New Zealand PM Christopher Luxon wins confidence vote, surviving second challenge to leadership

Just a few months ahead of an election, the prime minister said he had the full support of his party, after calling crisis meeting to address leadership speculation New Zealand’s prime minister Christopher Luxon has survived a second leadership showdown in four months, just 87 days out from the country’s general election. Talking to media after a three-hour meeting of his MPs in Wellington on Wednesday, the embattled leader said he had the full support of his party. “There was a confidence vote in my leadership this morning at our caucus meeting, and I have the full support of our caucus,” Luxon said. “Our caucus is united, and it is determined to win this election.” As he spoke, Luxon was flanked by his deputy Nicola Willis, the National party president, Sylvia Wood, and, in what was likely a deliberate move to show unity, three senior politicians who had been tipped as top contenders to take his place: Chris Bishop, Erica Stanford and Mark Mitchell. Luxon said National’s plan for the country was positive and the choice for voters was “crystal clear”. After less than one minute speaking, Luxon thanked the media and said his team was “going back to work”. He took no questions from