Written By:
- Date published:
10:38 am, April 21st, 2026 - 21 comments
Categories: Christopher Luxon, Media, national -
Tags: andrew bayly, Barbara Kuriger, coup, Joseph Mooney, leadership, mike hosking, sam Uffindell, Tim van de Molen
Mike Hosking leaked the names of what he claims are the five National MPs who have been leaking bad press about Luxon to NZME.
According to Hosking they are:
The case keeps getting curiouser though.
Yesterday afternoon, Luxon denied that there were “5 MPs” after having told Hosking in the morning that there were five who were mouthing off about him to Thomas Coughlan.
This morning, Hosking read those names out loud.
Hosking is a Luxon ally and this morning Chris Penk told The Post Deputy Political Editor Henry Cooke that there would be “discipline” for the relevant MPs.
Questions abound:
Who leaked the MP names?
Did Thomas Coughlan not protect his sources or did it come from elsewhere?
Why did James Meager escape punishment? He reportedly helped tally the numbers for Chris Bishop’s failed leadership coup.
One thing is for certain – rather than engage in self-reflection and improvement, Luxon and his band of loyal Ministers is forging a war path to punish those who dared to express disapproval.
It comes as Kiwis face unprecedented economic and security risks within the current oil and broader security and economic crisis.
Today’s CPI results show that even before the Iran war and fuel crisis, inflation is now above the RBNZ target band.
In 2024, I wrote “New Zealanders deserve more than marketing”.
Unfortunately, we got even worse.
Post Script:
Luxon forced a vote after facing Caucus for the first time in weeks. And after publicly stating that unruly MPs will face discipline, the PM says he won the vote and has refused further questions from media
Don't think the 'Naki will be very happy about that association with Sam U!
(Mods: by all means take this down once the necessary correction's been made.)
There was a great sound clip yesty evening summing up the latest Luxon 'competence display'.
I forget where I heard it, RNZ I think, but it was a clip of Luxon criticizing Labour when in power, and they had a touch of disunity. Stark contrast with his actions currently.
Actually, I think it is a good thing they are outed. If these are the ones doing the leaking, they are clearly people without a spine, not willing to stand up and be identified as holding their views. Complete cowardice and disloyalty, even though I think National made a mistake with Luxon.
Anyway, who knows. The talking heads on "The Huddle" the other night were talking about how Helen Clark had dropped to about 2% in popularity and stared down a leadership challenge. She ended up being one of NZ's most popular prime ministers.
So, perhaps dealing with this issue might be the making of him.
These 5 MPs in safe National seats are merely embroiled in the latest leadership coup against the 17% PM
James Meager was unpunished after helping Chris Bishop try to topple Luxon
Perhaps & might, although if our benighted CEO 'deals' with 'this issue', it'll be a first.
"Executive compensation" – arise, Sir Chris.
"So, perhaps dealing with this issue might be the making of him."
Yes, he dealt with it at his post-caucus stand-up sooooo magnificently:
"I will not be taking questions."
Just oozes Prime Ministeriality!
Those 5 alleged leakers all are in relatively safe seats!?
Blows up the argument that they are just fearful MPs about to lose their seats, doesn't it?
The first victim of the civil war in National is truth. Why do National’s shills and spin doctors only call out the names of presumably safe plotters? Is that the tip of the iceberg or the tip of the ice cream?
But also MPs whose careers aren't really going anywhere. Only time we see them is nodding off Luxon's shoulder because no one else will stand there with body language saying that's the last place they want to be, and they don't really agree with what the boss is saying.
Those nice high four figure majorities must be coveted by some list MPs or those in marginal electorates. Strange thing that National keeps selecting candidates of this calibre when there must be much better out there, certainly has been in Southland where we've been inflicted with a succession of plonkers.
careers not going anywhere probably because they lack any talent. Mind, a significant chunk of Luxons caucus lacks any great talent
It happens in all parties.
In Rongotai we twice had Paul Eagle and then had Fleur Fitzsimmons as the Labour candidate in the 3 elections from 1017 to 2023. The last one managed to lose the safe seat which had always been a Labour stronghold.
Jeez, Wayne.
Jeez, alwyn, you've done it again – are those massive fingers a bit 'shakey' today
And how's Julie Anne Genter working out for you?
https://www.greens.org.nz/soaring_power_prices_show_urgent_need_for_electrification
I can only plead that I have two things for the Court to consider.
I am not POTUS. I do not have tiny hands, and tiny fingers.
With Paul Eagle there it felt more like a thousand years than a mere six.
The alwyn doth protest too much, methinks – when's the hearing
https://www.greens.org.nz/greens_call_on_government_to_make_civil_defence_payment_available
Jeez, Alwyn, stick to the OP or I’ll stick you in OM.
What's the story with the Chief Whip, Stuart Smith?
There, but not there, intending to attend and then not attending, spoken for by a release the leader's office and then unobtainable, not at Parliament this afternoon, and then spoken of on RNZ by a former National press secretary as "a shiver without a spine".
He knows about unseating incumbents, as that was his route to Parliament……..
Well, my assumption [for what it is worth] is: he did try to contact Luxon but Luxon dodged his attempts because he already knew what was going on. So Stuart Smith started whining to anyone who would listen which included a journalist or two.
I doubt he will be Chief Whip for much longer. In fact he might even decide he wants to leave politics so he can spend more time with his family. (sarc.)
Stuart Smith – "a shiver without a spine" – beautiful.
Reported by Coughlan that he was due to attend Caucus meeting and in at 6am at airport.
The reporters were there, but he didn't turn up, later claiming he had a long standing appointment prior and then added the media speculation was false (after not denying for days)
The assumption has been Simeon Brown got to the Chief Whip & Simeon Brown didn't deny it when asked
In election years, when the governing broad church party is being crucified in the polls, it is usually MPs who are lower down the list (and about to become unemployed) who revert to leaks and ancillary scuttlebutt with an aim to bring about leadership change. The 5 MPs in question hardly fit that bill.
The other interesting factoid was Gerry Brownlee being asked to attend the meeting. That's unusual and suggests the yay/nay vote may have been closer than most people think.