Peters the key for both parties

THE leaders of New Zealand’s two main parties will have to court NZ First’s Winston Peters to help form government after Saturday’s election failed to deliver a clear majority win.

Incumbent Prime Minister Bill English has a stronger hand because National won 58 seats and Labour 45.

Mr English said senior National ministers met on Sunday morning “to discuss the results and our approach to the negotiations”.

He said a two-party coalition would be more stable.

“The voters have given us the task of forming a government with NZ First and that is what we will proceed to do,” he said.

But Labour leader Jacinda Ardern says she wants to negotiate a credible, stable coalition government with NZ First.

With the Greens’ seven seats added to Labour’s, they’re still well short of National.

“A majority of people have voted against the status quo,” Ms Arden said yesterday.

“What New Zealanders want us to focus on is forming a credible, stable government.”

Mr Peters (pictured) is still not indicating which party he will support. Yesterday, he said he wouldn’t be making a decision without consulting the party board and his MP colleagues.

NZ First’s party vote dropped to 7.5 per cent, giving it nine seats, two fewer than in 2014, but the party still has the numbers needed to help form government.

Mr English considers he has a mandate to form a fourth term National-led government and has said he’ll open negotiations with Mr Peters in the next few days.

Ms Ardern will be talking to the Greens, Labour’s natural partner, and Mr Peters – to try to forge a three-way coalition.

Coalition negotiations with Mr Peters aren’t expected to be determined until at least October 7 when the final results are in. Mr Peters has set October 12 as his decision deadline.

A MAJORITY OF PEOPLE HAVE VOTED AGAINST THE STATUS QUO JACINDA ARDERN, LABOUR LEADER