PM fronts media after poor poll: Minister says Luxon 'hasn't put a foot wrong'

National MPs are backing leader Christopher Luxon after another poor poll for the governing party, with some saying he is the best National’s got for the leadership role. 

The 1News-Verian poll released on Tuesday night showed National down a percentage point to 29%. Despite Labour also dropping (by 5 points to 32%), the right-wing coalition would be out of power on these results. 

National would be entitled to just 37 seats if the poll results were replicated on November 7. That is down from the 48 the party currently holds in Parliament, meaning a number of MPs would be losing their jobs. 

The party’s reduction in support since the 2023 election has consistently led to questions about Luxon’s leadership. 

However, he has survived previous speculation about the future of his leadership, calling a confidence vote on himself in April and winning. 

Speaking in Auckland on Wednesday morning, senior minister Chris Bishop said National wanted to be “higher than what we are the moment” but “we are working really to lift those numbers and get that party vote up”. 

“Chris Luxon is doing a great job as Prime Minister, managing a difficult three-way coalition, first time in New Zealand history,” he said, going on to praise Luxon on the world stage and his policy agenda. 

Asked if Luxon had made any mistakes this term, Bishop responded: “I think we all make mistakes.” 

“No Government’s perfect. I make mistakes. Chris Luxon makes mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes. No Government is perfect, but I think we’re doing a good job and ultimately New Zealanders will get a chance to judge that in November.” 

But Cameron Brewer, recently elevated to a minister under Luxon, told reporters in Wellington that the Prime Minister “hasn’t put a foot wrong” and has “operated exceptionally well”. 

“We are united behind Christopher Luxon. He is the man for the job, given the economic times, we could not have anyone better, with his international experience, his focus on the economy, his passion for education.” 

Chris Bishop says everyone makes mistakes. Photo / Michael Craig 

He went on to say there is “no one that’s got more conviction and more passion and is an outstanding ambassador on the international stage than Christopher Luxon”. 

Asked directly if anyone could do better than Luxon, Brewer said: “No ... Christopher Luxon, he hasn’t put a foot wrong”. 

“He’s operated exceptionally well as Prime Minister. He’s united a caucus. You’ve got to remember what he inherited as far as the caucus goes, pre when we had that big clean-out in 2020. 

“He’s singularly focused on what New Zealanders want him to be focused on, he’s incredibly disciplined and we are unified and stronger behind Christopher Luxon than ever before.” 

Brewer believed National had a “really good track record”, but acknowledged global events had slowed things down. 

“[The Budget] showed some really good middle- to long-term forecasts and that’s what New Zealanders have got to hang on [to]. Good times are ahead of us. They’ve just got to be patient and we are doing everything, turning every stone over, to drive that economic growth, to lift health and education standards and to fix law and order.” 

National MP Cameron Brewer says his boss "hasn't put a foot wrong". Photo / Jamie Ensor 

Nicola Grigg, another minister in Luxon’s Government, was asked if anyone could do better than Luxon and responded: “No, I don’t believe so at all.” 

Asked if the current Government was going to lose at the election, she said: “I sincerely hope not”. 

“We will be doing everything we can to come back.” 

Southland MP Joseph Mooney said National had “a lot of time to get our message out there”. 

“We’re gonna fight for every vote ... We have done an incredible amount of hard work as a Government. Our ministers have done exceptional work.” 

Asked who could do better than Luxon, Mooney responded: “We’re fully behind Christopher Luxon”. 

Questioned over whether there was anyone else on National’s front bench who could be Prime Minister, he said: “No, we’re fully behind the Prime Minister ... no, no.” 

And asked if the Prime Minister had made any mistakes this term, Mooney said it had been a “very challenging time for New Zealand”. 

“I think he’s done a great job leading a team through the first, three-party coalition Government ever, so I think he’s done a very good job.” 

National's Chris Penk said he wasn't fixated on the polls. Photo / Mark Mitchell 

Chris Penk, who recently entered Cabinet as Defence Minister, also didn’t believe there was anyone else on the party’s front bench who could be Prime Minister. 

“Christopher Luxon’s working really hard, as we all are, and part of that means making decisions that contemplate the long-term future of the country,” he told reporters. 

“For example, the KiwiSaver announcement on the weekend, which has by and large been very well received. We’ve all got to work hard and listen to Kiwis and do the things that are important to them.” 

Penk said the party was more focused on improving the country than the polls and that, by the November election, “we’ll be rewarded by the New Zealand public if we do that”. 

“Obviously times have been tough for the last few years. It’s never going to be easy for an incumbent Government on poll day.” 

Rima Nakhle from Takanini said National was “working so hard to make sure Kiwis can be better off”, pointing to the party’s recent KiwiSaver announcements. 

Suze Redmayne, one of the party’s whips, was running to an Uber and said “we are not going to lose MPs”. 

Asked about the party’s results, Matt Doocey, the Mental Health Minister, said “we are pretty confident”. 

“We have got a lot to do but we are working hard.” 

Jamie Ensor is the NZ Herald’s Chief Political Reporter, based in the press gallery at Parliament. He was previously a TV reporter and digital producer in the Newshub press gallery office. He was a finalist in 2025 for Political Journalist of the Year at the Voyager Media Awards.