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Topic:World Politics
Tue 21 Apr 2026 at 11:26am
Christopher Luxon says he has the support of his caucus as their leader. (Reuters: Kim Hong-Ji)
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has survived a confidence vote in his leadership.
Speaking after a National Party meeting where the vote was held, Mr Luxon said, "I have the support of my caucus as their leader."
The prime minister has seen his popularity fall over the past year amid a weakening economy, ahead of a national election in November.
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says he has the support of his party after calling and winning a vote of confidence in his leadership amid a drop in approval ratings for him and his party.
"I moved a formal motion of confidence in my leadership and that motion was passed," Mr Luxon told reporters after a partyroom meeting.
"I have the support of my caucus as their leader.
"Caucus has answered clearly and decisively and has backed my leadership and that matter is now closed."
The former airline executive-turned-prime minister has seen his popularity fall over the past year amid a weakening economy and rising unemployment, ahead of a national election in November.
NZ's Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced the election date for 2026, promising economic prosperity if New Zealanders vote for him again.
Several polls have shown Mr Luxon's National Party struggling to poll above 30 per cent, with some indicating that the ruling coalition might not have the numbers to win the election.
His popularity as prime minister has also dipped, with a March RNZ-Reid Research poll showing that 20.7 per cent of people preferred opposition leader Chris Hipkins as prime minister, while just 17.3 per cent preferred the incumbent.
The vote, held during a routine meeting of the centre-right National Party politicians, was conducted in private.
"The last week there has been intense media speculation about my leadership," Mr Luxon said after the meeting.
This confidence vote has "put that media speculation to rest", he added.
The National Party has governed New Zealand in a right-wing coalition government since the 2023 election.
Mr Luxon has led the party since 2021.
He has blamed reports of unrest within his party's ranks on news outlets, but one political poll released days ago appeared to have made a discussion of leadership unavoidable.
The 1News-Verian poll suggested slumping support for Mr Luxon and for the National Party in a hypothetical election.
The levels of support in the most recent poll implied the right-wing bloc led by his party could come in behind the left-wing bloc led by Labour if an election were held immediately, though the vote would not occur for more than another six months.
"If the media want to keep focusing on speculation and rumour I am not going to engage," Mr Luxon said.
Tue 21 Apr 2026 at 11:26am
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