Luxon survives confidence vote but nearly half of caucus votes against him

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon survived a confidence vote in his leadership of the National Party on 12 August 2026, emerging from an hours-long caucus meeting to declare he had the "full support" of his MPs. Several National MPs told the NZ Herald the vote was about 27-22 in his favour — meaning roughly 45 percent of his own caucus voted against him, 90 days out from the election.