'I don't get bounced around by polls' – Luxon defiant

Christopher Luxon says "I don't get bounced around by polls", a day after the latest 1News Verian poll revealed support for the National Party and the Prime Minister has crashed to new lows.

The results of the poll suggest that if an election were held today, the left bloc would knock the coalition out of power, which would make it the first one-term government in New Zealand in more than 50 years.

The left bloc of Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori would have 66 seats compared to 58 for the right bloc of National, NZ First and ACT.

National would lose 12 seats on these numbers.

Speaking to Breakfast's Tova O'Brien this morning, Luxon said last week there was a poll showing the coalition Government would remain in power with a 10 MP majority, and days later, there was one showing the opposite.

READ MORE: Maiki Sherman: Poll spells big trouble for Christopher Luxon

"So that's the inconsistency that sits on those polls," Luxon said.

"We know we want to do better, and there's a lot more of us to do. But can understand also why sitting in my position as Prime Minister I don't get bounced around by polls because I have to focus on delivering strong economic management and a stable coalition."

He maintained he would not step down before the election.

"It's just not what I'm contemplating. I have the full support of my caucus. We've got a job to do. We know it's difficult time for New Zealanders. Let's be honest. We're all over it. We've gone through Covid, we've gone through inflation, recession, we've gone through Trump's tariffs, horrible weather events, and now we're dealing with a fuel crisis."

Of unrest in his caucus from MPs who are in danger of losing their seat in Parliament on current numbers, he said there may be a small number of "understandably disgruntled" backbench MPs who were concerned about their jobs. He understood their concerns and wants all of them back next term.

Luxon yesterday said "we need to do better", but again ruled out resigning from the top job.

"We're not where we want to be. We need to do better," the PM yesterday told 1News, repeating the phrase multiple times during the interview.

"It's also a very challenging and volatile time for Kiwis, and I'm very focused on getting us through the fuel crisis."

Asked whether he had given any thought to resigning, Luxon said: "No, I'm focused on making sure I deliver strong economic management and a stable coalition for New Zealand that gets Kiwis through this current crisis."

When pressed on whether any result could prompt him to stand aside, he declined to answer directly. "Well, what I'm focused on is making sure that I provide strong economic management and a stable coalition for New Zealand."

Asked about National's internal polls, of which he has previously cited in public, Luxon said: "Well, I don't comment on the polls. I'm just saying to you, we acknowledge that we need to do better, and there's more for us to do as a team."

He dismissed reports of MPs organising against him.

"I speak with them all the time," he said, adding he had been with colleagues at events over the weekend and had their "full support". On reports of backbenchers leaking against him, Luxon said: "I just say I have the support of my caucus."

The National Party has fallen by 4%, down from 34% to 30%, according to the results of the latest poll.

Labour, meanwhile, sits on 37%, moving up by 5% from 32% – overtaking National for the first time in the poll since before the 2023 election.

It's National's worst result since Luxon became leader in November 2021. Under Judith Collins, the party registered 28% in her final poll as leader before she lost the leadership.

Luxon has also registered his worst result in the preferred prime minister rankings since he became the leader of the National Party. He has dropped by 4%, down from 20% to 16%, which puts him below Labour leader Chris Hipkins.

Hipkins said the results reflected a country fed up with the Government's direction.

"Christopher Luxon is fighting to keep his own job when he should be fighting for the jobs of New Zealanders," he said.

"Changing the person at the top isn't going to change the fundamentally wrong direction that the National Party is taking the country in."

The Labour leader rejected suggestions his party had peaked too early, saying he wanted their support to keep climbing towards at least 40% before the November 7 election.

The poll of 1010 eligible voters was taken between April 11 and 15.