Unrest in the Middle East continues. 

I watched that stand-up from the Prime Minister and I’ve got to be honest with you — I walked away feeling uneasy. 

Not because I expect a New Zealand Prime Minister to be a Middle East historian.  

We’re a small country. Our politics is usually about rates, roads, schools, the price of butter. I get that. 

But when the world tips into crisis —when the United States and Israel launch strikes on Iran— that’s not a domestic moment. That's what I call an international flashpoint.  

That’s oil prices, security alliances, global instability, the rules-based order we rely on as a small trading nation. 

And I’m sorry, that performance didn’t fill me with confidence. 

On Sunday, Christopher Luxon and Winston Peters said the Government “acknowledged” the US and Israeli action, but wouldn’t say whether New Zealand supported it.  

On Monday morning, pressed to explain what “acknowledge” actually meant, the Prime Minister struggled to articulate it.  

He repeated that the Iranian regime is “evil” —and many would agree, given its repression at home and behaviour abroad— but that wasn’t really the question. 

The question is: where does New Zealand stand? 

Under international law, military intervention has a high bar.  

Pre-emptive self-defence is defined narrowly under the century-old Caroline doctrine – the threat must be “instant, overwhelming, leaving no choice of means and no moment for deliberation.”  

Luxon said he hadn’t seen intelligence, hadn’t asked for any beyond regular briefings, and those matters were “to be determined”.

That’s the moment I thought: hang on. 

You don’t have to reveal classified material, but you do have to look like you’re in command.  

Former Foreign and Defence Minister Phil Goff spoke to Ryan Bridge this morning, questioning why the Government hadn’t already ruled the Iranian Regime a terrorist organization.  

You do have to project calm authority. You do have to explain the principles guiding the country. 

Instead, it felt uncomfortable. Out of his depth. Out of his comfort zone. 

And maybe that’s the brutal truth of politics – you don’t get to choose when the world tests you. You don’t get to say, “this isn’t my portfolio".  

If you’re Prime Minister, every crisis is your crisis. 

So here’s the question I want to put to you tonight: 

Did you feel confident watching Christopher Luxon handle that moment? 

Did you feel like he was in control? Like he understood the stakes? Like he knew exactly where New Zealand sits in a conflict like this? 

Or did you, like me, feel it was one of the weakest stand-ups you’ve seen from a Prime Minister in a long time? 

Because in times of international tension, tone matters. Clarity matters. Leadership under pressure matters.