PM Christopher Luxon has survived a confidence vote in his leadership at National's caucus meeting this morning, declaring he has "full support" — only four months after MPs last had to take a vote on his premiership.
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Luxon confirmed the vote as he spoke at the Beehive's Banquet Hall shortly after the closed-door meeting broke after 12.30pm.
"There was a confidence vote in my leadership this morning at our caucus meeting, and I have the full support of our caucus," he said.
"And our caucus is united, and it is determined to win this election."
Luxon said the party's focus was on its "positive plan to fix the basics and to build the future", and cast the election as a clear choice for voters on November 7.
He said National had made "tremendous progress" in government on economic growth, financial discipline, law and order, and education and healthcare.
The Prime Minister then walked off without taking questions from media.
Luxon delivered his statement flanked by senior colleagues at the Banquet Hall, presenting a picture of unity as he confirmed he had survived the vote.
Standing behind Luxon included speculated leadership candidates Erica Stanford, Mark Mitchell, and Chris Bishop. Other ministers included Louise Upston.
Standing next to him was deputy leader Nicola Willis and party president Sylvia Wood.
The outcome capped a tense morning at Parliament, where throngs of political journalists, photographers and camera crews had gathered.
Tova O'Brien speaks to Brigitte Morten and Esther Robinson ahead of the 9.30am caucus meeting. (Source: Breakfast)
Luxon's tone today was markedly different from April, when the National Party last faced down a self-initiated confidence motion by Luxon.
Back then, an embattled PM used a chunk of his statement to attack the media, telling reporters that if they wanted to "keep focusing on speculation and rumour, I am not going to engage", and declaring the matter "now closed".
At the time he declared caucus had "answered clearly and decisively" — a line that has not held, given today's repeat four months on.
Speaking today Luxon leaned into the election campaign, casting November as a contest between "an opposition that wants to take New Zealand backwards" and a National-led government he said would "take New Zealand forward".
He signed off by: "We're going back to work and we're moving on."
What's happened in the past 24 hours
National MPs have been meeting behind closed doors at Parliament since this morning to decide whether Luxon should keep the leadership and remain Prime Minister.
MPs were required to hand in their phones before entering, and a large banner was hung across the caucus room so nobody could see inside.
Luxon has carried a low poll rating for much of his time in office compared with other first-term prime ministers, and speculation ahead of the meeting had centred on Education Minister Stanford as a potential alternative.
Media reports on the Prime Minister's future swirled over the past 24 hours. (Source: 1News)
Chris Penk denied suggestions he had been counting numbers for Stanford, while Nicola Grigg said Stanford was "not a prime minister".
Several MPs publicly backed the Prime Minister on their way in. Defence Minister Mark Mitchell said he backed Luxon, and National's Northcote MP Dan Bidois told 1News: "I back Christopher Luxon as leader of the National Party, 100%."
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith gave a one-word answer when asked if Luxon had his full confidence — "Absolutely" — and said he doubted a vote would take place at all.
Former National leader and PM John Key, speaking at a financial conference in Auckland, addressed the question directly when asked by Jack Tame whether Luxon would stay on.
"The simple answer is I don't know," Key said, adding that as someone who "bleeds blue" he would get behind whatever caucus decided.
The general election is scheduled for November 7.
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