New Zealand has a new government after six weeks of wrangling to form a coalition. Christopher Luxon, the new PM is former CEO of Air New Zealand, an evangelical Christian and social conservative, against abortion, euthanasia, legalising recreational cannabis, against affirmative action for Māori and co-governance, for strong government, low taxes and establishing military-style boot-camps for young offenders. Once installed today it was announced that there were plans to scrap the nation’s world-leading smoking ban to fund tax cuts.
The swearing in took place at 11.18am 27 November 2023 giving an ambitious, combative Sun Mars in Sagittarius in the 10th but that squares Saturn, so forward progress will be hindered by setbacks and delays. Mercury squares Neptune for indecision or evasion. And there are two yods – one onto focal point Uranus and the other onto Venus. The Uranian yod suggests more than a usual degree of strain with outer events blowing the best laid plans awry, which may in part be a reaction to the government’s intolerance of convention. The Venusian yod could suggest a government out of step with the social goals of the electorate. Tr Uranus moving into Gemini in 2025 will give the government chart a sharp elbow in the ribs as it squares the Saturn and opposes the Mars and Sun.
Luxon was born the same day as Scotland’s Nicola Sturgeon so has an assertive Cancer Sun conjunct Mars at zero degrees Leo trine Neptune, sextile Pluto – super-ambitious though he is hitting an awkward patch for his premiership with tr Pluto opposing his Sun/Mars now and then opposition his Mars in 2024 which will be stuck and frustrating; with tr Neptune undermining his power and influence opposition his Pluto. And with tr Uranus conjunct his Saturn and then opposing his Neptune he’ll be tossed around by events for the next two years and not rising to the challenge.
New Zealand, 17 January 1853 12 am Wellington, is going through a massively difficult phase with tr Pluto conjunct its Capricorn Sun Mars and square Pluto over last, year and 2023/24. Setbacks and difficulties are arriving exactly now with the SA Saturn square the Mars exactly which does not augur well for a government carrying the same accident-prone Saturn Mars signature.
Luxon’s relationship with NZ indicates the next fourteen months will be aggravated and unpopular with tr Pluto square the composite Mars.
It would be really heart-warming to see a country that is doing well over the next few years.