'I'm a huge supporter of Chris': Mark Mitchell rejects all talk he was part of coup attempt

Sacked minister Chris Penk won’t seek re-election after Prime Minister Christopher Luxon stripped him of all of his portfolios on Wednesday afternoon, outing him as the person who launched a challenge for the National leadership.

Luxon has confirmed Penk’s challenge prompted Wednesday’s confidence vote in Luxon’s leadership, which Luxon won.

“This makes his role untenable and as such I have removed his portfolios,” Luxon said.

Penk, who has been in Cabinet since April, lost his Defence, Veterans, Space, GCSB and NZSIS portfolios. These will be taken over by Paul Goldsmith, who also holds major portfolios like justice.

Climate Change Minister Simon Watts will take over Penk’s Building and Construction portfolio.

After being dumped from Cabinet, Penk, the MP for Auckland’s Kaipara ki Mahurangi electorate, announced that he will not seek re-election in November.

“It has been a privilege to serve my community of Kaipara ki Mahurangi for the last nine years, and I am proud of the progress I have contributed to as a Minister this term,” Penk said in a statement last night.

“However, I have decided it is the time for me to seek other opportunities to serve New Zealand.”

The challenge comes after Penk publicly declared his support for Luxon while batting off rumours he was shoring up a leadership challenge behind the scenes, potentially acting as a stalking horse for the campaigns of Erica Stanford or Chris Bishop, both of whom were touted as likely challengers. Speaking on his way to a pre-arranged speech on Wednesday night, Bishop said it was “utterly incorrect” that Penk was working on his behalf.

A National Party-linked source told the Herald Penk had been involved in a possible leadership challenge on behalf of senior MP Erica Stanford by doing her numbers ahead of the caucus meeting. Penk denied this when asked by reporters on Wednesday morning.

“I think everyone else needs to get their story straight, because I’m hearing multiple different versions,” Penk said.

“None of them are true, and as I said, I’m not going to be able to disclose private conversations, except only to say I have confidence in Christopher Luxon.”

After the vote, Penk refused to say whether he had voted for Luxon to remain as National Party leader. He denied plotting against Luxon – and said he was pleased the confidence vote had delivered “clarity and certainty”.

“We don’t talk about what happens in caucus, but I’m really pleased with the result.”

Chris Penk stands in front of Simon Watts, who has taken over one of Penk's portfolios. Photo / Annaleise Shortland

The saga follows a frantic 24 hours for National MPs who scrambled from their electorates across the country to get to Wellington for the urgent, last-minute caucus meeting with their leader.

Luxon publicly announced the emergency caucus meeting on X (formerly Twitter) just hours before it was due to take place after the Herald story reported on discontent within the party and a potential Bishop or Stanford challenge for the leadership.

As the MPs flooded into Wellington in the hours before the caucus meeting, speculation over Luxon’s future grew while the MPs’ jobs – and the jobs of their staff – hung in the balance. The ordeal came after a series of gaffes by Luxon: the leader caught his MPs off-guard when he revealed plans for an MMP referendum if National won the election and he insulted the small business community in Rotorua with comments he later apologised for.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon flanked by his senior MPs and National Party president Sylvia Wood. Photo / Mark Mitchell

In a pledge of support for Luxon, Minister for Women Nicola Grigg said while walking through Wellington Airport that Stanford – her “very good friend” – was “not a Prime Minister”.

Mark Mitchell, the Police Minister and one of Luxon’s most senior MPs, dampened at least his involvement in the brewing speculation on Wednesday morning when he told Newstalk ZB he had sat with the Prime Minister until late the previous night to ensure he was in the “strongest possible position today and supported for the caucus meeting”.

Speaking to reporters at Parliament, he acknowledged the last-minute caucus meeting was not a good look for National, saying “it’s not flash – we’ve got to get this done today and then move on”.

“I’m supporting our leader. My hope is that he has got support inside the caucus today and that he emerges as our leader.”

Some MPs were confused (Mt Roskill MP Carlos Cheung asked the media what was happening) and others frustrated, saying they would rather spend their recess from Parliament in their electorates.

The spectrum of support shown by Luxon’s MPs ranged from silence – or refusing to answer questions on whether Luxon had their confidence – to declarations they backed Luxon “100%”.

“We are 100% behind our Prime Minister, and that’s the wonderful thing, because when I go door-knocking in Takanini, they’re not worried about this stuff,” Takanini MP Rima Nakhle said.

Tim Costley, the MP for Ōtaki, said he “always backs our Prime Minister” but when asked specifically about Christopher Luxon, Costley told reporters he would speak with them after caucus.

Consumer Affairs Minister and Upper Harbour MP Cameron Brewer refused to answer questions about his confidence in Christopher Luxon – but insisted National would emerge from the saga “united” to go on to “win the election”.

National leader and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and deputy leader Nicola Willis during an economic policy announcement. Photo / Mark Mitchell

As the emergency caucus meeting continued in Wellington, former National leader Sir John Key spoke at Financial Services Council New Zealand conference in Auckland, where he reiterated his support for Luxon, whom he described as a “very capable person with the best intentions”.

“I’ve supported Christopher, and I continue to do that because I believe in him. But I believe in that team, a team full of incredibly good people, and they are starting to shine.”

MPs were leaving Wellington on Wednesday evening. Parliament is currently in recess, meaning most will not be back this week.