Senior National MPs are considering going to the Prime Minister to tell him to resign, 1News understands.
The frustration comes over what the MPs believe is a set of "own goals" by Christopher Luxon in recent weeks and what they describe as his poor political radar.
This evening, some Cabinet ministers, including Education Minister Erica Stanford and Auckland-based MP Simon Watts, have refrained from showing support for the Prime Minister when asked by media, choosing to stay silent.
Others, such as National's Southland MP Joseph Mooney and Coromandel MP Scott Simpson, have backed Luxon.
Live updates: Willis backs Luxon, says 'we'll all have more to say tomorrow'
Deputy National leader and Finance Minister Nicola Willis also said she had confidence in Luxon, telling reporters: “Yes, and we’ll all have more to say tomorrow.”
Mark Mitchell has been more emphatic in his support, saying he has “100% confidence” in Luxon and would “of course” vote to support him in a caucus vote tomorrow.
If Luxon were to lose the support of his colleagues in a caucus vote tomorrow morning, The Post has reported a mooted leadership line-up would include Stanford as prime minister and party leader, and Mark Mitchell as deputy leader.
The outlet also reported Chris Bishop would take over the finance portfolio currently held by Nicola Willis.
None of the three have formally declared a challenge, and a leadership change all still reportedly hinges on whether Luxon survives the 9.30am meeting first.
Luxon is facing renewed speculation over his leadership following several new gaffes and miscommunications in the past week.
These include his apparently off-the-cuff commitment to a referendum on the MMP voting system, made in a radio interview without the knowledge of his Cabinet colleagues. He also annoyed small business owners with comments interpreted by some as being patronising.
His poll numbers have been historically low for a first term prime minister throughout his tenure.
Luxon called - and survived - a no confidence motion in his own leadership in April during the previous round of speculation about his leadership.
He said at the time: "Caucus has answered clearly and decisively. It has backed my leadership."
Media reports on the Prime Minister's future swirled over the past 24 hours. (Source: 1News)
In the latest 1News Verian poll, conducted in June, Luxon’s preferred prime minister rating was just 18%, slightly ahead of Labour’s Chris Hipkins who was on 16%. Prime ministers in their first term in office have usually had much higher approval ratings.
Cracks in the three-way coalition of National, ACT and New Zealand First have been increasingly apparent in recent weeks. Luxon said comments by his Foreign Minister, NZ First leader Winston Peters, to an MP born in China were racist.
One anonymous National MP reportedly told media in the past 24 hours that a change of leader was a matter of when, not if.
But, reacting to questions on the issue this morning, senior National minister Chris Bishop told reporters that colleagues talking to journalists anonymously was "unhelpful and not what caucus members should be doing".
He added: "I would say to them, don't do it."
He declined to comment directly on questions about unhappiness with Luxon’s leadership within the party.
Bishop did confirm rumours that National would hold a caucus meeting tonight by Zoom, but insisted it was routine rather than a crisis gathering.
"It's not an emergency caucus meeting. It is a regular caucus meeting in a recess week."
SHARE ME