New Zealand’s businessman front-runner for PM focuses on inflation

Political newcomer and former businessman Christopher Luxon, front-runner to become New Zealand's prime minister, aims to focus on inflation as he seeks to unseat a Labour Party that has held power for nearly six years. Luxon, credited with producing consistent profits as chief executive of Air New Zealand, told Reuters on Thursday that cost of living was his centre-right National Party's priority in the campaign for an Oct. 14 general election. "Our number one task is to get inflation under control," he said in an interview, adding that half the nation's 5.1 million people worry about money daily and that parents "are skipping meals because they can't afford food" for their families.