Chris Penk refuses to confirm, deny whether he launched leadership challenge against Christopher Luxon
National MP Chris Penk is refusing to confirm or deny whether Prime Minister Christopher Luxon was right when he alleged Penk launched a leadership challenge against him.
Arriving at Parliament for the first time since he was accused of launching a leadership challenge against Luxon, Penk said he was “looking forward, not backwards” and wouldn’t comment on the events of two weeks ago which led to his sacking as a minister.
When the Herald put to Penk that the National leader had accused him of launching a leadership challenge and he was not addressing that, Penk responded: “I don’t need to address anything because I’ve been open about the fact that I’m looking forward, not backwards.”
He repeatedly wouldn’t answer questions about whether it was true he had launched a challenge, if he was working alone on a challenge or with others, or about what had led to his sacking.
“If the Prime Minister makes appointments and the reverse in terms of ministerial roles, he’s perfectly entitled to do that. He’s explained that he’s done that and his reasons for it. ”
Asked again by the Herald why he not willing to confirm or deny whether the Prime Minister was correct to say one of his National ministers had tried to challenge him, Penk said: “I’m perfectly happy where I am now.”
“I’m going to be a good local Member of Parliament.”
Speaking moments later, Luxon said he was aware Penk was back at Parliament but didn’t believe New Zealanders would be interested in the matter. He believed Kiwis would be more interested in what taxes the Opposition parties were proposing.
Luxon said it was “sad” Penk was out of Cabinet, but “we’re moving on”. He wouldn’t say when he last spoke with Penk.
Penk told reporters that MPs from across the political aisle had “been generous enough to reach out” and believed he maintained good relationships within the National Party caucus.
He said he wouldn’t be attending the weekly National caucus meeting on Tuesday morning, instead “prioritising meeting with my staff, who have had a change in their circumstances”.
Asked if he believed senior National ministers were fully behind the Prime Minister, Penk said he was “sure that they are” but it wasn’t for him to speak on their behalf.
He hadn’t reconsidered standing down as an MP and believed National would “shortly select a very good candidate” and he would give them his support.
Discontent amongst National MPs with the party’s leadership was reported by the Herald two weeks ago, with Luxon subsequently calling an urgent caucus meeting to address the matter.
During that meeting, Luxon won a vote of confidence. Afterwards, he released a statement accusing Penk of launching a leadership challenge and sacking Penk from his ministerial roles. Penk announced he would not seek re-election in his seat of Kaipara Ki Mahurangi.
While some National MPs have claimed Penk was acting alone, there has been speculation he was working alongside another potential leadership contender. One outsider linked to National told the Herald that Penk was engaging MPs to see whether Erica Stanford had the numbers to roll Luxon.
Both Stanford and Chris Bishop, another National MP suspected of wanting the leadership, have denied asking Penk to work on their behalf.
“I didn’t ask anybody to act on my behalf,” Stanford said. “I didn’t ask anybody to challenge for the leadership. I didn’t challenge for the leadership because I’ve always supported the Prime Minister 100%.”
Bishop told the Herald: “People don’t launch leadership challenges on behalf of anybody else. They launch challenges on behalf of themselves.”
“He was acting on his own account ... I’m very confident he was acting on his account.”
Jamie Ensor is the NZ Herald’s chief political reporter, based in the press gallery at Parliament. He was previously a TV reporter and digital producer in the Newshub press gallery office. He was a finalist in 2025 for Political Journalist of the Year at the Voyager Media Awards.