Podcasts about luxon

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned on Aug. 23 that an “economic D-Day” is coming for the Iranian regime, with the United States taking strong measures to sever Tehran's economic lifelines, including imposing consequences on Iran's trade partners. Bessent will address the media on Monday and is expected to announce further U.S. sanctions targeting Iran and its trading partners.Tens of thousands have been evacuated from the Reno, Nevada, area as the fast-moving Hawk Fire threatens the city. About 42,000 residents are under evacuation orders, with another 45,000 in an evacuation warning zone. The fire has burned 15,000 acres since it began on Saturday. Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo has declared a state of emergency and deployed National Guard resources. At least six people have been injured, including three civilians and three first responders.New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said on Aug. 24 that his party will introduce a bill in Parliament that seeks ‌to ban children under 16 from using social media, proposing fines of up to 10 percent of a platform's global revenue for noncompliance. The bill would require social media platforms to take reasonable steps to verify users' ages, including using existing account information, facial technology, and digital identity documents. It was not immediately clear whether the bill would garner sufficient support to pass through Parliament, with one of Luxon's coalition partners, the New Zealand First party, saying it would not support it. The proposal follows Australia's move last year to ban social media for children under 16.

With just months to go before New Zealand voters head to the polls, the prime minister, Christopher Luxon, has survived his second leadership spill in just four months. As flagging poll numbers, a sluggish economy and high-profile gaffes build pressure on Luxon, can the embattled leader retain his grip on power through November? The Guardian's New Zealand correspondent Eva Corlett joins Reged Ahmad to look inside NZ politics and whether the PM can make it to election day

I have been surprised, and not surprised, by two aspects of the Opportunity Party. 1) I'm not surprised by the media's fascination, 2) I am surprised at the amount of angst shown by people increasingly alarmed at the prospect they may be heading for Parliament and some sort of influence. The media, and especially digital media, sadly require these days astonishing amounts of content for the constant churn appetite that they, ironically, have created and so a shiny new political party was always going to get plenty of attention. But I have never seen the angst this party has created among those who write, text, and talk to me. Small parties have come and gone; Social Credit, Values, the Alliance Party, various forms of the Māori Party, United – they've all had a burst of sunlight. United got the worm and flew for a while but even in its original guise as TOP, they never came close to the noise the Opportunity Party creates at the moment. Here is the good news —unless you are an actual fan of theirs— they will get a level of exposure that will ultimately see them combust. Even Helen Clark on social media yesterday called it fantasy dressed as policy. The leader of the party appeared on Q&A and got roasted. Every time she fronts, as articulate as Ms Wong may be, a new chink in the Opportunity armour is exposed. The latest is this mad board overruling elected MPs. Now, far from being frightening, this is all good stuff. This is democracy in action. There is nothing to be fearful of here. Knowledge is always power and in this case the knowledge is what leads to Opportunity most likely not getting across the 5%. This country is not up for upheaval. We don't want, or vote for, upheaval. We vote for variations of what we get sick of, hence bits of National morph into NZ First or ACT, and bits of Labour turn into the Greens, or Alliance, or United. Opportunity is a lab experiment, hence the media interest and alarmism. They are not serious people. Helen Clark sees it, I see it, Luxon saw it when he ruled them out. By November 7th enough of the rest will see it as well. So relax. As you were. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chris Luxon insists Chris Bishop and Erica Stanford played no part in the leadership challenge against him. MP Chris Penk was removed from Cabinet and has announced his retirement from politics, after leading an unsuccessful coup against Luxon. Both Bishop and Stanford have denied any involvement in the leadership challenge, or any interest in taking Luxon's job. Luxon says both Bishop and Stanford have given him assurances, both publicly and privately, and he believes them. He's confident Chris Penk was acting on his own. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This should be it for coup gate questioning of the Prime Minister. Bruce Cotterill's piece over the weekend in the NZ Herald I hope, and more importantly actually I think, represents a growing feeling in this country among middle New Zealand that the superficiality of what the media obsess in is not really what counts. And what counts is the record and, as Bruce very clearly lays out, the record is not a bad one - from crime, to education, to exports there is a very good story to be told. Perhaps, and the Government might want to work a bit harder on this, the only story this election outside the record of achievement is tax. One side want to tax us more. The side in Government doesn't. It's that simple. In a country that has been through what we have for the past seven or so years, we are fed up with tax and the constant raiding of our pockets by people who have no other ideas than having you and I pay for everything. Anyway Luxon was at our Newstalk ZB 100th party on Friday night and everyone commented on his speech, which was kind, self deprecating and funny. "Why couldn't we see more of that," they asked. My answer is the country is not a party and when you see the Prime Minister he isn't giving birthday speeches. It's the old issue they have argued all along; meet the bloke and you like him but watch him in a 20 second news clip and he can look troubled. My guess from the mood in the room on Friday is it was the opposite of what you probably read over the weekend, which was "Luxon is done for", "National are mortally wounded". I think last Wednesday enhanced Luxon. It showed balls, it showed self-belief and it showed courage. Most of us like that stuff. In a caucus of 48 does he have some self-absorbed dickheads? Yes, but that's not his fault. It's not a reason to be derailed. The big picture should never be interrupted .by the trials and tribulations of the small-thinker. By the time we vote this will be yet another non-event in a campaign full of things we thought were a big deal, until they weren't. If you're bullish, and I am, last Wednesday could be the making of him. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A single Herald story sparked a political drama and a media frenzy could have toppled the PM, but didn't . . . again. Also: the big TV election debates have yet to be set yet this time. But one indie outlet is already getting heavy hitters together to talk policy.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Luxon made it through yet another leadership coup, but with National divided, the polls shifting, and a new kingmaker emerging, the question is whether he can survive until election dayLuxon has survived, Penk is gone, and now National reels after a week of political chaos that's threatened to reshape New Zealand's electionFind The Detail on Newsroom or RNZGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The National party - having faced two leadership challenges in four months - now has just three months to convince voters it deserves a second term in government. The Prime Minister and his senior ministers went back to work today, after an hours long urgent caucus meeting at Parliament yesterday that ended with Christopher Luxon still in the top job. But despite protestations of nothing to see here.. questions remain over whether that's the end of it. Political reporter Lillian Hanly has more.

At the end of each week, Mike Hosking takes you through the big-ticket items and lets you know what he makes of it all. Christopher Luxon: 8/10 Stared them down, again, and they folded like an umbrella. Chris Penk: 1/10 Not only did he get sucked in in the first place, he paid the ultimate price for a flop. Chris Bishop: 2/10 He can say what he likes, but we know. Erica Stanford: 3/10 She can say what she likes, if she was saying anything at all. Let's put it this way; if they ran the country like they ran a coup, we'd really be in trouble. Hipkins in Rotorua: 3/10 "Emergency housing got a bit out of control." Did it Chris? Honestly. And no apology? The guy is a robot. Trump in the food delivery truck: 8/10 And he takes Hegseth but leaves Rubio, Miller, and Bessent on board the old one with the blinds down. Who needs enemies? LISTEN ABOVE FOR MIKE HOSKING'S FULL WEEK IN REVIEW See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, lawyer Liam Hehir and senior New Zealand Herald correspondent Katie Bradford joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! The Opportunity Party has surged well above the 5 percent threshold, potentially giving it a decisive role in forming the next Government. Was Luxon wrong to rule them out? What could the next couple of months look like? Is it wrong to be angry with Erica Stanford and Chris Bishop over the leadership challenge? Did Chris Penk have to go? What will this whole saga mean for National's political future? Do we need more transport funding for the South Island? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christopher Luxon doesn't believe voters will punish his party in the polls after he survived another confidence vote. Chris Penk has been sacked from Cabinet after Luxon claimed he was behind yesterday's leadership challenge. Penk's since announced he won't seek re-election in November. Senior Ministers Chris Bishop and Erica Stanford deny involvement in the coup attempt, and are pledging support to Luxon. Newstalk ZB reporter Azaria Howell says Luxon claimed the party dealt with the issue in-house, and they'll be moving on. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You know what? I thought the Prime Minister was right to rule out working with Opportunity, until that One News-Verian poll. Now, I think he might have made a mistake. I'm not 100 percent sure, but I'm starting to lean towards this being an error. If you didn't catch the poll, the screaming message from it was that nobody gets to govern unless they have Opportunity. The centre-right bloc has a combined total of 57 seats. That's not enough. You need 61-plus to govern. The centre-left, once you take out the ridiculous thing TVNZ does by counting six Māori Party seats, which is just unreasonable, probably has about 55 seats. Again, that's not enough. Opportunity has nine. Both sides of the political divide need Opportunity's seats to form a Government. Now, look, things are going to change. One poll does not mean that's what happens on November 7 and Opportunity will almost certainly come back from this. This is probably too high for them. But I think the message here is clear: this scenario is now a live possibility in a way it wasn't before, especially after the failed coup, which must almost certainly dent the chances of an outright centre-right victory. That poll will have scared National Party MPs for two reasons. First, the centre-right doesn't win in that poll. Second, Opportunity did not die after Chris Luxon ruled them out. In fact, they went up instead. What he would have hoped is that by ruling them out, they would fade away as a political force. Instead, they shot up to 8 percent. Now, look, Opportunity is a pretty radical left-wing party, okay? They sit more comfortably on the left. But the fact is, the policies they're spruiking, the ideas National will say no to, are also ideas Labour will say no to. Chris Hipkins knows that if he says to Opportunity, "Yep, absolutely fine. Let's roll out a universal basic income. Let's introduce a land tax. Let's lift the age of youth crime to 25," he'll only last one term in Government because that stuff is nutty. It's nuttier than anything the Jacinda Ardern Government did with the Greens. Because of that, because Labour will say no and National will say no, it neutralises Opportunity. Neither side is going to put up with their more radical ideas. Both sides will only agree to the more sensible proposals. Which means Opportunity possibly becomes a viable support partner for the centre-right as well. And that raises the question: has the Prime Minister made a mistake by ruling them out? And does he now need to row that back? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Christopher Luxon first survived a vote of confidence among National MPs in April, Act leader David Seymour said at the time he was pleased to see the party stable and "drawing a line under any trouble they may have had." Fast forward 4 months, and the Prime Minister's leadership is being tested again. He's survived another vote of confidence. Just like the last one, National's coalition partners, ACT and NZ First, were watching on. ACT leader and Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

The Prime Minister held on to his leadership yesterday - declaring it was a united caucus that backed him in a leadership vote. But, Christopher Luxon singled out cabinet minister Chris Penk as a detractor - and in the end, it was Chris Penk who let go. That's the end of that for National - but now they must convince voters there's nothing to see here. Political reporter Lauren Crimp reports.

It has been a busy day in the Beehive and so who better to share their thoughts than the Afternoon Politic Group Chat a place for friendly disagreement and good faith debate.. this is a segment we usually do on Thursdays after 3;30 but Luxon's leadership challenge called for an emergency pod. In Auckland political scientist Dr Lara Greaves, and in Feilding FSU member and screenwriter Dane Giraud, on the lawn outside parliament comedian and commentator Tim Batt.

Palmerston North-based lawyer, a National Party member and a former activist Liam Hehir joins Jesse to discuss the fallout from today's National caucus meeting.

Politics: Luxon Stays - What happens now?

PM still standing after repeat defeat of foes. Also: MediaWorks sold offshore, commentator heads for court over claims made online, are NZ media audiences maturing? And Tangy Fruits were lame. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Mark Mitchell is sorry about the whole situation the National party caucus found itself in. Christopher Luxon stared down yesterday's challenge to his leadership, coming from Chris Penk. He's paid the political price, being stripped of his portfolios, before announcing last night he won't run for re-election in November. Senior colleague Mark Mitchell told Mike Hosking Penk's challenge was a surprise. He says he considers him a friend, and he hasn't had a chance to talk to him about what he was thinking. Mitchell says any speculation he was involved in a challenge is false – and he was sure Luxon's supporters were in a strong position. He says he was quietly confident they had the numbers and that people would realise there was no upside to a coup. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Time's ticking for National to rebuild itself as a united front after putting Christopher Luxon's leadership to the test a second time. The Prime Minister survived a confidence vote launched by Chris Penk - at yesterday's three hour caucus meeting in Wellington. He's now dumped Penk from his ministerial portfolios and the former Defence Minister has announced he'll quit politics in November. Political Commentator Peter Dunne told Mike Hosking Luxon should be commended for surviving the challenge, but a third one would be a stretch too far. He says this has to be the end of it through to the election, and all the sentiments about the party being “100% united” have to be demonstrated if National's to come through this unscathed. Dunne was sceptical of the idea that Penk had launched the challenge to put himself forward for the job, saying he felt it was "a bit far-fetched", and that Penk was more likely testing the waters for others, namely Chris Bishop and Erica Stanford. "I don't think he necessarily was actively working with Bishop and Stanford, although he was clearly touting their cases," Dunne told Hosking. "[Luxon] can't really run a credible government without those two, so they have to be there, they have to be [kept] in senior roles, and they have to be seen to be treated as senior ministers." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Not for the first time have too many people read what happened yesterday completely incorrectly. "It was over", they told us. "The numbers were done", they told us. "Tuesday night was it", they told us. "There wasn't a caucus meeting required". Wrong. "Mark Mitchell was Erica Stanford's deputy". Wrong. "The idea that Luxon could do this twice was impossible". Wrong. One of the great sadnesses of the modern media and its lack of institutional knowledge is too many people talk to themselves, or don't recognise when their sources are stitching them up, or they put too much of their own agenda into the coverage. This is not to say Luxon didn't have trouble and that members of the National caucus weren't whining. But it is to say that that doesn't mean when push comes to shove you pull a trigger on what almost certainly was a gargantuan political mistake. To repeat from yesterday; the polls are fine, Luxon's issues are not sackable, and the economy is turning. The S&P just upgraded our GDP for God's sake. This is no time to panic, and this is no time to put your burgeoning aspirations as a backbencher to the test. I'm thrilled for Christopher Luxon. He deserves a lot better than he has got. The foibles, if you want to put them like that, are not sackable offences. The fact Peters last time, and Seymour this time, spoke well of what he has done in a tricky first-of-its-kind coalition deal is not to be underestimated. Oh the irony that opponents can see what his backbencher moaners can't. This is not and was not a crisis. This was a self-centred, naval gazing, bitchathon from National MPs who should know how to behave better. Remember where you heard it first – when National win and the Coalition enter the second term, and the Luxon era of leadership issues vanishes, because that's what happens with victory, it will be a moment to savour. The easy thing for Luxon to do would have been to walk, and a lot would have. Belief is a sadly rare, but powerful trait and whatever you say about him he clearly has it. Staring them down for a second time might just be the nail in their coffin. He is a better man than they. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National MP Chris Penk's been dumped from Cabinet and his ministerial portfolios, after instigating today's failed coup. Prime Minister Chris Luxon managed to fight off the challenge for his leadership - at a three-hour caucus meeting in Wellington today. He says Penk's role is now untenable. NZ Herald political editor Thomas Coughlan says Penk was likely running the numbers - for Erica Stanford or Chris Bishop to contest the leadership. "I think there was a classic stalking horse or sometimes they're called kamikazes - they launched the attacks and destabilised...so that it triggered the confidence vote." Paul Goldsmith will pick up the Defence, Veterans, Space, GCSB, and NZSIS portfolios. Simon Watts will become Minister for Building and Construction. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christopher Luxon survives a dramatic confidence vote, but has National just destroyed its own election campaign? In this special live episode, Duncan Garner is joined by political commentator Ani O'Brien and former National minister Maurice Williamson as the leadership crisis unfolds in real time. They take you inside the National caucus room, examine the attempted coup against a sitting Prime Minister and deliver a brutal verdict when Luxon emerges victorious, declaring his deeply divided party “united”. With just 87 days until the election, the coup has failed. The damage may be permanent. And National is left with the same leader, a shattered caucus and a mountain of unanswered questions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Wednesday, 12 August, 2026, Christopher Luxon survives another challenge from within on his leadership. We have analysis and commentary from former National Minister Maurice Williamson and New Zealand Herald political editor Thomas Coughlan. On The Huddle, Josie Pagani and Trish Sherson say Luxon should have stepped down. Christchurch City Councillor Celeste Donovan tells us why a caravan park in the red zone has got the green light. And Eden Park chief Nick Sautner on the chances of getting the NRL grand final in 2028. Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Trish Sherson from Sherson Willis PR and Child Fund CEO Josie Pagani joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day, and more! Luxon's held on as Prime Minister after this latest leadership challenge - but what does this all mean going forward? Why couldn't Luxon's opponents get this across the line? Does this put them in better or worse shape for the election? Is the whole leadership kerfuffle good for Labour? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chris Luxon's held on as Prime Minister and National leader, but there's likely to be fallout from the party's recent turmoil. Luxon's leadership was put to a vote during a near three-hour caucus meeting in Wellington this morning. It followed murmurings about a potential coup - with some MPs signalling they wanted Luxon out of the top job. Former National Minister Maurice Williamson says these events were still 'damaging' for the current Government. "This was just the worst possible thing to be happening to National at this time...he couldn't have left it as business as usual." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After a three-hour caucus meeting this morning, National MPs have backed Luxon in a confidence vote. But is he really in the clear?

There's suggestions heads will roll over Chris Luxon's latest leadership challenge, but not straight away. The Prime Minister's survived a confidence vote of his caucus - the second in four months. Luxon called an urgent meeting to address recent reports of discontent among National MPs, and he confirmed today that he had full backing from the party. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says it's clear Bishop and Stanford were angling for the top job - but they couldn't strike a deal. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chris Luxon stared them down and survived again. Now, it sounds like both contenders, or at least both people who thought they were contenders, Erica Stanford and Chris Bishop, were reasonably confident they had the numbers to roll Luxon yesterday afternoon. But then things swung Luxon's way early in the evening. About 8pm, I got a text suggesting the coup was falling apart and Luxon was shoring up his numbers. The people who had defected from him were defecting back to him. By this morning, the confidence had shifted back to Luxon's camp. It looks like, if I can put this really simply, the coup fell apart because of egos. Neither Chris Bishop nor Erica Stanford was prepared to go second on the ticket. They needed to work together if they wanted the numbers. They needed to coalesce around one candidate but they couldn't because both wanted to be leader. So, in the end, neither of them became leader. Now, I can't say the caucus has made the wrong call by backing Chris Luxon because, as I said, either choice was risky and difficult. But the situation the National Party finds itself in is the worst of all worlds. For a second time, the party has signalled to the country that it does not fully back its leader, and then left him there to do the job anyway. No one is going to believe the false show of unity that saw them standing behind Chris Luxon for 75 seconds while he told us his caucus was unified. It doesn't take three hours in a caucus room to establish unity. It takes five minutes. Three hours is what it looks like when there isn't enough unity. The people behind this coup, and this time it appears to be Erica Stanford rather than Chris Bishop, should reflect on what they've done. They have effectively blown the arms and legs off their Prime Minister, then pushed him out there to try to win the election for them again because they couldn't get past their own egos long enough to execute a coup properly. There's only one thing worse than a coup against a Prime Minister, and that's a failed coup. You do all the damage and end up with nothing shiny and new to show for it. This is going to hurt National. Mark my words, this is going to hurt National. The party will probably bleed votes to its coalition partners in the next three months. I'm still not convinced it will cost National the election but it certainly makes that outcome more likely. They only have themselves to blame for what comes next. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christopher Luxon has called for an 'urgent in-person meeting' on Wednesday at 9:30am. Any of his MPs who aren't in Wellington will need to travel back given it's a recess week at parliament. Citing media reports and conversations about increased speculation about his leadership, Luxon called it an 'unfair distraction'. Former National Party MP Maurice Williamson spoke to Melissa Chan-Green

With speculation over his leadership swirling, National's Christopher Luxon is calling all National MPs to the capital for an urgent in-person caucus meeting tomorrow. He's just come off a fortnight defending his comments to Rotorua small businesses, his Foreign Minister telling a Chinese-born MP to go back where he came from, and announcing on live radio he wants a referendum on MMP - without having told his caucus. Political reporter Russell Palmer has the story.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 12th of August, former National MP Wayne Mapp and Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour talk about the damage to the National Party as the Luxon leadership speculation rolls on. We break down all the rumours and likely outcomes of the National Party caucus meeting – who supports Luxon, who doesn't, and if there will be a vote. Mark Mitchell gets put into some tough positions on Politics Wednesday while Ginny Andersen looks on gleefully. Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A former National MP believes Christopher Luxon's decision to call today's emergency caucus meeting was a mistake. The Prime Minister announced the meeting on social media yesterday, saying the speculation about his leadership needs addressing. With Parliament in recess, MPs have had to fly in from around the country. Mapp told Mike Hosking Luxon could have dismissed the speculation as the work of a few dissident MPs. He says Luxon's constructed the stage for his own execution. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Deputy Prime Minister won't make a prediction on the outcome of today's National leadership challenge, but says a Prime Minister leading a coalition that's ahead in the polls should be supported. Christopher Luxon called an emergency caucus meeting for this morning in response to the growing speculation over his ability to lead the party into the election. David Seymour told Mike Hosking he's not going to sit there and bag Luxon, who is doing the best he can, given difficult circumstances. He says the National party leader has foibles just like everyone else, but he's managed to unite his own party and the Coalition. Seymour said the leadership challenge was “not helpful” and was a distraction from policy – specifically replacing the RMA, which he claimed was "the only thing that really matters" for New Zealand's future. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A senior National MP's throwing cold water on the idea the Prime Minister will be voted out of his job as National party leader today. Mark Mitchell says there's been a lot of speculation from media commentators about what will happen, but there's no confirmation. He told Mike Hosking everyone's getting ahead of themselves. Mitchell says he sat with Luxon until late last night to make sure he's in the "strongest possible position today and supported for the caucus meeting". He said he'd seen media reports claiming Chris Penk had been hitting the phones to shore up support for Erica Stanford, but stressed there would be no discussions until the 9.30am meeting. Affirming his loyalty to Luxon as leader, Mitchell described himself as "very old-fashioned" and said he took "great offence" to people who work outside that operandus. "If you've got someone that's not been loyal to the leader inside the caucus, you can't do it publicly. You actually front up and sit down and say, 'These are what the issues are'," he said. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Say it's Erica Stanford as leader, does she swing your vote? What about Bishop? Do things materially change because he is suddenly the leader? This is the madness of what National are up to. There's the panickers in the back, some of whom might lose their jobs, because when they arrived as the tide pulled in in 2023, they didn't work out some of them have to lose three years later, because that's what tides do. They turn. National of course have form in Bill English and Judith Collins. We all remember the calamity that seems to grip the party when they put self-interest first. But this time things are different. Polls have them returning for another term. And even if you're angsty about that, replacing Luxon does not change a thing. Direction doesn't change, policy doesn't change and the coalition doesn't change. Do the optics change? Maybe. Is that what the majority of people vote on? The optics? This election is about whether the country is going in the right direction, or not. Your mind will not be changed based on Stanford, Bishop, or Luxon. The work they have done to get us here has already got your vote, or it hasn't. As for Chris Penk and his dirty work in this whole exercise – what a doofus. How did he get sucked into this? Being disloyal is one of human nature's lowest traits and National seem to be comfortable with it. Even if you argue Luxon never quite fired, and a lot do, he is not individually holding National back from winning an election. Given all the polling this should not be happening. That's how mental it all is. If they were on 22% and losing, if it was Andrew Little and Labour, if it was English in 2002, then maybe. But it isn't. The Opposition is barely alive, one of their three parties is imploding, and the Poll of Polls has little, if any, path to Government. So the good old Nats decide to put their best self-interest foot forward and shoot themselves in it. As one senior Nat put it to me yesterday; "you can't write this stuff". See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Jordan Williams from the Taxpayers' Union and Jack Tame from ZB's Saturday Mornings and Q&A joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Chris Luxon's political future is hanging in the balance ahead of tomorrow's big meeting. Will he survive, or will he be rolled? Will Erica Stanford or Chris Bishop replace him? What do we make of Chris Hipkins' plan to help small businesses join the AI revolution? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Amid discussions surrounding Luxon's political future, there's still one sector backing him. National MPs are arriving to the Capital ahead of tomorrow's big meeting to discuss the Prime Minister's political future. The Country's Jamie Mackay explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister is refusing to say if he has caucus support before an urgent meeting tomorrow morning. Chris Luxon has summoned National MPs to the capital, after renewed speculation about his leadership. He says division and disunity need to be resolved quickly. Luxon had no answer for journalists when he touched down in Wellington this afternoon, but senior MPs Nicola Willis and Mark Mitchell have both expressed confidence in the PM. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says potential leadership challengers would go into the meeting believing they have the numbers. "People are too afraid to say - no, I wouldn't support them, because what happens when they become leader?" LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's silence from some National MPs as the Prime Minister faces a potential leadership showdown. Chris Luxon's called an urgent Caucus meeting in Wellington tomorrow morning, after rumours emerged he doesn't have his party's full support. He's touched down in Wellington, batting off questions and saying he'll talk to media tomorrow. NZ Herald political editor Thomas Coughlan says MPs like Simeon Brown - who've previously stood behind Luxon - aren't returning texts. "Usually, when there's a bit of speculation it's very easy, it takes two seconds to say - yes, I back the Prime Minister, and they do that all the time." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Less than three months out from the election, National MPs are reportedly discussing whether Luxon should remain in the top job. 

A nightmarish fortnight has ended with the prime minister summoning MPs to Wellington for an urgent in-person National Party caucus meeting. On the agenda, not for the first time: his own leadership. Spinoff editor Veronica Schmidt joins Toby Manhire to trace the path to Christopher Luxon's moment of truth and ask: what will the MPs be weighing as they make their way to that 9.30am showdown?Plus: Liam Ratana on an unprecedented, pulsating, potent haka at the Warriors.At Large with Toby Manhire is produced by Te Aihe Butler, Jin Fellet and The Spinoff. Read more at ⁠thespinoff.co.nz⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tonight on The Huddle, Child Fund CEO Josie Pagani and Phil O'Reilly from Iron Duke Partners joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! New polling data shows Labour, the Greens and Te Pati Māori have lower odds of getting into Parliament, while Opportunity's political probability has shot up. What could this mean for the election? National says they won't introduce new taxes, and higher fuel tax, the bed tax and the bank levy were already up for discussion. How does this campaign make National look? What will voters think of all this? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After the Prime Minister has spent the week combatting record unemployment figures and navigating an apology to the business community - it is Labour leader Chris Hipkins who ends it defending his parties position in the polls. Political Editor Jo Moir spoke to Melissa Chan-Green with an analysis of the latest poll numbers. 

Christopher Luxon spent much of this week putting out fires of his own making. And others set by Winston Peters. RNZ's deputy political editor Craig McCulloch has more.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Christopher Luxon has caught his caucus off-guard with an off-the-cuff campaign promise today, telling talkback radio that he'll hold an referendum on MMP if re-elected. The Prime Minister made the captain's call on NewstalkZB this morning, after being asked whether he would test public's appetite on the country's electoral system next term. Deputy political editor, Craig McCulloch spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

Is Luxon's MMP vote a stroke of genius to avoid an otherwise problematic week? His apology for Rotorua was a cluster, the Māorification issues that haven't been resolved despite all the talk, the Corrections massages, MBIE, Treasury love-ins, the Justice Department cock-up on the Harrison bloke, and the unemployment rate to the upside – it's all looked like very bad news. But then out of nowhere, "let's have a look at the entire way we elect Governments". It makes sense to the extent we are going to vote on four-year terms anyway. But here is your trouble with revisiting MMP; it's been too long between drinks. There is an entire generation of voters, and I include my kids, who have never known anything else. Constitutional change needs to be debated when an obvious issue has arisen i.e. Governments keep falling over and we lack stability, or we have recently had the debate and the ideas are still fresh in our minds. Neither scenario is in play here. Making it also problematic for the first-past-the-posters is Labour 2020-2023. They were an FPP Government and an example of why you would not in a million years let a single party near anything. Good parties take you good places. Ardern and Hipkins blew the place up. Is that a result of FPP or a singular example of incompetence? And do you want to run that risk? Obviously the counter is, on balance, our small players have not proved to be wonderful representatives of the broad idea that MMP brings wider representation. The representation they have brought is more calamity and chaos, than insight and brain power. The Māori Party have imploded, again, the Greens are insane and quite possibly dangerous, and not really "green", and New Zealand First are racists and stirrers. Having said that, if we insist on MMP overall, this current Government is the first full example of the art i.e. three parties in a full arrangement. It's been executed pretty well so Luxon comes off a strange run-up, given he's conducted it professionally and successfully. If you want to run a book it was 58% for MMP last time. I reckon it would be even more this time. And that's from a person who, push comes to shove, would probably vote FPP. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Friday 7th of August, the Prime Minister has thrown the cat amongst the pigeons with his call for a referendum on MMP. We get the exclusive from Joseph Parker as the UK Anti-Doping agency releases the reason he was cleared of his drugs charges. And while Wrapping the Week, Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson discuss Luxon's MMP comment, 100 years of ZB, and some surprising breaking news for Mike! Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is the Prime Minister fed up with his coalition partners? Christopher Luxon told Kerre Woodham yesterday he's open to another vote on MMP, if re-elected. The system allows more representation in Parliament for smaller parties and was upheld in a 2011 referendum. Political commentator and former Cabinet Minister Peter Dunne told Mike Hosking Luxon's clearly frustrated. Dunne says he thought he'd be leading a strong National government, supported by others, instead of the three-way coalition he signed up for. Luxon's also being described as having loose lips. Dunne told Hosking he's let a lot of comments slip recently appearing to just blurt things out and mop up afterwards – including abruptly ruling out working with the Opportunity Party. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christopher Luxon is digging in over his use of an Air Force flight after attending a National Party fundraiser, saying he has a "busy job". Labour's Chris Hipkins says it's unjustifiable for the Prime Minister to use the Defence Force as a "personal taxi service" for campaigning purposes. Deputy political editor Craig McCulloch spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.