Christopher Luxon’s power ebbing away – who will replace him?

Opinion byPolitical Editor·NZ Herald·11 Aug, 2026 07:09 AM6 mins to readThomas Coughlan, Political Editor at the New Zealand Herald, loves applying a political lens to people's stories and explaining the way things like transport and finance touch our lives. ‌Christopher Luxon's leadership of the National Party is in question with Erica Stanford and Chris Bishop being suggested as the most likely contenders for the top job. NZ Herald photograph by Mark MitchellTHE FACTSPrime Minister Christopher Luxon has called a caucus meeting to discuss his leadership.The meeting will be held at Parliament on Wednesday morning. It follows Herald reporting of MPs expressing discontent. Power was slipping away from Prime Minister Christopher Luxon on Tuesday night as he winged it to the capital to shore up his leadership for the second time in four months. On Monday evening, the Herald sprung discontented National MPs plotting to overthrow Luxon, with one MP