New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has declared he'll lead the National Party into the next election despite polling showing his government's support cratering barely 18 months after taking office.

"I'll be the leader going into the election," Luxon told reporters, according to Radio New Zealand, as he brushed aside questions about his leadership following the latest survey results.

The defiant stance comes as National's coalition government faces mounting criticism over economic management, public service cuts, and a perceived drift on policy. While Luxon didn't specify which poll prompted the questions, recent surveys have shown Labour pulling ahead after months of trailing.

Mate, leading a country through economic headwinds takes more than business consultancy platitudes. And right now, Kiwi voters are working that out.

The first-term prime minister came to politics from a corporate background, promising to run the country with private sector efficiency. Instead, his government has struggled to articulate a coherent vision beyond cutting costs and reducing what it calls bureaucratic bloat.

Public service job losses have hit Wellington particularly hard, with thousands of positions eliminated across government departments. The cuts have saved money in the short term but raised questions about the state's capacity to deliver services, particularly in health and education.

Luxon's coalition partners - ACT and New Zealand First - have complicated governance, with each party pulling in different directions on key policies. The result has been compromises that satisfy no one and blur National's message.

Opposition Leader Chris Hipkins has seized on the government's stumbles, positioning Labour as a steady alternative after the party's own electoral drubbing in 2023. The political cycle in New Zealand tends to be volatile, with governments regularly flipping between National and Labour.