Ardern on script; eye to the prize

Jacinda Ardern has commended the coalition negotiating process in a debrief to the New Zealand public.

The Labour Party leader gave Kiwis an update on how the negotiation process played out and what would happen next, in a video posted to YouTube.

Ardern reiterated the process had been ‘‘robust’’ and ‘‘productive’’, despite some criticism from the public and media about the level of secrecy surrounding the five days of meetings between NZ First and the two major parties.

Labour had also carried out meetings with the Green Party throughout the week, however the Greens were not involved in the meetings with NZ First.

Ardern said the process was an important one, and reiterated her comments from Thursday (the last day of official negotiations with NZ First), that negotiations had been robust and she was happy with the length of time they had taken.

‘‘If you’re going to form a government, of course you need to understand one another’s policy positions, where you have consensus and the kind of government you want to form.

‘‘It’s only natural that that would take a little bit of time,’’ she said.

‘‘It’s exactly the kind of process we need to make sure we give full consideration to the best govern-

"If you're going to form a government, of course you need to understand one another's policy positions.'' Labour Party leader Jacinda Ardern

ment to take New Zealand forward,’’ Ardern said. ‘‘It’d be a government I’d be proud to lead.’’

Now there was a short waiting period while parties considered their positions.

National would discuss the agreements they had come to with NZ First, and Labour would do the same.

Labour would also meet with the Green Party, which would then have to meet with its full membership of about 150 people.

And NZ First would meet with its caucus and board on Monday. This meeting followed a full-day NZ First caucus meeting on Friday.

The video gained attraction on social media for an interesting reason - a subtle wink from the Labour leader.

It is unclear whether the wink was intentional, but some speculated it meant Ardern would become the next prime minister.

So, do the eyes have it? Or is Ardern hoping to make it in on a wink and a prayer?