New Zealand First deputy leader Shane Jones has weighed into the growing speculation surrounding National’s leadership, describing the situation as increasingly untidy as coalition politics heats up ahead of Election 2026. Jones has already demonstrated New Zealand First is prepared to publicly disagree with National and Luxon. And National is facing questions about whether Luxon remains the leader best positioned to take the party through the campaign. With less than three months until Election Day, the political relationships determining the next government are beginning to harden. Because while National and New Zealand First remain coalition partners today, Election 2026 is approaching fast.