Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said his leadership is "totally solid" after a horror poll last week.
Released Friday, a Taxpayers' Union-Curia showed National had dropped 2.9 points to sit at 28.4%. Meanwhile, Labour were up 0.3 points to 34.4%, and the Greens gained 0.2 points to reach 10.5%. The results indicated the centre-left bloc could form a government with a slim majority.
At his post-Cabinet media briefing this afternoon, Luxon dismissed the poll, and said "our team is solid, we are good", when asked about the possibility of some MPs losing their job after the next election.
He also referenced the time he "misspoke" at his post-Cabinet media conference last Monday, and admitted "last week wasn't a perfect week".
Luxon asked if he is considering resigning following 'disastrous' poll - watch on TVNZ+
"I'm not a career politician, I'm not going to have the perfect soundbite. I can reassure you, the one thing I can guarantee you going from here, is there won't be perfect soundbites in the future either.
"That's because I'm not a creature of this place and been here 20 years.
"We've had prime ministers in the past who are fantastic communicators who don't deliver, and New Zealanders are over that, and they just want me to get on with the job and that's what I'm doing."
Luxon also stated: "Totally solid, I can reassure you I'll be the leader going into [November 7]."
Willis says she 'spoke the truth' on poll comments
Friday's poll drew strong comments from high-ranking members of Luxon's Government, including deputy leader Nicola Willis, who said it was "not a good number".
"If that was the number National got on the actual election, that would not be an acceptable result. We have to do better than that.
"I am not happy with that number. I don't think our National Party team would be happy with that number. I don't think the Prime Minister would be satisfied with that number," she told Newstalk ZB.
When asked about her comments this afternoon, Willis said "I think I just simply spoke the truth".
"The Prime Minister and me, the National Party, want to be polling a lot better than that number, because we want New Zealand to have the government it deserves.
"We fear greatly, a change of government to a Labour-led administration, we think that would be terrible for Kiwis who have worked so hard to recover from a period of economic mismanagement, and a change of government at this election would put that at risk.
"So of course we are working hard every day to ensure that more New Zealanders support the National Party at the upcoming election."
Earlier today, Luxon said he was "not at all" worried about getting rolled after the poll.
On Friday, Luxon insisted he had not considered stepping down over the poll and said he had the support of his caucus.
Speaking to Breakfast this morning, the Prime Minister again stood firm, saying he was "absolutely" not resigning.
“We’ve got a big job to do, we’ve got a fantastic country, we’ve got lots of potential in it.
“I don’t need polls to tell me what’s on New Zealanders’ minds. I talk to them every day, and it’s really obvious they need us to fix the economy so they can lower the cost of living.
“It’s as simple as that.”
The economy remained a sticking point for the Government, with Luxon admitting that Kiwis might not personally feel the benefits of the recovery efforts. He insisted the economy was on a positive turnaround, and said people would start to see it as the election approached.
'Just once' - Jack Tame reveals Luxon's reluctance to appear on Q+A - watch more on TVNZ+
He said the Government’s focus heading to November's election would be ensuring Kiwis were “feeling the benefits of the recovery in their own personal circumstances”.
Since coming into Government in 2023, the polls haven't been amazing for Luxon – ranking in the low 20s for preferred Prime Minister in the last three of 1News' Verian polls.
Asked if it would get to a point where he would consider stepping down, Luxon said: “No”.
“There’s one poll, and it’s November 7.”
“The New Zealand public doesn’t want me focusing on polls, what they want me doing is focusing on them, and making sure that every minute that I’ve got of the day is actually focused on making things better for them."
He said the numbers from Friday's poll “won’t be happening” on election day.
Asked directly if he was worried about getting rolled as leader, Luxon said: “No, not at all.”
He said he had “total confidence” that he was safe from a coup.
Last week, Foreign Minister Winston Peters, said the numbers were "not good".
"You can't say anything else. It is not the end of everything. But those of us who are not in the National Party, on this matter, on the outside, it is not good, no," he told Ryan Bridge Today.
National's faithful back their boss
Christopher Luxon's senior colleagues stood behind him as he faced speculation that a horror poll result could spell the end for his time as Prime Minister. (Source: 1News)
South Island Minister James Meager, arriving at Parliament with a huge sack of onions from his electorate, told journalists Luxon would be the Prime Minister "right through until the election".
"I think the Prime Minister is doing a great job, and he will be the Prime Minister all the way through to the election.
"He's gonna run a great campaign, and it's gonna be excellent, and it's gonna be the land of milk and honey and onions and produce for everyone around the country."
Also arriving at Parliament was cabinet minister Simon Watts, who said Luxon was doing an "excellent job under very difficult circumstances".
"I'm absolutely confident that Christopher Luxon is leading our party. We've got significant challenges regarding the economy, what's happening in Iran, and we've got a clear plan."
At Wellington Airport this morning, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith said he "absolutely" supported the Prime Minister.
On the poll, Goldsmith said it had been a "tough few weeks", but "we're gonna put some good weeks together, and we've got everything to fight for".
Police Minister Mark Mitchell said that despite speculation over the weekend, "we are completely behind the PM".
"He's got everyone's full support, and all we're focused on is making sure that we continue to deliver for Kiwis."
Mitchell said if he were approached and asked to be party leader, he would say no.
Defence Minister Judith Collins said she thought people needed to be "realistic" about the situation, and said the Prime Minister had her "utter support".
The morning's headlines in 90 seconds, including Christopher Luxon says he’s not quitting, and the Black Caps fall at the final T20 World Cup hurdle. (Source: 1News)
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