Embattled New Zealand prime minister survives leadership vote and blames media for ‘soap opera’

The New Zealand prime minister, Christopher Luxon, has survived a tense leadership vote six months out from the election as he battles an ongoing slump in opinion polls.

Luxon, who has served as prime minister since November 2023, said he had called for the vote at a caucus meeting on Tuesday morning.

The meeting in Wellington ran for more than two hours, fuelling speculation that Luxon might be forced out amid poor polling and leaks from MPs about alleged leadership challenges.

After the meeting, Luxon delivered a two-minute statement to declare the vote proved support for his leadership, but took no questions.

“I moved a formal motion of confidence in my leadership,” Luxon told reporters. “That motion was passed, confirming what I have been saying – I have the support of my caucus as their leader. Caucus has answered clearly and decisively. It has backed my leadership. That matter is now closed, and I won’t be commenting further on it.”

He condemned reporters for creating what he described as a “media soap opera”. New Zealand will vote in a national election in November.

Media outlet Stuff said MPs were refusing to say if Luxon won the confidence motion with unanimous support from caucus.

Luxon said he welcomed the press holding him to account, “but if the media want to keep focusing on speculation and rumour, I am not going to engage”.

“Everyday Kiwis will not be losing sleep over political sideshows here in Wellington. They’ll be thinking about their mortgage, their kids’ education, and the safety and security of their community,” he said.

Luxon did not mention the flagging public support for him and the National party.

In a poll released on Sunday, just 16% of New Zealanders listed Luxon as their preferred leader, which also showed that Luxon’s right-wing coalition would have lost if an election were held last week.

National has been trending downwards since it won 38% of the vote to win office in 2023.

Concerns from the backbench about Luxon’s performance had reached such a level that the National party whip, Stuart Smith, had felt obliged to raise the issue, and requested a meeting with Luxon, the New Zealand Herald reported last week.

However, in what the Herald called a “rare and extraordinary” rebuke, Luxon reportedly “ghosted” Smith and didn’t meet with him. Luxon disputed that a meeting was sought.

In March, Luxon shook up his cabinet and re-election team in attempt to shore up his leadership and reverse flagging poll results.

The centre-right National party leads a coalition government with ACT, a right wing party, and the populist New Zealand First party.

The coalition had campaigned on promises to fix New Zealand’s economy, which was battered by recession and stagnation after the Covid pandemic, but recovery has been slow.

With Australian Associated Press