Climate Change Minister Simon Watts will take over Penk\u2019s Building and Construction portfolio.<\/p>\n
After being dumped from Cabinet, Penk, the MP for Auckland\u2019s Kaipara ki Mahurangi electorate, announced that he will not seek re-election in November.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt 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,\u201d Penk said in a statement last night.<\/p>\n
\u201cHowever, I have decided it is the time for me to seek other opportunities to serve New Zealand.\u201d<\/p>\n
The challenge<\/a> comes after Penk publicly declared his support for Luxon while batting off rumours he was shoring up a leadership challenge behind the scenes, potentially acting as a stalking horse for the campaigns of Erica Stanford or Chris Bishop, both of whom were touted as likely challengers. Speaking on his way to a pre-arranged speech on Wednesday night, Bishop said it was \u201cutterly incorrect\u201d that Penk was working on his behalf. <\/p>\n A National Party-linked source told the Herald Penk had been involved in a possible leadership challenge on behalf of senior MP Erica Stanford by doing her numbers ahead of the caucus meeting. Penk denied this when asked by reporters on Wednesday morning. <\/p>\n \u201cI think everyone else needs to get their story straight, because I\u2019m hearing multiple different versions,\u201d Penk said.<\/p>\n \u201cNone of them are true, and as I said, I\u2019m not going to be able to disclose private conversations, except only to say I have confidence in Christopher Luxon.\u201d <\/p>\n After the vote, Penk refused to say whether he had voted for Luxon to remain as National Party leader. He denied plotting against Luxon \u2013 and said he was pleased the confidence vote had delivered \u201cclarity and certainty\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cWe don\u2019t talk about what happens in caucus, but I\u2019m really pleased with the result.\u201d<\/p>\n The saga follows a frantic 24 hours for National MPs<\/a> who scrambled from their electorates across the country to get to Wellington for the urgent, last-minute caucus meeting with their leader. <\/p>\n Luxon publicly announced the emergency caucus meeting on X (formerly Twitter) just hours before it was due to take place after the Herald story<\/a> reported on discontent within the party and a potential Bishop or Stanford challenge for the leadership. <\/p>\n As the MPs flooded into Wellington in the hours before the caucus meeting, speculation over Luxon\u2019s future grew while the MPs\u2019 jobs \u2013 and the jobs of their staff \u2013 hung in the balance. The ordeal came after a series of gaffes by Luxon: the leader caught his MPs off-guard when he revealed plans for an MMP referendum<\/a> if National won the election and he insulted the small business community in Rotorua<\/a> with comments he later apologised for. <\/p>\n In a pledge of support for Luxon, Minister for Women Nicola Grigg said while walking through Wellington Airport that Stanford \u2013 her \u201cvery good friend\u201d \u2013 was \u201cnot a Prime Minister\u201d. <\/p>\n Mark Mitchell, the Police Minister and one of Luxon\u2019s most senior MPs, dampened at least his involvement in the brewing speculation on Wednesday morning when he told Newstalk ZB he had sat with the Prime Minister until late the previous night to ensure he was in the \u201cstrongest possible position today and supported for the caucus meeting\u201d. <\/p>\n Speaking to reporters at Parliament, he acknowledged the last-minute caucus meeting was not a good look for National, saying \u201cit\u2019s not flash \u2013 we\u2019ve got to get this done today and then move on\u201d. <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m supporting our leader. My hope is that he has got support inside the caucus today and that he emerges as our leader.\u201d <\/p>\n Some MPs were confused (Mt Roskill MP Carlos Cheung asked the media what was happening) and others frustrated, saying they would rather spend their recess from Parliament in their electorates. <\/p>\n The spectrum of support shown by Luxon\u2019s MPs ranged from silence \u2013 or refusing to answer questions on whether Luxon had their confidence \u2013 to declarations they backed Luxon \u201c100%\u201d. <\/p>\n \u201cWe are 100% behind our Prime Minister, and that\u2019s the wonderful thing, because when I go door-knocking in Takanini, they\u2019re not worried about this stuff,\u201d Takanini MP Rima Nakhle said. <\/p>\n Tim Costley, the MP for \u014ctaki, said he \u201calways backs our Prime Minister\u201d but when asked specifically about Christopher Luxon, Costley told reporters he would speak with them after caucus. <\/p>\n Consumer Affairs Minister and Upper Harbour MP Cameron Brewer refused to answer questions about his confidence in Christopher Luxon \u2013 but insisted National would emerge from the saga \u201cunited\u201d to go on to \u201cwin the election\u201d. <\/p>\n As the emergency caucus meeting continued in Wellington, former National leader Sir John Key spoke at Financial Services Council New Zealand conference in Auckland, where he reiterated his support for Luxon, whom he described as a \u201cvery capable person with the best intentions\u201d. <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve supported Christopher, and I continue to do that because I believe in him. But I believe in that team, a team full of incredibly good people, and they are starting to shine.\u201d <\/p>\n MPs were leaving Wellington on Wednesday evening. Parliament is currently in recess, meaning most will not be back this week.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Climate Change Minister Simon Watts will take over Penk\u2019s Building and Construction portfolio. 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