A former National minister, involved in multiple leadership coups, has called the most recent challenge against Christopher Luxon "shambolic".
The Prime Minister emerged from a three-hour caucus meeting on Wednesday having survived a confidence vote – his second in months. Cabinet minister Chris Penk was sacked from his portfolios for launching a challenge. The Kaipara ki Mahurangi MP announced he would not stand for re-election.
Former minister Wayne Mapp was involved in multiple leadership changes – including as numbers man for Bill English in the 2000s. He told Breakfast the latest attempt against Luxon was "shambolic".
He said that in previous instances, there was "an actual ticket".
"You always knew who the person to replace the existing leader was, and in all but one of those cases, when you presented the facts to the existing leader, they then stepped down.
"They knew the tide had gone out, and it was a seamless change. That wasn't the case. That's why I said shambolic."
Mapp said that during his time as a conspirator, "I had contracts with people effectively, having them locked in".
"I had 60% of the caucus sign documents, which I had in my briefcase for weeks."
He said that following Wednesday's meeting, the Prime Minister will have to "lift his game".
"Sure, you've won your vote of confidence, but you've got to lift your game, and I guess that's true of all of them too. Because unless they do, well, they'll all be looking at the opposition benches."
Penk 'prepared to fall on his sword'
Also on Breakfast was political commentator Ella Henry, who was asked whether she thought Penk was the only conspirator.
"No, but obviously the one who was prepared to fall on his sword," she said. "I mean, if he'd wanted to kick up a ruction, no doubt it would have looked even uglier in the media.
"So, at some point, somebody in the team said, 'Oh, oops, maybe we need to do a bit of repairing of our image here'. And he appears to be the person who has fallen most hard and most clearly on his sword."
Mapp said that while it was likely Penk would have lost his job as a minister, he didn't have to resign.
"He's made that decision himself. There have been plenty of people who have been involved in coups who've taken the hit and then lived to fight another day. Bill English, in fact, being the case in point."
Henry said the co-conspirators were likely "hiding in the bushes", saying it would be tidier for the party to move foward.
"I don't think the party will survive another public debacle like this, particularly at the same time that they're managing a coalition of parties that are very unpredictable."
'Not surprised Luxon ruled out Opportunity
Qiulae Wong believes her party can find "common ground" with Winston Peters and New Zealand First if it were part of future coalition negotiations. (Source: 1News)
In the latest 1News Verian poll, the Opportunity Party surged to 8%, and would effectively be kingmaker if it were a true election result.
Luxon has ruled out working with Opportunity over disagreements around tax policy – a position he doubled down on yesterday. Labour Leader Chris Hipkins has also said there is "no way" his party would support Opportunity's tax policy, but didn't rule them out.
Mapp said he wasn't surprised by Luxon's position.
"Their fundamental positions are just fundamentally left," he said.
"Although their leader is still talking about talking to both sides, you know that's not going to happen. So we've got a clear choice here."
The morning's headlines in 90 seconds, including new footage of an armed man running into Sylvia Park, a train derails in the UK, and a Brisbane supermarket fight caught on camera. (Source: 1News)
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