Luxon says recent drop in poll numbers 'won't be happening on election day'

Monday, 9 March 2026

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said the numbers seen in the latest poll which showed National tanking 'won't be happening on election day'.

Luxon reaffirmed to TVNZ's Breakfast he is not considering resigning following the Taxpayers Union Curia poll results.

The results, released on Friday, showed just 28.4% support for National, its worst result since the turmoil of 2020 and 2021. Dropping below 30% has previously been seen as a sign of failure from National MPs.

'The New Zealand public doesn't want me focused on polls, they want me focusing on them,' Luxon said.

PM Christopher Luxon during Question Time in Parliament.

He said he didn't need polls to tell him how New Zealanders were feeling.

'I talk to them everyday and it's really, you know, obvious. They need us to fix the economy so they can lower the cost of living. It's as simple as that and that's what this election is going to be about.'

Asked if it would get a to a point where he may consider stepping down, he said no.

'It's really there's one poll and it's November 7.'

The Prime Minister told Breakfast he wasn't worried about 'getting rolled' and said he had total confidence in the upcoming election.

'These are not the numbers we would want to see on election day and they won't be happening on election day, I can tell you that.'

‘All hell had broken loose’

Luxon told Newstalk ZB on Monday morning that he had no idea where the idea that he was reconsidering his position came from.

'I got back from events on Friday and realised all hell had broken loose really and taken on a life of its own.'

PM Christopher Luxon told media on Monday morning he had no idea where the idea that he was reconsidering his position came from.

He was then asked if the pressure was mounting, to which the Prime Minister responded with no.

'There's pressure in this job everyday but my job is pretty straightforward - the New Zealand public want me to make sure that we lower the cost of living by growing the economy.'

Luxon told Newstalk ZB 'hand on heart' he would continue to be leader of the National Party and therefore Prime Minister up until election day.

Speaking on RNZ, Luxon said he didn’t ask his ministers directly over the weekend if they want him to stay on as leader because “I have their support”.

Morning Report host Ingrid Hipkiss questioned the Prime Minister on how he knows this without asking.

“They tell me regularly, and it’s just not a question that needs to be asked,” he said.