Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says he is confident Erica Stanford and Chris Bishop fully support his leadership and played no role in last week's failed leadership challenge.
National MP's were called to an emergency caucus meeting in Wellington on Wednesday amid mounting speculation over Luxon's leadership.
During the meeting, then-Defence Minister Chris Penk mounted an unsuccessful leadership coup before the caucus backed Luxon in a confidence vote
Penk was subsequently stripped of his ministerial portfolios and later announced he wouldn't be standing at the upcoming election.
Stanford moved to shut down speculation about her role in the turmoil yesterday, saying she backed Luxon “100%” and had not been involved in the challenge from Penk.
Her comments came after she declined to publicly back Luxon when questioned at Wellington Airport ahead of Wednesday's caucus meeting.
Speaking to RNZ's Morning Report this morning, Luxon said he had no doubts about Stanford's support.
“I know I have her full support — always have,” he said.
The Prime Minister said Stanford had expressed her support privately before the caucus meeting and he did not feel the need to question her over her earlier silence.
“It’s a pretty intense situation when you turn up at an airport and you’ve got a media scrum that’s in full white heat mode. It’s not a surprise that some of my caucus will freeze, or fight or flight about that,” he said.
Stanford yesterday acknowledged her decision not to answer questions about whether she backed Luxon "didn't work out that well", but insisted she had supported him "a million times".
"He (Luxon) has given me an incredible opportunity to do the job that I'm doing to raise achievement, close the equity gap, and it wasn't for him, I wouldn't be able to be doing this. And many of our other ministers as well owe him a huge debt of gratitude," she said.
Stanford added that she wanted to remain Education Minister "for the next nine years".
Christopher Luxon says dissident minister Chris Penk had to go but refuses to give caucus vote count. (Source: 1News)
Bishop had also faced speculation over whether he was involved in the leadership challenge, which he denied.
Luxon told Newstalk ZB this morning Bishop had assured him he had his full confidence, describing both him and Stanford as “outstanding ministers”.
"They weren't involved with Chris Penk, it was a sole action, and they fully support the Prime Minister," Luxon said.
Bishop echoed that sentiment earlier today, telling RNZ Penk had acted alone and the message he had received from the public following the leadership vote was to move on.
"Very strongly people saying it's good you've got it sorted," Bishop said.
"Get on with the job. This country's got too many challenges to spend our time fixated on this sort of stuff.
"So just get on with it, and that's exactly what I and the rest of the team are doing."
Penk's retirement will leave his Kaipara ki Mahurangi electorate seat vacant. Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith yesterday ruled out standing in the seat, with National yet to announce a replacement candidate.
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