Confidence only gets you so far: Undefeated, PM Christopher Luxon is still on the ropes

Analysis: Christopher Luxon has survived another test of his leadership - but the job ahead has become even harder.With just over 12 weeks until the election, this is the third credible public challenge to his leadership since last November, and the second confidence vote he has publicly faced down.In a brief two-minute press conference at the Beehive Banquet Hall after the first vote in April, he revealed he'd called the vote on himself then lambasted the media for reporting on discontent in National's ranks.Within hours, NZ First leader Winston Peters was criticising it as a bad move that only invited further confrontations from a dissatisfied caucus.Luxon's repeat performance after Wednesday's vote was even shorter and more guarded: again answering no questions, but this time leaving unsaid who had asked for the vote and focusing squarely on the election rather than taking potshots at reporters.His hollow victory follows a series of missteps over the past fortnight, including deciding on live radio - without consulting his party and MPs - to campaign on a referendum on the MMP electoral system.They later backed the idea but his MPs would have been frustrated by the impromptu handling, and a costly referendum hardly fits the party's stated strategy of focusing squarely on cost of living.On its own, this would not have been enough to prompt an upset, but it follows worsening polling and repeated gaffes. Examples from the past fortnight underline exactly some of the personal traits that have proven both a help and a hindrance in his political career so far.Communication has never been Luxon's strength, with consistent criticism of his wordcloud-style CEO buzzwords like "gripped up" and filler phrases like "what I would say to you" peppering his speech, as well as unforced errors in media.That happened as recently as Monday, when he found himself talking about new taxes the party might bring in rather than the budget responsibility rules he'd announced just a day before.A week earlier he had to apologise for comments he made to the Rotorua Business Chamber, where he said small businesses had a "parent-child" mentality with the government.As a former chief executive, Luxon's competent businessman image has also been undermined by a recurrent blind spot over how the less-well-off perceive his privileged position.A week ago he had to justify using a Defence Force plane to get home from a National Party fundraising dinner on the same day unemployment hit a record 11-year high.That just adds to earlier comments about being "wealthy and ... sorted" or being "entitled" to the $52,000 PM's accommodation allowance.Where he has been praised is in his ability to manage holding together a three-party coalition - despite some scepticism - but those very partners have often undermined the prime minister's authority and have largely gone unpunished beyond some verbal criticism, at least in the public eye.After Peters launched a tirade at an opposition MP in Parliament less than two weeks ago, Luxon labelled the comments "racist" and spoke to the foreign minister in private - but took no further action, despite former political leaders warning a sacking may be warranted even if it meant the end of the coalition and a snap election.While those corporate-style, managerial, and somewhat disconnected from the common man traits have caused problems for Luxon in his time in the top job, they've also driven him and National back into government, and secured some valuable gains for the country.The most visible of these is the India Free Trade agreement he and Trade Minister Todd McClay unveiled late last year, which is bound to significantly boost some exports and help diversify New Zealand's trading options - despite Peters' ongoing opposition to it.The visit from Indian counterpart Narendra Modi is just one example of where Luxon has been able to connect with foreign leaders on a personal level, a role he has clearly relished.That personable attitude when cameras aren't rolling was also an advantage in the strong campaign that led to Luxon's 2023 election win, built on a strategy that made a clear virtue of his business credentials and economic nous.Opposition MPs have criticised National for political infighting.Zach Cornelisen / RNZPublic opinion did turn against Labour's Covid-era governing and economic approach, but that was partly a result of Luxon's consistent economic messaging.Boosting National from the dismal 25.6 percent result in the 2020 election that gave Labour a sole majority to the 38.0 percent the party staked out just three years later is an undoubted achievement.His people management skills also helped revitalise National when he replaced Judith Collins in 2021 to become the party's fourth leader in five years.He will need to work very hard indeed convincing his MPs, coalition partners and the voting public those skills are what New Zealand needs.That job is made all the harder by continued tough economic times during his own leadership, and the increasingly frequent challenges to his authority.