The National Party Caucus supports Christopher Luxon

Luxon has repeatedly claimed the full support of his caucus saying so nine times in a six-minute press conference in April 2026. Yet in August 2026, after Chris Penk led a leadership challenge against him, Luxon called a confidence vote, survived it, and then stripped Penk of his ministerial portfolios saying the challenge had made Penk's position "untenable."

Penk denied plotting against Luxon but subsequently announced he would not seek re-election. A leader with genuinely full caucus support would not need to demote a colleague for challenging his leadership.