New Zealand PM Luxon Survives Second Leadership Challenge in Four Months

Luxon said he had the "full support" of his party after an "urgent" meeting on Wednesday called to address "increased speculation about [his] leadership. "I have the full support of our caucus... Our caucus is united, and it is determined to win this election, he told reporters after the meeting, which lasted more than three hours. The vote came amid weak support for Luxon and his party, driven by sluggish economic growth and a series of missteps by the leader.

Last week, Luxon drew backlash after suggesting a possible referendum on the country's electoral system during a live radio interview, without prior consultation with his party colleagues. Earlier this month, the 56-year-old riled New Zealand's business community after a speech calling on small business owners to "be adult, saying businesses had a "parent-child mentality with the central government and relied too often on handouts.