Embattled New Zealand prime minister survives leadership vote and blames media for ‘soap opera’

After the meeting, New Zealand PM Christopher Luxon delivered a two-minute statement to declare the vote proved support for this leadership was strong, but he took no questions. Photograph: Tracey Nearmy/Reuters

The New Zealand prime minister, Christopher Luxon, has survived a tense leadership vote six months out from the election as he battles an ongoing slump in opinion polls.

Luxon, who has served as prime minister since November 2023, said he had called for the vote at a caucus meeting on Tuesday morning.