The speech at National's 'central and lower North Island' conference in Palmerston North today followed several poor polls for the Coalition and a concert of economists warning against tax cuts in this month's budget.
Speaking to party representatives, Luxon said the coalition has no intention of changing course.
“It's just the beginning. We're moving quickly and we'll continue to do so, quarter after quarter, year after year, to get us from where we are now to a much better place.”
Luxon told the audience that New Zealanders had given the coalition “a pretty big mandate” to change the country.
“We're not here to manage the status quo. We don't care about the pundits and commentators and what people out there say.”
Looking ahead to the May 30 Budget, Luxon said he was proud of what Finance Minister Nicola Willis had achieved.
“I look forward to New Zealand getting that tax relief thanks to National being in government.”
Party members RNZ spoke to seemed less certain about the commitment, with many hesitant or offering only cautious support when asked if now was the right time for tax cuts.
Defense questions
Minister of Agriculture and Trade Todd McClay and Minister of Infrastructure Chris Bishop previously addressed attendees about their respective portfolios.
In a question from the floor, Western Bay of Plenty councilor Margaret Murray-Benge asked McClay for assurances that the government's defense policy would not “clog” New Zealand's trade opportunities.
Murray-Benge is also the partner of former national leader Don Brash, a prominent critic of the Aukus defense pact.
In response, McClay said the government would continue to express its views “respectfully” and in a way that would not surprise any other country.
“It doesn't matter whether it's the US, Britain, Europe, India or China, we owe them the courtesy of talking to them directly,” he said. “It is important that we continue to have that independent voice, but we must use it responsibly.”
At an earlier regional conference this month, party leader Sylvia Wood exposed a potential tension in coalition dynamics when she reportedly told members that National needed to increase voting rights from 38 percent to the mid-40s.
For such a feat, National would almost certainly have to absorb the support of its partners ACT and New Zealand First. Recent polls have put support for the party at or below 38 percent.
The meeting comes less than two weeks after the coalition's first budget. Luxon last week told business leaders not to expect any surprises – “no bells and whistles” – and reaffirmed its commitment to tax relief.
Labour's vision for 2040
The event comes a day after a speech by Labor leader Chris Hipkins, in which he also set out his ambitions for the country and contrasted them with the coalition.
Hipkins criticized the 'coalition of chaos' for the term's 'shambolic' start and accused it of lacking vision.
“Now is the time for creative thinking, for new ideas, and yes, for a bold vision for the future.”
Hipkins gave an idea of what the still-under-review Labor manifesto could ultimately look like as he painted a picture of New Zealand in 2040 under his party's rule.
He referred to “dramatically” cheaper child care, almost no gas cars and “mega landlords… paying their fair share of taxes.”
However, details were deliberately thin on the ground.
'We must remain open to new ideas – and that means not locking ourselves into rigid positions now, but ensuring we take the time to hear other perspectives, generate new ideas and carefully listening to New Zealanders about what they want from their future.”