Chris Luxon insists Chris Bishop and Erica Stanford played no part in the leadership challenge against him.

MP Chris Penk was removed from Cabinet and has announced his retirement from politics, after leading an unsuccessful coup against Luxon.

Both Bishop and Stanford have denied any involvement in the leadership challenge, or any interest in taking Luxon's job.

Luxon says both Bishop and Stanford have given him assurances, both publicly and privately, and he believes them.

He's confident Chris Penk was acting on his own.

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