NZ First meets ahead of initial talks
Peters sticks to October 12 deadline for final decision
The New Zealand First caucus will meet this morning in advance of the first meetings between leader Winston Peters and his team and Labour leader Jacinda Ardern and National leader Bill English this week.
Peters has refused to enter serious talks to form the next government, saying he wanted to wait until the results of special votes came through on Saturday but told the Herald he had agreed to holding initial talks later this week. The first talks with Ardern could be as early as this afternoon but National is not expected to get its turn till Thursday.
Peters was sticking to his October 12 deadline for a final decision and said that included the details of any agreement, despite English expressing reservations about the tight time frame of just five days after the final results are known on October 7.
English said yesterday it had taken up to two weeks to make deals with National’s previous support partners, Act, United Future and the Maori Party, even when it had been clear all three would be support parties and they had worked together in the past.
The NZ First negotiations will be more complicated, given Peters can choose between the two major parties and his options range from a full coalition inside Cabinet, a support agreement offering confidence and supply in return for some ministerial posts outside Cabinet, to sitting on the cross benches offering support on case-by-case basis in return for minimal policy gains. Both Labour and National are likely to push for a greater commitment than the cross benches to ensure stability.
Both Labour and National have been working out what policies and positions they might be able to offer and the initial talks will be a chance to test those out on Peters — and to hear what he is seeking. That could range from personnel changes — Peters is no fan of David Carter as Speaker, for example — to policies on superannuation and immigration. One of the parties could also offer a “deal” in Northland to help Peters — or NZ First MP Shane Jones — win the seat in 2020 to give it a lifeline to ensure its future should Peters retire. Peters has railed against such deals and is unlikely to want an overt one.
Peters’ MPs will meet in Wellington this morning and are expected to sort out the negotiating team.
English was first to make personal contact, calling Peters on Sunday and getting a call back yesterday morning.
The first talks with Ardern could be as early as this afternoon but National is not expected to get its turn till Thursday.
Peters denied he had ignored English’s initial attempt to call, saying he had been in Northland out of cellphone range until late Sunday night. He said he returned the call because it was “the courteous thing to do”. Although English was first to make contact, Ardern called Peters soon after he spoke to English.
Peters may meet Ardern today after his caucus meeting but otherwise will wait until Thursday — he has a funeral to attend tomorrow.
Peters refused to comment on speculation about the Greens talking to National and whether that was simply an attempt to spook him.
“What I think does not matter. That’s up for them to think about. We are a freedom party above all things. You’re free to write what you think.”
Green Party leader James Shaw appeared to be happy for Labour to lead negotiations, saying only that he would wait to see what their approach was before making plans.
The Greens would wait until after the special votes were reported before trying to call or schedule a meeting with NZ First — Ardern has said she would prefer separate talks with the Greens and NZ First.
Shaw does not plan any approach to National, but has said he would “hear out” English if he called.
English gave no indication if he would call them, but said it would be a “big shift” for them to talk to National. The Greens had consistently said a vote for them was a vote to change the Government.