Editing New Zealand National Party (section)

===Opposition (2017–2023)===
In the [[2017 New Zealand general election|2017 general election]], National's share of the party vote dropped to 44.4%. It lost four seats, dropping to 56, but remained the largest party in Parliament. Two of the National government's three support parties lost representation in parliament.<ref name="2017 general election results" /> [[New Zealand First]], led by [[Winston Peters]], held the balance of power, and formed a coalition with Labour, who also gained [[Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand|Green Party]] support, marking an end to the 9-year National government. English announced his intention to stay on as party leader until the [[2020 New Zealand general election|2020 general election]]<ref name="auto"/> but subsequently resigned.<ref>{{cite news|title=Bill English announces retirement from Parliament|url=http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1802/S00098/bill-english-announces-retirement-from-parliament.htm|access-date=13 February 2018|work=[[Scoop (website)|Scoop News]]|date=13 February 2018}}</ref> On 27 February 2018, English was succeeded by [[Simon Bridges]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2018/02/live-updates-national-leadership-contest.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180227020311/http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2018/02/live-updates-national-leadership-contest.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=27 February 2018 |title=Live updates: National chooses Simon Bridges |last=Bracewell-Worrall |first=Anna |work=[[Newshub]] |date=27 February 2018 |access-date=27 February 2018}}</ref>

Following the [[Christchurch mosque shootings|Christchurch Mosque shootings]], the party removed content from their website which indicated opposition to the UN [[Global Compact for Migration|Migration Compact]]; a position also espoused by the terrorist in his manifesto.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Simon Bridges backtracks on why UN migration pact petition removed from National's website|work=[[Newshub]]|url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2019/03/simon-bridges-backtracks-on-why-un-migration-pact-petition-removed-from-national-s-website.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190929041831/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2019/03/simon-bridges-backtracks-on-why-un-migration-pact-petition-removed-from-national-s-website.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=29 September 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=National's UN migration petition removed by 'emotional' staff member|website=[[Radio New Zealand]] |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/385066/national-s-un-migration-petition-removed-by-emotional-staff-member|date=19 March 2019}}</ref> On 2 July 2020, however, the party's new leader Todd Muller confirmed in response to a question from a journalist that the party was still opposed to the pact, although it was not an issue he was focused on.<ref>{{cite news |title=National Party leader Todd Muller announces Shadow Cabinet reshuffle |url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2020/07/livestream-national-party-leader-todd-muller-announces-shadow-cabinet-reshuffle.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200702030128/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2020/07/livestream-national-party-leader-todd-muller-announces-shadow-cabinet-reshuffle.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2 July 2020 |website=[[Newshub]] |access-date=3 July 2020}}</ref>

On 22 May 2020, following poor [[Opinion polling for the 2020 New Zealand general election|poll results for the party]] during the [[COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand]],<ref>{{Cite news|agency=Australian Associated Press|date=21 May 2020|title=New Zealand opposition to vote on leader as polling shows party at near-record low|language=en-GB|work=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/22/new-zealand-opposition-to-vote-on-leader-as-polling-shows-party-at-near-record-low|access-date=22 May 2020|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> the National Party held an emergency caucus meeting and voted to oust both leader Simon Bridges and deputy leader [[Paula Bennett]], replacing them with [[Todd Muller]] and [[Nikki Kaye]], respectively.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Simon Bridges rolled, Todd Muller new National Party leader|language=en-NZ|work=TVNZ|url=https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/simon-bridges-rolled-todd-muller-new-national-party-leader|access-date=22 May 2020}}</ref> Less than two months later, Muller resigned citing that his position had "become untenable from a health perspective".<ref name="Muller">
{{cite news |title= Todd Muller quits as National Party leader for health reasons |url= https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12347793 |access-date= 14 July 2020 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date= 14 July 2020 |language= en-NZ |quote = Early contenders to replace him are his current deputy Nikki Kaye – who is now the acting leader – and the prospect of Judith Collins also lurks in the background.}}</ref> This came after a series of gaffes and scandals surrounding Muller and the National caucus during his tenure, triggering the [[July 2020 New Zealand National Party leadership election|second leadership election]] in as many months. He was succeeded by [[Judith Collins]].<ref name="Collins">{{cite news |title= Judith Collins announced as new National Party leader |url= https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2020/07/judith-collins-announced-as-new-national-party-leader-source.html |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200715021821/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2020/07/judith-collins-announced-as-new-national-party-leader-source.html |url-status= dead |archive-date= 15 July 2020 |author= Sadler, Rachel |newspaper=[[Newshub]] |access-date= 14 July 2020 |date= 14 July 2020}}</ref> Kaye, who served as interim leader during the hours between Muller's resignation and Collins's election, was succeeded by [[Gerry Brownlee]]. Collins led the party through the [[2020 New Zealand general election|2020 election]], but was unable to recoup polling losses seen by the party throughout 2020 in time for the election, leading to the party losing 23 seats and suffering the second worst defeat in its history. Brownlee, who was the party campaign manager, lost his [[Ilam (New Zealand electorate)|electorate seat]], returning as an MP via the party list and resigning as deputy leader two weeks later; he was replaced by [[Shane Reti]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Manch |first1=Thomas |last2=Cooke |first2=Henry |title=Shane Reti elected unopposed as new deputy leader of the National Party |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/123350020/shane-reti-elected-unopposed-as-new-deputy-leader-of-the-national-party |access-date=2 February 2024 |work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |date=10 November 2020}}</ref>

[[File:Christopher Luxon (52535372229) (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright|alt=Smiling bald white man in suit|[[Christopher Luxon]] has served as the party's leader since November 2021]]On 1 February 2021, Collins announced that the National Party would contest the [[Māori electorates]] at the [[2023 New Zealand general election]].<ref>{{cite news |title=National leader Judith Collins explains why party will contest Māori seats |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/national-leader-judith-collins-explains-why-party-will-contest-maori-seats/W5EO376OVU52GLZRAEJFTRSF7Y/ |access-date=1 February 2021 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date=1 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210201104232/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/national-leader-judith-collins-explains-why-party-will-contest-maori-seats/W5EO376OVU52GLZRAEJFTRSF7Y/|archive-date=1 February 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> Her successor [[Christopher Luxon]] confirmed they would still be contesting the seats under his leadership.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Christopher Luxon says National will stand candidates in Maori Electorate seats |language=en |work=[[Newshub]] |url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2022/03/christopher-luxon-says-national-will-stand-candidates-on-maori-electorate-seats.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220306222404/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2022/03/christopher-luxon-says-national-will-stand-candidates-on-maori-electorate-seats.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=6 March 2022 |access-date=1 July 2022}}</ref>

On 24 November 2021, Collins announced that Bridges was being demoted and stripped of his portfolios, in what was seen by many inside and outside the caucus (including National MP and Bridges' brother in-law [[Simon O'Connor]]) as an act of political revenge.<ref>{{cite news |title=Simon Bridges demoted by Judith Collins over alleged historical comments to a female colleague |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300462440/simon-bridges-demoted-by-judith-collins-over-alleged-historical-comments-to-a-female-colleague |access-date=25 November 2021 | work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=National MP Simon O'Connor says Judith Collins must resign over 'appalling' behaviour |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300462679/national-mp-simon-oconnor-says-judith-collins-must-resign-over-appalling-behaviour |access-date=25 November 2021 | work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] }}</ref> O'Connor later announced that he was resigning his portfolios in protest, and demanded Collins' own resignation. Collins was removed as leader in an emergency caucus meeting the following morning, with Reti becoming interim leader.<ref>{{cite news |title=Judith Collins' attempt to 'rule by fear' contributes to ousting, National ex-MP says |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300463061/judith-collins-attempt-to-rule-by-fear-contributes-to-ousting-national-exmp-says |access-date=25 November 2021 | work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=25 November 2021 |title=Judith Collins removed as National Party leader |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/456496/judith-collins-removed-as-national-party-leader |access-date=3 July 2022 |website=[[RNZ]] |language=en-nz}}</ref> Christopher Luxon was [[2021 New Zealand National Party leadership election|elected unopposed]], with [[Nicola Willis (politician)|Nicola Willis]] as his deputy, after Simon Bridges withdrew his candidacy.<ref>{{cite news |title=National leadership: Christopher Luxon elected leader, Nicola Willis deputy |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300466529/national-leadership-christopher-luxon-elected-leader-nicola-willis-deputy |access-date=30 November 2021 |work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |date=30 November 2021}}</ref>