National MPs hit phones over Luxon's leadership after MMP surprise

Author: Thomas Coughlan,
Publish Date: Mon, 10 Aug 2026, 8:42pm

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and the two MPs who might be challenging him, Erica Stanford and Chris Bishop. Both have publicly pledged support. Photo / NZME

Discontented National Party MPs hit the phones on Monday, with one MP confirming to the Herald that they had fielded “several” phone calls about a potential leadership change.

The speculation was triggered by Christopher Luxon’s announcement on Thursday he supported an MMP referendum if National wins the election - comments that caught many of his own MPs unaware.

That MP, who the Herald has agreed not to name, said “there’s going to be change” in the top job.

“It’s just a question of who is going to be it.”

They said there was a flurry of phone conversations between MPs on Monday.

The MP cited senior ministers Chris Bishop and Erica Stanford as front-runners.

Other National MPs expressed openness to change, but did not say they were definitely in either camp.

An MP in Luxon’s camp disagreed with change.

Both Bishop and Stanford publicly pledged support to Luxon this year, and over the weekend Stanford ruled herself out of any potential leadership run.

Despite that, several of Stanford’s colleagues believe she is in the running along with Bishop.

Neither MP returned the Herald’s requests to speak for this story. Both have denied leadership ambitions in the past.

Three caucus sources spoken to by the Herald said both MPs are potential leadership contenders despite statements to the contrary. Two other caucus sources would not confirm or deny a plot to remove Luxon was afoot.

This week is a recess week in Parliament, when Luxon usually doesn’t hold a post-Cabinet press conference.

However, he often holds a stand-up outside of Wellington.

On Monday, Luxon did his morning broadcast media round, appearing on RNZ and Newstalk ZB. He did not hold a public stand-up.

A spokesman for Luxon said “the PM held media stand-ups on both Saturday and Sunday in Wellington, did two media interviews this morning and will be in front of media several more times this week”.

“The PM does not usually have post-Cabinet press conferences in Wellington on non-sitting weeks and on occasion has not had a media standup on a Monday,” the spokesman said.

They had not heard leadership speculation and had nothing further to add.

The Herald spoke to several MPs from the camps of Luxon supporters and detractors.

An MP on Luxon’s side of the caucus admitted the Prime Minister had had a bad few days in the job, but did not think Luxon should go.

A senior MP who supported Luxon said the Prime Minister had himself acknowledged he had not communicated brilliantly when he insulted small businesses in Rotorua.

Luxon survived a confidence vote in his own leadership in April.

The Herald has been told by MPs that they believed the margin was 27 to 22 in favour of Luxon, however, the figure is confidential to the party whips.

The last public poll – the Taxpayers’ Union-Curia poll – had National up half a point to 31%.

Labour was on 27.8% – down 3.7 points. However, the Opportunity Party’s rise meant the poll showed the coalition clinging to power by a single seat.