ... egg."
When asked what he thought of the reference to the Humpty Dumpty nursery rhyme, Luxon said: "I don't plan to fall off the wall."
National Party leader Christopher Luxon with his new puppet at Backbencher Gastropub in Wellington. Photo: RNZ / Katie Scotcher
National MP Michael Woodhouse was also confident Luxon's fate will be different to Humpty Dumpty's.
"He's got a lot of king's horses and king's men ... and women so, he'll be fine and he won't fall off that wall."
Deputy Leader Nicola Willis said: "Bald men all around New Zealand will feel that they can relate to this."
"Our leader has many strengths, he also has a shiny head."
Luxon said it was "terribly embarrassing" to see himself in puppet form.
"In this kind of job you've got to take the job very, very seriously but you never take yourself that seriously. So I just think it's pretty clever and it's pretty creative."
Luxon's likeness joins the Backbencher's vast array of political puppets on display including Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, ACT leader David Seymour and Green MP Chloe Swarbrick.