By Lucy Craymer and Alasdair Pal
WELLINGTON, Aug 12 (Reuters) - New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is set to face National Party lawmakers in Wellington on Wednesday after he called a meeting he said was to address increased speculation about his leadership months away from a general election.
Luxon, who survived a leadership confidence vote in April, has seen support for National remain weak in opinion polls due to sluggish economic growth, and his personal popularity has declined after a series of missteps.
“It is clear from various media reports and conversations there is increased speculation about my leadership,” Luxon said in a post on X on Tuesday, adding he had called an urgent, in-person meeting in Wellington at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday (2130 GMT on Tuesday).
National’s support has weakened as the economy struggles, with unemployment at an 11-year high and inflation above the central bank target of 1% to 3%. Most polls show National narrowly trailing Labour, though the November 7 election remains close.
A 1News Verian poll published on Wednesday showed Luxon’s preferred prime minister rating fell 1 percentage point to 17%, although he remained ahead of Labour Party leader Chris Hipkins, whose rating also fell 1 point to 15%.
Luxon’s leadership returned to the spotlight after a series of public missteps, including comments about a possible referendum on the country’s electoral system, made without consulting party colleagues.
Luxon, a former CEO of Air New Zealand, also told a business audience to “be adult” rather than look to the government for help.
If National were to replace Luxon as leader, he would also cease to be prime minister.
A governing party has not forced out a sitting New Zealand prime minister between elections since 1997.
New Zealand media have named Attorney-General, Infrastructure and Transport Minister Chris Bishop and Education and Immigration Minister Erica Stanford as possible successors to Luxon.
(Reporting by Lucy Craymer in Wellington and Alasdair Pal in Sydney; Editing by Jamie Freed)
