‘Completely false’: Three National MPs deny allegations of leaking against Luxon

Wednesday, 22 April 2026

Three National MPs accused on radio of leaking against Christopher Luxon have denied doing so and say they support their leader.

One of those MPs, Joseph Mooney, says he will complain to the Media Council after Newstalk ZB host Mike Hosking accused him of being one of the “famous five” who leaked against Luxon.

Speaking to Stuff at Parliament on Wednesday, Mooney said it was “a bit of a surprise to see that being bandied about” and called the comments “a complete load of nonsense”.

He refused to say whether he voted in favour of Luxon at Tuesday’s caucus meeting.

“We have a secret ballot, and I respect the processes of the Parliament. Which is why I don’t leak to media,” he said. “A secret ballot is a secret ballot.”

Mooney said he has no idea where Hosking got his name from.

“What I will say is, I’ve said my piece, we had a really good discussion yesterday in caucus - as the Prime Minister said - and I’m 100% behind the Prime Minister, as is all of our caucus, and we’re really focused on servicing New Zealanders.”

A second MP, Sam Uffindell, also told Stuff on Wednesday: “I’ve never leaked against our party. Those allegations of his are completely false.”

He said he was focused on keeping National in Government and keeping Luxon the prime minister.

Later on Wednesday, the third MP, Andrew Bayly, joined Mooney and Uffindell in denying any role in leaking against the party leader.

“These allegations are factually incorrect and unfounded, call my integrity as an elected Member of Parliament into disrepute, and materially damage my personal reputation,” Bayly wrote in a Facebook post.

Bayly said he had asked NZME for a retraction and a formal apology regarding the remarks.

“I was not contacted prior to yesterday’s Mike Hosking Breakfast Show and was given no opportunity to respond, deny, or provide context before my name was put to air,” he wrote.

“This is a clear breach of the New Zealand Media Council’s Statement of Principles, in particular accuracy, fairness and balance, that material facts on which opinion is based must be accurate, and that factual claims be distinguished from conjecture.”

Hosking accused the three MPs, and two others, of being the leakers after Luxon told him there were five “moaning and disgruntled” people in his caucus.

National Party deputy leader Nicola Willis told Hosking that every MP who he alleged was a leaker has denied they did so.

“I don’t want to cast aspersions on any member of my caucus without evidence,” she said.

She said the MPs denied Hosking’s claims, but he stood by the accusations.

“I don’t know who it was, Mike. And so you may know, but I don’t, and I’m not in the business of passing on rumours and gossip,” she replied.