OPINION: Every political leader has their own go-to phrase that becomes their default response when they're giving speeches or being questioned by journalists.
In the lead up to an election, those go-to phrases get used more and more until a point where journalists wince every time they're spoken.
They become what broadcasters call a 'crutch' – a time-filling safety mechanism that doesn't add anything and is often done without intent; they don't even know they're doing it.
Former Prime Minister Sir John Key's was: "At the end of the day" and Dame Jacinda Ardern used "If I may", and "As I say" quite a lot.
Prime Minister Chris Hipkins' crutch is his startled stuttering with confused facial expressions when he doesn't know what to say.
Then there's National Party leader Christopher Luxon who's been using his crutch increasingly more with his increasing policy announcements and media interviews.
His is "What I'm saying to you very clearly is.." and a few other variations of those words.
If you're not a politics die-hard, you won't have heard this as often as those who are. But given the election campaign proper is about to kick off, be prepared to hear it all the time.
Watch the video for a 30-second montage of Luxon's Luxonisms.
Lloyd Burr is a Newshub political reporter.
