Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has stripped Chris Penk of all his ministerial portfolios after revealing the National MP was behind the leadership challenge that forced Wednesday’s dramatic confidence vote.
The move came hours after Luxon survived a three-hour emergency National Party caucus meeting in Wellington and declared he had the full support of his MPs. It was the second confidence test of his leadership in four months and comes less than three months before the November 7 general election.
Luxon says Penk launched the leadership challenge that resulted in the caucus vote, making his continued position as a minister untenable.
Penk has now lost a significant collection of portfolios, including Defence, Veterans, Space and responsibility for the Government Communications Security Bureau and New Zealand Security Intelligence Service.
His Building and Construction responsibilities have also been removed.
Attorney-General Paul Goldsmith will take over Defence, Veterans, Space, GCSB and NZSIS, while Simon Watts will pick up Building and Construction.
Penk remains National MP for Kaipara ki Mahurangi but is no longer a Cabinet minister.
The dismissal represents Luxon’s first major move following a leadership crisis that threatened to end his prime ministership just weeks before National enters the formal election campaign.
Luxon emerged from Wednesday’s caucus meeting saying he had full support from National MPs, although details of the secret confidence ballot have not been released publicly.
The Prime Minister was flanked by senior National figures, including deputy leader Nicola Willis and potential leadership contenders Chris Bishop, Erica Stanford and Mark Mitchell, as the party attempted to present a united front following days of speculation.
Penk’s removal, however, confirms the leadership turmoil was more than political speculation.
The challenge followed mounting questions about Luxon’s leadership after a difficult period involving controversial comments directed at businesses, his surprise proposal for a referendum on the MMP electoral system and continuing questions over National’s direction heading into Election 2026.
The political consequences may now extend beyond Penk.
Luxon must convince voters that Wednesday’s vote has ended National’s internal divisions rather than simply pushed them below the surface.
Opposition parties are expected to use the episode to question the stability of the National-led Government, while National will be attempting to turn attention back towards its election campaign.
For Penk, the cost of challenging the leader has been immediate.
For Luxon, surviving the challenge means he remains Prime Minister and National leader — but the battle has exposed divisions inside the governing party at one of the most dangerous possible moments, with election day rapidly approaching.
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