John Key
John Key
John Phillip Keyis the 38th Prime Minister of New Zealand, in office since 2008. He has led the New Zealand National Party since 2006...
NationalityNew Zealander
ProfessionPolitician
Date of Birth9 August 1961
calling demanding family fascinated politics toll
I was really fascinated by politics. It always has been part of my view that politics really is a calling or you wouldn't go into it, because it's demanding and potentially has a toll on you and your family.
contrary feedback floor hour incredibly indicator ninth ongoing possible public spend street waking
It's possible to spend every waking hour here on the ninth floor and not get out of the office. And this isn't the real world in here. And contrary to public opinion, I'm not incredibly poll-driven. They are an ongoing indicator of how we are going, but I take the feedback I get on the street as being the most important.
meeting naive period persuasion raise time
Moral persuasion over a period of time makes a difference, but we shouldn't be naive to think that just because we raise it in a meeting it will make all those problems go away. It won't and it doesn't.
kid mark normal overly public
The public talk colloquially, the public's grammar's not perfect. They kid around and I don't think they overly mark me down for that. They just see me as a normal guy.
responsibility
I dare you to show me one example where I haven't discharged my responsibility seriously, professionally and appropriately.
Let's just get a deal done then let's worry about expanding it.
fully gained good
There is much more good gained from having a fully functioning financial market than there ever is not having that.
people quite
I'm often at events when they're quite light-hearted social events when people would want me to kid around.
I've always been a glass-half-full as opposed to a glass-half-empty, and the day that changes is the day I should leave.
change
You are not going to change me and if you do, it will look like a fraud, it will be a fraud.
base business solely vulnerable
You can't base an industry solely on one person. That's a very vulnerable business strategy.
anyone bond discuss family kids looks trust
Bronagh looks after the kids and without her the family would disintegrate... there are some things you can't discuss with anyone other than your wife. There has to be a strong bond of trust.
environmental lead might needs zealand
New Zealand needs to balance its environmental responsibilities with its economic opportunities, because the risk is that if you don't do that - and you want to lead the world - then you might end up getting unintended consequences.
granted given goodwill
We have been given the trust and goodwill of New Zealanders. I do not take that trust for granted, and I never will.