Pawns in NZ’s game of thrones

ANALYSIS: We’re all pawns in Winston Peters’ game of thrones.

The king(maker) in the north has travelled south to the capital to begin negotiations following a dramatic campaign and election.

Now New Zealand is at Peters’ whim, and he’s already taken his first casualty - the media.

The pre-election polls, much derided by Peters, hinted at the possibility of a return to the situation in 1996, where the NZ First leader held the balance of power in the country’s first MMP election.

And on the night, those on both sides of the political divide, watched through their fingers as Peters was once again crowned kingmaker. On Sunday, Peters gleefully sparred with media in Northland, not giving away any more than he wanted.

The games had begun.

He said he planned to go fishing, a move he made back in 1996 when negotiations took nine weeks, and the country mentally prepared itself for another drawnout dance where Peters would take the lead.

But an unco-operative tide meant Peters hunkered down at his remote home in Whananaki.

At low tide, the press made its way to Peters’ castle, along the southern hemisphere’s longest footbridge and across the estuary to his front lawn.

Peters refused to be drawn out by questions relating to his coalition plans.

He was due in Wellington on Wednesday for his party’s first post-election caucus meeting.

Over the three days since the election Peters has had time to consult with his most trusted advisers and colleagues, and put a plan together for negotiations.

He has refused to share those plans with the public, other than to say he wasn’t in a hurry and would prefer to wait for the special votes – which account for 15 per cent of the vote – to return before making a decision. Those specials aren’t due until October 7.

Winston watch

On Monday and Tuesday, reporters staked out returning MPs and party leaders at Parliament. Tuesday marked National and Labour’s first caucus meetings. But again, no news.

National Party leader Bill Eng- lish said he didn’t believe ‘‘past differences of opinion’’, or a pointed comment where he called Peters a maverick, would affect negotiations. He said Peters was experienced and took his job seriously. Labour leader Jacinda Ardern said she was geared up to talk when Peters was ready, but she was happy to wait.

And in a gallant display of party loyalty, deputies Paula Bennett and Kelvin Davis both said they would fall on their swords if Peters wanted the position of deputy prime minister.

National and Labour have said finance minister and prime minister are off the table, but who knows how this game will play out?

Meanwhile, the media busied itself, speculating who would make up the parties’ core negotiating teams – (there hasn’t been much else to report).

These educated guesses were based on past run-ins with MPs, who is friends/drinking buddies/ relatives with whom, and who does Peters respect. Some discussions with NZ First sources also played a part in the speculation.

It’s unlikely those sources would have disclosed anything Peters didn’t want them to, but they’d never say that. It’s all part of a dance; a game – well-placed leaks, winks, nudges and backroom discussions.

But Peters didn’t take kindly to speculation he ‘‘despised’’ some major party MPs and set his scope on those who penned the pieces.

On Wednesday Peters refused to talk to media at the airport, then gave the scrum staking out the parliamentary entrances the slip.

Royal roasting

Then following the NZ First caucus meeting, Peters called them for a conference.

When the press assembled, the senior politician opened his mouth and breathed fire over a bemused press corps.

He berated journalists for speculating on what he would do, before speaking to him. The trouble was, when asked what he would do, he refused to answer.

He accused journalists of reporting ‘‘tripe’’, and said they made him seem ‘‘secretive’’ by asking questions they knew he couldn’t answer. Among the scorching tirade was one piece of useful information: no decision until October 7, and no more press conferences until after that.