Sacked National Party minister Chris Penk has declined to confirm or deny the Prime Minister’s assertion he was behind a failed leadership challenge, telling reporters he is “not rehashing” the past fortnight.<\/p>\n
Penk was stripped of his portfolios two weeks ago<\/a> after Christopher Luxon survived a second vote of confidence. Luxon said the challenge had made Penk’s position untenable and removed his Defence, Veterans, Space, GCSB, NZSIS and Building and Construction portfolios as a result.<\/p>\n Penk announced he would quit politics later that evening.<\/p>\n Asked on Tuesday whether he had been working alone, Penk refused to answer.<\/p>\n “I’m not going to get into that. I’m happy to look forward.”<\/p>\n Asked if the public had been told the full truth about what happened in the three-hour long caucus meeting, he said he had not seen all the reports.<\/p>\n “I literally don’t know all the things that have been said. I’ve been studiously avoiding the media, with all due respect to those [here].”<\/p>\n Christopher Luxon says dissident minister Chris Penk had to go but refuses to give caucus vote count. (Source: 1News)<\/p>\n Penk arrived in Wellington on Tuesday morning to meet his former ministerial staff, saying he was welcome at National’s caucus meeting but did not attend.<\/p>\n “I’m prioritising meetings with my staff, who have had a change in their circumstances, and I think that’s the first step,” he said.<\/p>\n