|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Prime Minister and Botany MP Christopher Luxon remains the leader of the National Party following the party’s caucus meeting in Wellington, April 21.
Speculation has been building in recent weeks about Luxon’s leadership of the party due to caucus members leaking to the news media and following a political poll released on Sunday night that showed Luxon on 16 per cent as preferred prime minister.
The National Party was on 30 per cent in the poll while the Labour Party was on 37 per cent.
If the general election was held today, based on the numbers in the poll, the centre-left bloc of Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori would be able to form a Government.
Following this morning’s National Party caucus meeting, Luxon spoke to reporters with party deputy leader and Finance Minister Nicola Willis.
Luxon said he had survived a confidence vote in the meeting and he would not talk about his leadership of the party again.
“Kiwis elected me to deal with the cost of living, to get our economy back, creating jobs, lifting incomes, and improving the education of our kids.
“That is what I came to Parliament to do, and that is what I’ll keep doing.
“For the last week there has been intense media speculation about my leadership and about who said what to whom.
“Today our caucus had a good, honest discussion. Our team is more determined than ever to serve Kiwis and to win the election.
“To put that media speculation to rest, I moved a formal motion of confidence in my leadership.
“That motion was passed, confirming what I have been saying – I have the support of my caucus as their leader.
“Caucus has answered clearly and decisively. It has backed my leadership. That matter is now closed, and I won’t be commenting further on it.”
Luxon said it’s clear “we are living in uncertain and volatile times”.
“That underscores the importance of strong economic management to steer New Zealanders through this time and provide the security they deserve.
“A free press is important in a democracy. You give citizens the know the truth about their Government and hold leaders like me accountable and I welcome that.
“But if the media want to keep focusing on speculation and rumour, I am not going to engage.
“Kiwis expect the media to ask us the tough questions about our policies, to hold us to account for our pledges to New Zealanders, and to interrogate us about the things that matter to them.
“They are not interested in this media soap opera. Every day Kiwis will not be losing sleep about political sideshows in Wellington.
“They’ll be thinking about their mortgage, their kids’ education, and the safety and security of their community.
“My message to New Zealanders today, as it is every day, is that I am exclusively focused on fixing this economy and building a better New Zealand for our children and grandchildren.
“The future of our country and the pressures that Kiwis face in response to global uncertainty is way too important.
“I’m genuinely optimistic about New Zealand because this country has the talent, the institutions and natural endowments and the people to come through this and build something remarkable. We’ve done it before and we will do it again.”
