Peters: ‘Change in how country is run’
"These talks are about a change in the way this country is run both economically and socially." NZ First leader Winston Peters
The shape of the coalition talks is slowly emerging, with signs the environment, climate change and foreign ownership were on the agenda yesterday.
NZ First leader Winston Peters confirmed foreign ownership was playing a part in governmentformation talks with Labour and National.
The addition of Labour’s foreign affairs and environment spokesman David Parker to the Labour team that headed into talks at 12.30pm indicated the focus would be on the environment and climate change as well as the contentious ‘‘water levy’’ that he has championed.
That followed a two-hour meeting between Labour and the Greens earlier yesterday morning, with more meetings between those two parties expected later.
A second round of talks for the day between NZ First and Labour set down for 6pm was cancelled after the afternoon talks went longer than expected.
Peters met National again at 4pm - with new MP Shane Jones joining the negotiating team - and Peters said he would probably meet Labour first today as the parties aim to complete talks to meet Peters’ self-imposed Thursday deadline.
Asked why Jones was present Peters said ‘‘because he’s a member of caucus’’.
Peters said the negotiations were going fine and were focused ‘‘totally on policy’’.
But he would not confirm that Parker’s presence in the Labour team meant environment and water were on the agenda.
‘‘You know this is strictly confidential and I can’t possibly tell you ... You are asking questions in an environment where I cannot possibly answer.
‘‘Are you trying to make me embarrassed or what?’’
He said these talks were more like the ones in 1996 than the 2005 talks because of ‘‘circumstances’’.
In 1996, Peters held the balance of power and negotiated a detailed policy document before forming a coalition with National.
In 2005, the agreement with Labour was less detailed.
‘‘We have got two days to go yet before we know the outcome,’’ Peters said.
‘Positive session’
Labour leader Jacinda Ardern said it had been ‘‘another really positive session’’ with NZ First.
‘‘We are now in a position where we are discussing quite a bit of policy detail which moves us quite a bit further along in these negotiations,’’ she said.
Labour would meet with the Green Party again today.
Earlier after a two-hour meeting with National Peters said he was talking about similar policy areas with both parties.
‘‘These talks are about a change in the way this country is run both economically and socially,’’ Peters said.
Asked if foreign ownership had come up, Peters said it had.
Other than that, however, he said the conversations were staying confidential.
‘‘It’s not a game of tennis here or ping pong, it’s different discussions with both parties.’’
Greens ‘confident’
Labour’s coalition talks with the Green Party yesterday wrapped up after two hours with Greens coleader James Shaw describing them as ‘‘warm and constructive’’.
‘‘We are talking about forming a government,’’ he said, but he would not say anything about details including whether the Greens would talk directly to NZ First.
‘‘Everything that involves putting together a government.
‘‘It’s broad ranging and covers all the bases. And it’s going very well.’’
He said he was confident a Labour-led government was on the way.
The meeting was the second between Labour and the Greens following top level talks in Auckland on Saturday.
Labour needs the support of both NZ First and the Greens to secure a majority in the 120-seat Parliament.
National would just need the support of NZ First.