Will’s Word: National's leadership circus is out of control

Well, it's a big day for Christopher Luxon.

The Prime Minister is once again facing a threat to his leadership and, frankly, best of luck to him as he walks into that caucus room this morning, determined to stare down the people who want his job.

This whole thing has become a sideshow.

A soap opera playing out in Wellington, while New Zealanders are dealing with problems that actually matter.

And that's what makes this particularly rich.

When Te Pāti Māori's internal drama spilled out into the public domain, Christopher Luxon was very quick to tell us that Te Pāti Māori wasn't a serious political party.

Well, Christopher Luxon, look in the mirror.

Watch Will's Word below.

This is now the second time his leadership has been put through the wringer.

Leaving the country to watch on, wondering whether we're about to get Christopher Luxon, Nicola Willis, Chris Bishop or Erica Stanford as the next person leading the National Party.

Do you know what? I don't give a damn.

I’m less concerned about who gets the job today, and rather more concerned about who can actually do the job.

Who can get this country moving again?

Who can deal with an economy where inflation remains stubbornly high?

Who can address unemployment sitting at its highest level in more than a decade?

We deserve better than this political sideshow.

The last time Christopher Luxon appeared on this show was in December last year.

Now, I don't know whether that's because there's been a change in the Government's communication strategy.

And to be clear, I've said this before and I'll say it again: access to the Prime Minister is a privilege, not a right.

But if you are the Prime Minister of New Zealand, if you are asking for votes, then you should be prepared to show up, answer questions and talk to communities beyond the Wellington and mainstream bubble.

So here's my challenge to whoever walks out of that caucus meeting today as National Party leader.

Whether it's Christopher Luxon. Whether it's Nicola Willis. Whether it's Chris Bishop. Or whether Erica Stanford pulls off the upset.

Show up. Not when you need our votes. Not when an election is six weeks away and suddenly every Pacific community in the country is worthy of your attention.

Show up. Listen. Talk to us. Hear what Pacific families are actually worried about.

Because if you genuinely value New Zealand's Pacific community, if you genuinely want to understand our concerns, then make a real effort to engage with us.

And news flash for National: Every other major political party is doing a better job of that than you are.

So whoever emerges victorious today, get back to governing.

Because New Zealand doesn't need another day of politicians talking about themselves. It needs politicians engaging and listening to us.

If you want the Pacific vote, if you want Pacific trust, if you want Pacific communities to believe that your government actually sees us as part of the future of this country, then show up.