Senior National MP Chris Penk has announced he will leave Parliament at November’s election, after being stripped of his ministerial portfolios and sacked from Cabinet over an unsuccessful leadership challenge against Prime Minister Christopher Luxon on Wednesday.
In a statement emailed to reporters on Wednesday afternoon, four hours after he confirmed he had survived a confidence vote during an urgent National Party caucus meeting, Luxon said Penk, the MP for Kaipara ki Mahurangi, would no longer be minister for defence, space, veterans, buildings and the NZSIS and GCSB.
“Chris Penk launched a leadership challenge this week, which resulted in today’s confidence vote. This makes his role untenable and as such I have removed his portfolios,” Luxon said in the statement.
Simon Watts will take on the role of building minister and Paul Goldsmith will receive the remainder of the portfolios, Luxon said.
Penk had earlier told reporters after the caucus meeting that he had not plotted against Luxon.
“We don’t talk about what happens in caucus, but I’m really pleased with the result that we’ve got clarity and certainty, which is 100 percent confidence in Christopher Luxon as the leader of the National Party and Prime Minister of this country,” he said.
But after being demoted to the backbenches, Penk issued a statement on Wednesday evening – notably, sent by the Prime Minister’s office – saying he had “reflected on my political future with my family tonight, and have decided I will not seek re-election as an MP in November”.
“I am a proud member of the National Party, and I fully back National and Christopher Luxon to lead the Government after the election and take New Zealand forward.
“It has been a privilege to serve my community of Kaipara ki Mahurangi for the last nine years, and I am proud of the progress I have contributed to as a minister this term. However, I have decided it is the time for me to seek other opportunities to serve New Zealand.”
Penk was elected to Parliament in 2017 and given a ministerial role outside Cabinet after the 2023 election. In a reshuffle in April, he was given the defence and intelligence roles and elevated to Cabinet.
His demotion came after an urgent caucus meeting called by the Prime Minister in Wellington on Wednesday morning, following reports that rivals were preparing to challenge his leadership.
“It is my firm belief that division and disunity are a major distraction only 90 days out from the election,” Luxon said on X (formerly Twitter) when confirming the meeting on Tuesday. “I also believe this distraction is unfair to the New Zealand people, and dedicated National Party candidates, supporters and volunteers, when there is so much at stake.”
In the end, Luxon survived, securing the support of his National Party caucus for a second time in the space of less than four months.
Speaking to media after the meeting stretched to three hours, Luxon said there had been a caucus vote on his leadership and he had the “full support” of MPs.
“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.”
The November 7 poll was “an absolutely pivotal election with some very, very serious issues at stake in New Zealand”. The Government had made “tremendous progress” on rebuilding economic growth, financial discipline, and restoring law and order among other issues, but he acknowledged there was more work 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.”
The Prime Minister was flanked by National Party president Sylvia Wood, deputy leader Nicola Willis and a suite of senior MPs, including Erica Stanford and Chris Bishop – two names who were reportedly keen on challenging him for the top job. Penk, however, wasn’t present at the press conference.
Luxon left without answering questions from media. He similarly declined to comment on the caucus meeting when stopped by reporters at Wellington Airport, where he boarded a flight to Auckland.
The statement was sent out from Luxon’s office after the Prime Minister had departed Wellington.
