New Zealand PM Luxon retains party backing ahead of election

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has secured the backing of his ruling National Party after party lawmakers challenged his leadership on Wednesday, less than three months before the country’s general election. Luxon, who has led the government since 2023, faced mounting pressure amid weak polling, coalition tensions, rising living costs and unemployment.

Luxon called an emergency meeting on Tuesday after reports of growing doubts over his leadership.

After hours of closed-door discussions with senior party members, Luxon said lawmakers had backed him in a confidence vote.

“There was a confidence vote in my leadership this morning at our caucus meeting, and I have the full support of our caucus,” he told journalists.

“Our caucus is united, and it is determined to win this election,” he said.

“We’re going back to work, and we’re moving on.”

Luxon said the challenge was initiated by Defence Minister Chris Penk, who has since been dismissed.

Wednesday’s challenge marked the second attempt to oust Luxon this year. In April, he survived another confidence vote after reports that National members were concerned about the party’s polling, which had fallen below 30 per cent.

Leadership speculation grows

Luxon appeared alongside two ministers who have been linked to the leadership as he addressed journalists following the vote, Chris Bishop and Erica Stanford.

Stanford, the Immigration Minister, had appeared to gain support as a potential successor and had declined in recent days to pledge her backing to Luxon.

Bishop, a former tobacco lobbyist who has long been linked to leadership ambitions, said on Tuesday that he supported Luxon.

National lawmakers leaving the caucus meeting described the party as “united” and “100 percent behind the prime minister”. However, as with the April vote, they did not confirm whether Luxon had unanimous backing.

Luxon’s troubled premiership

Luxon, a former Air New Zealand boss, led the centre-right National Party to victory three years ago after campaigning on promises to curb inflation and lower interest rates.

The millionaire and teetotaller presented himself as an experienced negotiator based on his business career. However, it took more than six weeks for him to form a three-party coalition with populist New Zealand First and libertarian ACT.

Managing the coalition has remained a challenge throughout his premiership, while a series of political gaffes and communication failures have raised questions over his political judgement.

Luxon also faced criticism after accusing small-business owners, an important part of his party’s support base, of having a “parent-child mentality” towards the government.

Coalition tensions add to pressure

Luxon’s difficulties in controlling his coalition partners have also affected his standing.

Foreign Minister and New Zealand First leader Winston Peters triggered an international dispute last month when he told a Chinese-born lawmaker during a parliamentary debate to “go back to your own country”.

China protested over the remarks. Luxon condemned the comments as racist but did not impose any sanction on Peters.

Peters dismissed Wednesday’s leadership challenge as “much ado about nothing”.

Polling has indicated that some of Luxon’s senior ministers could lose their parliamentary seats when New Zealanders vote on November 7.