Christopher Luxon leadership challenge: Did the Prime Minister do the right thing?

Opinion bySenior Political Correspondent·NZ Herald·12 Aug, 2026 03:27 AM3 mins to readAudrey Young, Senior Political Correspondent at the New Zealand Herald based at Parliament, specialises in writing about politics and power.‌National Party leader Christopher Luxon, flanked by Erica Stanford and Chris Bishop, who were considered the most likely alternatives to replace him. Photo / Mark Mitchell Did Christopher Luxon do the right thing by demanding his caucus meet immediately to confront rumours swirling around his leadership? Last night it seemed to have been a miscalculation on the Prime Minister’s part. It seemed there was a good chance he would be rolled at