Prime Minister Christopher Luxon calls ‘urgent in-person Caucus meeting’ following leadership speculation, says ‘division and disunity are a major distraction only 90 days out from the election’

Prime Minister and National Party leader Christopher Luxon is batting away questions again over his leadership.

Taking to social media on Tuesday, Luxon wrote: “It is clear from various media reports and conversations there is increased speculation about my leadership.”

“It is my firm belief that division and disunity are a major distraction only 90 days out from the election. I also believe this distraction is unfair to the New Zealand people, and dedicated National Party candidates, supporters and volunteers, when there is so much at stake.”

“For these reasons, this issue needs to be resolved quickly, and I am calling an urgent in-person Caucus meeting tomorrow [Wednesday] at 9:30am in Wellington to resolve the issue,” he wrote on X.

This meeting comes after speculation from media outlets including the NZ Herald, who on Monday evening reported that unhappy National MPs were making phone calls about a potential leadership change.

It also follows what was a challenging week for Luxon, who apologised for his remarks at a breakfast hosted by the Rotorua Business Chamber, was accused of inaction over Foreign Affairs Minister and New Zealand First leader Winston Peters’ comments to Green MP Lawrence Xu-Nan, and later suggested he would hold a referendum on MMP if re-elected.

Senior National MPs Chris Bishop and Erica Stanford were floated to the NZ Herald as leadership candidates.

Bishop and Stanford have both ruled this out previously and on Tuesday morning, Bishop told reporters he had full confidence in Luxon as prime minister.

This isn’t the first time Luxon has been under pressure.

In April, Luxon moved a formal motion to confirm his leadership after reports of discontent in his caucus began to circulate and polls showed a sharp decline in public confidence.

"That motion was passed, confirming what I have been saying. I have the support of my caucus as their leader," Luxon told reporters at the time after he and Finance Minister Nicola Willis emerged from a caucus meeting that lasted hours, with the unusual attendance of the Speaker, Gerry Brownlee.

“The caucus has answered clearly and decisively. It has backed my leadership.”

It is clear from various media reports and conversations there is increased speculation about my leadership.

It is my firm belief that division and disunity are a major distraction only 90 days out from the election. I also believe this distraction is unfair to the New Zealand…

— Christopher Luxon (@chrisluxonmp) August 11, 2026