Act leader David Seymour says New Zealand doesn’t need “distractions” and believes people don’t want politicians focused on themselves as National MPs descend on Wellington for an urgent meeting about Christopher Luxon’s leadership.

The Herald yesterday revealed conversations within National were taking place about Luxon’s leadership, with one MP, speaking anonymously, saying: “There’s going to be change”.

That prompted Luxon to post on social media earlier today, saying it was “clear from various media reports and conversations there is increased speculation about my leadership”.

Luxon said it was his “firm belief that division and disunity are a major distraction only 90 days out from the election”.

“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.

“For these reasons, this issue needs to be resolved quickly, and I am calling an urgent in-person Caucus meeting tomorrow at 9.30am in Wellington to resolve the issue.”

Seymour, one of Luxon’s two coalition partners, wouldn’t speculate on the outcome of tomorrow’s meeting but told the Herald, “distractions are not what New Zealand needs”.

“We need to cut the waste in Wellington and grow the country, not point the fingers at each other as politicians.”

Asked if National should keep Luxon as leader and Prime Minister, Seymour replied: “Look, I never get involved in another party’s internal politics”.

He confirmed he had not spoken to Luxon about his leadership or tomorrow’s meeting.

Seymour suggested National’s turmoil could reflect poorly on the party.

“Well, people are pretty hard up at this point in New Zealand’s history, and I think they want politicians to focus on solving their problems instead of each other.”

However, he believed it would not reflect poorly on the three-party coalition.

“I think people can see that there are three different parties in the coalition and my party has been consistent and effective at serving people, but I can’t speak for others.”

Luxon, Seymour and NZ First leader Winston Peters signed coalition agreements after the 2023 election, which provided the foundation of the Government’s agenda. It’s understood coalition negotiations did not feature discussion about the consequence of a party leader change.

Asked how he viewed the coalition agreements if Luxon was no longer National leader, Seymour indicated their policy commitments were the most important facet.

“In my view, our coalition agreements are about delivering policy to make New Zealand a better place.

“I don’t want to comment on what they might or might not do, except that it’s the policies and the culture of the party that ultimately matter.”

Peters has been approached for comment.

National MP Chris Bishop, who there has been speculation about as a potential contender, has denied such ambitions.

However, he didn’t deny there was appetite for leadership change within the party, when asked this morning.

Bishop was speaking to reporters at the opening of Te Mahia Station level crossing in Auckland when he was asked about leadership conversations.

“I am not going to comment today on media stories like that,” he said.

When it was put to him that he wasn’t denying National MPs were telling the media about a potential leadership change, Bishop responded: “Well, I mean, I’m not going to deny the Herald’s reported it“.

“All I would say is people shouldn’t be talking to media like that. We’ve been down this road before. It’s not helpful.”

Bishop said the briefing “indicates a couple of people who are prepared to talk to media are unhappy about it”.

He said anonymous briefings to the media were “unhelpful and not what caucus members should be doing”.

“I am not going to comment on anonymous briefings.”

The minister said he retained confidence in Luxon.

Asked whether there had been calls among MPs about the party’s leadership, Bishop responded: “I don’t talk about calls that I have with my caucus colleagues”.

Bishop said he spoke with MPs on the phone regularly, as is normal when MPs are out of Wellington during a recess week.

“It’s a recess week, people are out and about. I think I’m in about four different cities in the next four days, so of course people are talking on the phones.”

Earlier, Bishop said National’s caucus would be meeting virtually this week, but said this was prescheduled. He didn’t believe Luxon’s leadership was on the agenda.

The virtual meeting had been set for 8.30pm on Tuesday night. It’s unclear if this meeting is proceeding after the Prime Minister’s social media post.

Bishop was unsure why his name continued to come up amid leadership speculation.

“I am just getting on with the job.”

There have been reports that former Prime Minister Sir John Key had been phoning MPs lobbying on Luxon’s behalf. Key told the Herald these reports were “untrue”.

It follows revelations from the Herald last night that discontented National MPs were hitting the phones on Monday about a potential leadership change.

One MP said “there’s going to be change” in the top job, but it was a “question of who is going to be it”.

They cited Bishop and Erica Stanford as potential front-runners.

Both have previously denied ambitions for the leadership, though caucus sources have said they believe both MPs are contenders despite their public statements.

Other National MPs spoken to expressed openness to change, but did not say they were definitively in either camp, while an MP in Luxon’s camp disagreed with change.

Concern over Luxon’s leadership has been rumbling all year, with the leader forcing a confidence vote on himself in April, which he survived.

The Herald has been told by MPs that the margin of that vote was believed to be 27 to 22; however, the figure is kept confidential to party whips.