Poll shows falling support for NZ PM Luxon and party

A file photo of Chris Luxon
New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Luxon's leadership is under a cloud ahead of the November election. -AAP Image

A newly released poll shows support has fallen ‌further for New Zealand's ruling National Party and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, as doubts grow over whether he can retain his party's backing to stay in the top job. 

Luxon has ‌been facing ‌questions ⁠in recent days about whether he has the support ​of his party to remain as prime minister. 

The New Zealand Herald reported on Friday that members of his National Party will move against him this week, although it is unlikely to be ⁠a formal challenge or confidence ‌vote initially.

Luxon ​told Radio New Zealand on Monday he had the ​full support of ‌National's members of parliament and would remain as prime minister.

In a ​1News Verian poll released late on Sunday, support for the National Party fell four percentage points to 30 per cent ​and ​indicated that if the election ​were held today, the current coalition government ‌would not win sufficient seats to retain power.

Support for Luxon as preferred prime minister also fell four points, to 16 per cent. Support for Chris Hipkins, leader of the Labour Party and a former ​prime minister, was down one point to 19 per cent.

The next ​general election is ⁠scheduled for November 7.