PremiumOpinionOpinion byAdam PearseDeputy Political Editor·NZ Herald·14 Aug, 2026 05:00 PM6 mins to readAdam Pearse is Deputy Political Editor for the New Zealand Herald based in the gallery in Wellington.THE FACTS National leader Christopher Luxon survived a caucus vote on his leadership this week. It is the second confidence motion Luxon has faced in about four months. Chris Penk was sacked as a minister. Welcome to the National Party’s display of penance. For the next few weeks, National MPs will have to convince the public they have learned their lesson in allowing a second failed confidence vote in Christopher Luxon as leader, all for it to come to nothing.
National’s penance begins as Bishop and Stanford's claims pose election headache
The two MPs have taken different approaches to being linked to the leadership challenge.
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