On 12 August, less than three months before Election Day, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held an emergency caucus meeting.  At the three-hour meeting, Chris Penk, MP for Kaipara ki Mahurangi (Auckland area) and member of the Cabinet proceeded with a leadership challenge.  Luxon, who had survived an earlier confidence vote in April (>), survived this confidence vote as well, but it was not a good look.  Following the caucus meeting, he made a brief statement (below), but took no questions.  Penk announced he would not seek re-election to Parliament.

"As you know, this is an absolutely pivotal election with some very, very serious issues at stake for New Zealand.

"We think we have made tremendous progress as a government, rebuilding economic growth, financial discipline, restoring law and order, and certainly strengthening education and healthcare. But we also acknowledge that we have a lot more to do. Our plan to fix the basics and to build the future is a positive plan, a very positive plan to help New Zealand realise the innate potential that it has.

"There was a confidence vote in my leadership this morning at our caucus meeting, and I have the full support of our caucus. And our caucus is united, and it is determined to win this election.

"Our focus is on National's positive plan to fix the basics and to build the future, so that we realise the incredible potential that sits in this country, and that we set it up for our kids and our grandkids so they can do better than we can.

"It's also an opportunity to frame the choice for voters, which is crystal clear on November the seventh. An opposition that wants to take New Zealand backwards, or a national government that wants to fix the basics and build the future and the plan that takes New Zealand forward.

"With that, I want to say thanks, everyone. We're going back to work, and we're moving on."