National MP calls on Mike Hosking to ‘front up’ and apologise after leaker claim

Wednesday, 3 June 2026

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

Joseph Mooney wants Mike Hosking to apologise for not putting claims about him leaking to the media to him, before they were broadcast.

Hosking alleged Mooney was one of five National Party leakers in April who were concerned about the leadership of Christopher Luxon. All five MPs rejected the claim.

Newstalk ZB upheld a complaint internally over the incident.

National MP Joseph Mooney wants an on-air apology from Newstalk ZB host Mike Hosking after the radio broadcaster accused him of leaking to the media against Prime Minister Christopher Luxon.

Mooney, along with four other National MPs, Tim van de Molen, Sam Uffindell, Barbara Kuriger and Andrew Bayly, were alleged on air by Hosking as being “the leakers in the National Party” amid questions around Luxon’s leadership in April.

The Southland MP has always denied he was one of the leakers and, at the time, told Stuff that Hosking’s comments were “a complete load of nonsense”.

The four other MPs also denied leaking to the media, and backed Luxon when questioned about the allegations.

Mooney lodged a formal complaint with Newstalk ZB, which the media outlet upheld after an internal investigation.

Newstalk ZB host Mike Hosking alleged Mooney was one of five National Party leakers who were concerned about the party’s leadership.

As reported by The Post, Newstalk ZB responded to Mooney “acknowledging” that the allegations should have been put to him for comment before being broadcast. They said they had “spoken to the team and reminded them of their editorial obligations” as a result.

The MP, though, wanted an apology from Hosking himself, and told the Platform on Wednesday the broadcaster should “front up”.

Speaking to Sean Plunket, Mooney called Hosking’s accusations a “douchebag move” and “childish”.

“What I am very clear about is what did and didn't happen, and Mr Mike Hosking is at best being very childish in not apologising when his own organisation said he made a mistake,” Mooney said.

Christopher Luxon eventually survived a confidence vote.

Hosking took issue with subsequent coverage of the incident by The Post, and on air on Friday rejected their characterisation of the complaint response.

“They said we apologised. We did not apologise, Stuff [owners of The Post] literally made that up. It's sloppy, unnecessary and lazy,” he said.

Uffindell told Stuff at the time he had never leaked against the party, and said the allegations were “completely false”.

Bayly said the allegations damaged his “personal reputation' and called his “integrity” as an elected member of parliament into question.

Luxon eventually won a confidence vote among his caucus, which was conducted as a secret ballot.

Speaking to the media after the vote, Luxon said the National caucus had a “good, honest discussion”, and that he continued to have their support as the party's leader.

Stuff has approached NZME for comment.