New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has called an urgent in-person meeting of National Party lawmakers in Wellington for Wednesday as speculation over his leadership intensifies months before the November 7 general election. Luxon, who survived a leadership confidence vote in April, said media reports and conversations had fueled the scrutiny. Pressure on Luxon has built as National remains weak in opinion polls, most of which show it narrowly trailing Labour, while economic growth has been sluggish, unemployment has reached an 11-year high and inflation remains above the central bank’s 1% to 3% target. His leadership has also come under renewed focus after public missteps, including comments about a possible referendum on New Zealand’s electoral system made without consulting party colleagues, and remarks to a business audience to "be adult" rather than look to the government for help. If National were to replace Luxon as leader, he would also cease to be prime minister. New Zealand media have identified Attorney-General, Infrastructure and Transport Minister Chris Bishop and Education and Immigration Minister Erica Stanford as possible successors.