Sacked National Party minister Chris Penk has declined to confirm or deny the Prime Minister's assertion he was behind a failed leadership challenge, telling reporters he is "not rehashing" the past fortnight.
Penk was stripped of his portfolios two weeks ago after Christopher Luxon survived a second vote of confidence. Luxon said the challenge had made Penk's position untenable and removed his Defence, Veterans, Space, GCSB, NZSIS and Building and Construction portfolios as a result.
Penk announced he would quit politics later that evening.
Asked on Tuesday whether he had been working alone, Penk refused to answer.
"I'm not going to get into that. I'm happy to look forward."
Asked if the public had been told the full truth about what happened in the three-hour long caucus meeting, he said he had not seen all the reports.
"I literally don't know all the things that have been said. I've been studiously avoiding the media, with all due respect to those [here]."
Christopher Luxon says dissident minister Chris Penk had to go but refuses to give caucus vote count. (Source: 1News)
Penk arrived in Wellington on Tuesday morning to meet his former ministerial staff, saying he was welcome at National's caucus meeting but did not attend.
"I'm prioritising meetings with my staff, who have had a change in their circumstances, and I think that's the first step," he said.
He will not contest Kaipara ki Mahurangi at the November election, but remained the electorate MP until then.
He said he had not reconsidered that decision, and would back National's candidate "quietly, in the background" once one was selected.
Asked whether National's senior ministers were fully behind Luxon, Penk said he believed so.
"I'm sure that they are, but it's not for me to speak on anyone's behalf, including the Prime Minister or them," he said.
"To be clear, I'm not suggesting for a moment that's not the case."
Penk would not commit to giving a valedictory speech, saying MPs did not always deliver one and the House had already spent enough time on him after an emergency debate on his dismissal.
"Enough's been said, I think, in the last couple of weeks," he said.
"An hour of time in the House of Representatives devoted to my fate ... that's thanks enough."
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