PremiumOpinionOpinion byThomas CoughlanPolitical Editor·NZ Herald·12 Aug, 2026 07:11 AM5 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. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk during the post-Cabinet press conference, the Beehive, Parliament, Wellington. 18 August, 2025. NZ Herald photograph by Mark Mitchell
THE FACTSPrime Minister Christopher Luxon survived a confidence vote in himself today. The caucus meeting was called after an MP told the Herald a plot was afoot to replace Luxon. Luxon revealed that Defence Minister Chris Penk launched a leadership bid. In the end, they simply didn’t have the numbers.
This afternoon, many at Parliament wondered whether the plotters bottled it – keeping their ambitions to themselves the way they did in April, failing to summon the courage to take to their feet and challenge National leader
