FROM THE NEWS DESK

New Zealand voters should be put out of their misery shortly as Winston Peters promises to deliver his decision on a coalition Government in the next few days. So will it be National or will it be Labour? Some are insisting it should be National because that party had recorded the most votes - but not enough to govern alone. And that’s part of MMP, where the big parties are forced to govern with the minor parties. To insist that NZ First should side with National because Bill English recorded the most votes would suggest that we’re still philosophically operating in a First Past the Post mindset, and we haven’t really understood how MMPworks. After 21 years, we’re still no closer to understanding how to use MMPand we continue to use our votes to elect a government in First Past the Post manner. What compromises will Jacinda Ardern and Bill English have to make to gain Winston’s favour? Will the Greens go for the ‘‘Teal Deal’’ with National? No doubt the details will come out in the weeks to follow.

Lawrence Gullery

Whakapa¯ - Contacts