National Party leadership speculation 2026

The story so far

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon called an urgent National Party caucus meeting after reports of internal frustration and speculation about his leadership.^{11 Aug} Reports said senior MPs, including some Cabinet ministers, were considering asking him to resign, and a poll had his preferred prime minister rating at 17%.^{11, 12 Aug} Luxon said the disunity was a major distraction that had to be resolved before the November election.^{11 Aug} He won a caucus confidence vote in Wellington and then sacked minister Chris Penk, stripping him of his defence and intelligence portfolios for launching a leadership challenge.^{12 Aug} Penk, who denied scheming, announced he would not seek re-election.^{12 Aug}

Latest

Luxon has said he believes Penk acted alone and that he has the full support of Erica Stanford and Chris Bishop, while Stanford has denied involvement in any plot. An RNZ-Reid Research poll found more voters thought the caucus was wrong to keep Luxon as leader, and the National Party has selected Jessica Rowe to contest Penk's Kaipara ki Mahurangi seat.^{16, 17, 25 Aug; 7 Sep}

What's next

The election is due in November.^{11 Aug}

Key moments

1. 11 AugLuxon calls an urgent caucus meeting amid leadership speculation.
2. 11 AugReports say senior MPs are considering asking Luxon to resign.
3. 12 AugLuxon wins a caucus confidence vote and sacks Chris Penk.
4. 12 AugPenk loses defence and intelligence portfolios and will not seek re-election.
5. 16 AugErica Stanford denies involvement in a plot against Luxon.
6. 18 AugParliament debates Penk's removal; Winston Peters questions whether others were involved.
7. 25 AugPoll finds more voters think keeping Luxon was the wrong decision.
8. 7 SepJessica Rowe selected as National candidate for Kaipara ki Mahurangi.

Written from the stories below; each sentence links to its sources.