Luxon's Hardline Approach Sparks Outrage Among Small Business Owners

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has been criticized for his speech to the Rotorua Business Chamber, where he told small-to-medium business owners to 'harden-up and stop whining'.

Luxon's remarks were seen as dismissive of the challenges faced by these businesses, which are often vulnerable to economic downturns and global events beyond their control.

The Prime Minister suggested that businesses must be prepared to radically disrupt themselves in order to stay ahead, but this approach has been criticized for being unrealistic and insensitive to the needs of small business owners.

In contrast, Rome's economy is built around a thriving small business sector, with tiny retailers and specialist family-scale enterprises dominating the city's streets.