Politics 20 April

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19. April 2026 08:55

RNZ Live

What you need to know:

Christopher Luxon is facing his colleagues today after another worrying poll for National.
Luxon told Morning Report he will not stand down as he has the backing of his caucus
The latest 1News-Verian poll shows National sitting on just 30% and the coalition unable to govern
It is National's worst result since Luxon become leader in November 2021
Labour was up 5 points on 37%
NZ First is steady on 10%, while ACT has dropped two points to 7%

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20. April 2026 06:59

RNZ Live

Thanks for tuning in to our politics live blog today.

As Post-Cabinet is now over we will be pausing our live coverage until Tuesday morning.

For the latest updates please keep an eye on the RNZ website.

20. April 2026 06:55

RNZ Live

The Post-Cabinet press conference has now ended.

20. April 2026 06:52

RNZ Live

Luxon confident he has 'full support' of caucus

On National's polling, Luxon said he would not be "the person that everyone wants to get a beer with" but he was leading a government that was "a great custodian" of the economy.

Asked about his comments on Monday morning that five MPs were behind leaks to media last week, Luxon said he was just reacting to reports from the media.

"My comment was just in reaction to your media reporting quoting a number of sources you said you had."

Luxon said there was "nothing in the number" and he was confident he had the "full support" of the caucus.

There would be some "pretty good conversations" when the caucus met on Tuesday, "given the media interest."

20. April 2026 06:49

RNZ Live

Shane Jones comments on the Free Trade Agreement with India

Luxon was asked about comments New Zealand First deputy leader Shane Jones made about the free trade agreement with India.

New Zealand First does not support the FTA, with Jones saying the party would "never accept it" and that "unfettered immigration" would drive down the value of wages, clog up roads, and overwhelm the health system.

"I don't care how much criticism we get. I am just never going to agree with a butter chicken tsunami coming to New Zealand."

Luxon was asked whether he thought Jones' comments were racist.

"It doesn't sound right. I'm just saying it's alarmist and unhelpful language," he said.

"You can call it racist, colourful language from Shane Jones, we're used to Shane Jones doing lots of oratorial flourishes as he is prone to do, but the bottom line is he's wrong."

Luxon said he appreciated New Zealand First had its own position on the FTA, but said their position was "frankly wrong".

"It creates huge opportunity for people that I would have thought New Zealand First would have cared about. Foresters, aquaculture, our farmers, our horticulturalists. This is a great deal."

20. April 2026 06:38

RNZ Live

Stanford has not discussed leadership

Erica Stanford said she had not had any conversations with her caucus colleagues about whether or not Christopher Luxon should stay on as prime minister, and none had spoken to her about leadership.

"I think he's doing an exceptional..." she began to say, before Luxon cut her off to ask if anyone had any other questions.

20. April 2026 06:35

RNZ Live

Luxon on the weather in Wellington:

Luxon has told Wellingtonians to "be ready, be prepared" while the region braces for more rain.

He said the government had got "much, much better" at responding to weather events, with a good connection between NEMA and local civil defence organisations, as well as between ministers and mayors.

20. April 2026 06:27

RNZ Live

Luxon and Education Minister Erica Stanford are now taking questions on the education announcement.

Stanford said there had not yet been any changes to attendance patterns, but the government was monitoring it daily.

She expected diesel boilers would be replaced in 20 schools by the end of the year. Bigger schools had "slightly trickier" infrastructure situations which would take until next year, while the largest schools would take until 2028.

20. April 2026 06:26

RNZ Live

Fuel stocks update

Christopher Luxon acknowledged the Strait of Hormuz was "once again" closed.

The latest fuel stocks update showed as at 11.59pm on Wednesday, there were 54.0 days' cover of petrol, 44.8 of diesel, and 51.4 of jet fuel either in-country or on its way.

"All fluctuations are normal and within expectations," Luxon said, adding New Zealand would be staying in phase one of the fuel response plan.

Luxon said overnight on Friday he attended an online meeting convened by British prime minister Sir Keir Starmer and Frence president Emmanuel Macron, in which he conveyed New Zealand's position.

"As a trading nation, the right of freedom of navigation is critical for New Zealand, and we support all diplomatic efforts to restore that right in the Strait of Hormuz."

New Zealand's involvement in a UK-French led mission to secure the Strait would be something for Cabinet to decide on before announcing further.

20. April 2026 06:07

RNZ Live

Relief teachers to get increase in transport allowances

Relief teachers will get an increase to their transport allowances, as part of the government's response to the fuel crisis.

It follows a similar move to increase mileage rates for home and community support workers, announced earlier this month.

Transport allowance mileage rates for relief teachers will be increased for 12 months, or until fuel prices ease below $3 a litre for 4 consecutive weeks.

The reimbursement rate for cars will increase from 37 cents per kilometre to 83 cents, and motorbike rates increase from 15 cents to 31 cents.

Rural schools with under 100 students will get a one-time cash grant of $2500 to help them pay for the expected increase to the reimbursement rates.

The conveyance allowance will be increased by 30 percent to help with the costs of getting children from eligible families to the nearest bus route.

"These measures are carefully targeted to where fuel costs are having the greatest impact," education minister Erica Stanford said.

The government will also accelerate work to replace diesel boilers in schools.

It will put $37 million towards replacing boilers in 65 state schools and five state-integrated schools.

Stanford said it was expected to save around 600,000 litres of diesel a year.

20. April 2026 06:05

RNZ Live

Christopher Luxon is now speaking at the weekly Post-Cabinet press conference.