NZ First Leader Winston Peters says Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s move to call a leadership vote on himself could invite future challenges as the election approaches.
The PM survived a confidence vote he initiated himself yesterday, saying his MPs “decisively” backed him, before leaving without taking questions from reporters.
Not long after the vote yesterday, Luxon’s coalition partner Peters called the confidence vote a “very bad move” that would have “consequences”.
Peters joined Breakfast this morning, where he was asked more questions about yesterday’s events at the Beehive.
Asked by Tova O'Brien if he would ever call a confidence vote on himself, Peters said: “The answer to that question is no.”
1News' political editor Maiki Sherman assesses a remarkable day at Parliament, when Christopher Luxon put his leadership to the test. (Source: Breakfast)
He said the move promoted “doubt” and “uncertainty”.
“It promotes division in a time where the public, you know, almost above the ruck of politics and the vulturing team of the mainstream media after this blood fest that’s going on, the public wants stability.”
“It’s their lives that we’re trying to help here.
“They’ve been sort of sidelined in this sort of ego trip when it comes to leadership challenges in our democracy.
“In the end, the public wants to know that you’re the leader and you’re also successful, that you’ve turned an absolute crisis around.”
Party MPs gathered in Wellington for the first time in three weeks, after poor polling and continued speculation about Luxon’s leadership. (Source: 1News)
Peter’s called Luxon’s move “unprecedented”, and said it could cause more trouble for National further down the line.
“You know when the next one [leadership vote] will come? Not long after the next polls come out,” Peters said.
Peters claimed he knew how the vote went, but would not elaborate. He did call it “worrying”, however.
Asked to elaborate on how he knew how the vote went, Peters said: “It is now five good decades away when I first saw this experience in New Zealand politics.”
Peters was asked what he would do if Luxon were rolled or resigned.
He answered: “I’m trying to make it very, very clear that the number one thing that the public can expect from New Zealand First is to remain stable inside this Government and ensure there is political stability all the way to the 2026 election.
“That’s our responsibility, that’s our duty, that’s a charge which we don’t campaign on, but underlying our responsibility as a member of Parliament, where the people are the masters, that’s our job.”
He said his party was committed to defending democracy.
Peters made similar comments to RNZ this morning, saying Luxon's move at caucus was causing instability.
Also on RNZ was National’s Deputy Leader Nicola Willis, who accused Peters of trying to “cause mischief”.
“I’ll tell you what invites instability: a vote for Winston Peters that could result in a Labour/Te Pāti Māori/Green Government.
“All he is doing is courting votes and trying to cause mischief that way.
“It’s my position that if you want a strong, stable Government, you should be voting for National because Winston Peters has a track record of picking Labour over National, and that’s the risk you run with him.”
Luxon's move came after a poor poll result on Sunday, which saw National crash to new lows. It suggested that the left bloc of Labour, the Greens, and Te Pāti Māori could unseat the Government. Meanwhile, Luxon's result for preferred Prime Minister dropped to 16%.
There were also reports of several disgruntled National MPs, frustrated by the party's poor poll results.
Following yesterday's caucus, Luxon said the vote was done to "put that media speculation to rest".
"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."
National MP slams radio host
Meanwhile, National’s MP for Southland Joseph Mooney has slammed a radio host who claimed he was one of the party’s disgruntled MPs.
Mooney took aim at NZME’s Mike Hosking in a post on X this morning.
Hosking had claimed there were five "troublemaking" MPs.
“To be very clear: I did not leak a story to the media. Nor do I know anyone else who did,” Mooney wrote.
“Beware of radio jocks seeking relevance who claim ‘impeccable sources’ and rush out scurrilous claims on national media - without even bothering to approach me or anyone else to ask for comment before doing so. Not even an attempt at ‘balance’.
“Who cares if you defame someone in the eyes of the nation without giving them a chance to respond first, as long as you get to breathlessly announce your so-called ‘scoop’ that is in fact literally fake news.
“I’d expect better from an untrained student journalist working on the primary school newsletter on their first day.
“I am going to be making a complaint to the Media Council about this outrageous breach of journalistic standards.
“I dare Mr Hosking to name his impeccable source - because I know for a fact that “he” is full of it.
“In other, more important news, I am happy to report that we had a very good discussion yesterday, our caucus is united behind the PM as the confidence vote clearly showed, 100% focused on serving Kiwis in this incredibly challenging time, and winning the upcoming election.”
Taranaki-King Country MP Barbara Kuriger also denied being one of the troublemakers and said she had written to identify the source of the information. She said she had "no idea" why she was named.
"I have not talked to the media," she told 1News.
Asked if she backed Luxon, Kuriger said: "Yeah, look, we're all on the same path."
"All of this sort of mayhem doesn't help what's going on. We need to get ourselves retained in Government."
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