John MacDonald: Here's what the National Party needs

Author: John MacDonald,
Publish Date: Wed, 12 Aug 2026, 12:36pm

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Prime Minister Christopher Luxon faces renewed questions about his leadership. Photo / Michael Craig

I feel very sorry for Christopher Luxon.

And that was how I felt too watching the coverage last night. Reporters falling over themselves at Wellington Airport asking him questions that he was never going to answer.

And watching some of his colleagues who, in the last few days, were saying he was their man and they had no interest in getting rid of him. Last night, they were saying next to nothing. And that’s being generous.

“I’m on the phone mate,” was Chris Bishop’s lame reply. Stoney silence was Erica Stanford's.

I feel sorry for Christopher Luxon because, despite his many, many political shortcomings, let’s not forget he was the guy who put himself forward to take on a party that was in complete disarray.

He didn’t have to. But he did. Sure, there was all the usual ego involved. But he did it.

He took it over, sorted things out and led it to a significant victory in 2023. And, on the basis of most recent polls, it looked like National was or is on track to be able to form the next government in some way, shape or form come November, as well.

Which is why what’s happening today is so weird. Just 87 days out from the election.

It follows a difficult couple of weeks for Luxon, with him copping flak for using Defence Force aircraft, criticising the business sector and surprising his colleagues with a captain’s call on an MMP referendum.

Which has had the vultures in his caucus circling all over again.

Christopher Luxon doesn’t need me to feel sorry for him. He’s a grown up. But he doesn’t deserve this. And the party needs to ask itself, what does National need right now?

My answer, is it needs to stick with Christopher Luxon.

If it doesn’t, National will be toast. Because who could trust this lot ever again? Because all this talk about doing it for the country and fixing the basics and building the future will mean nothing to voters.

The only thing the MPs wanting Luxon to go are worried about is building their future.

The other thing the National Party needs, aside from keeping Christopher Luxon as leader, is it needs Luxon himself to run the party the way Helen Clark or John Key would.

If he’s stays on as leader, he needs to do an immediate cabinet re-shuffle and tell those ministers plotting to get rid of him that their days are numbered.

That would mean the likes of Erica Stanford, Chris Bishop and Chris Penk losing their portfolios.

Some people think they’re great ministers. But there are plenty more fish and no one is indispensable.

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