While National’s polling has been reasonably steady for the past two years its leader, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, has not fared so well. Mr Luxon’s personal popularity remains stubbornly low, something which Mr Bishop however — often touted as a future party leader — dismisses as being of any concern. "What he would say is that he was elected to do a job and that he is there doing it", Mr Bishop said. Mr Bishop sympathises with that but argues that the government he has been an integral part of needed to address the long-term as well as immediate concerns. "People are pressuring us for change and what I would say to them is that we are on the right track, we are on a journey, and we need to stick with the plan."

Source: Otago Daily Times January 04, 2026 15:36 UTC