National's socially conservative MPs have gone to ground after MP Simon O'Connor was forced to take down social media posts which leader Christopher Luxon has called "triumphalist" and causing offence.

"As I understand it, there is no party position on these conscience issues. It is purely an individual position that caucus members take.

"And you will see, a number of [current MPs] voted against this, like myself (sic) when I was there."

The US Supreme Court decision on Friday to overturn Roe v Wade and allow states to ban abortions has raised conversations here, particularly given Luxon is himself an Evangelical Christian opposed to the right to an abortion. Read more