Parties still talking over coalition ‘issues’

Negotiations to form a government ‘‘are certainly still ongoing’’ with NZ First, National Party leader Bill English said yesterday.

National and NZ First had exchanged letters over the weekend, he said.

NZ First leader Winston Peters originally set a deadline of last Thursday for his party to reveal which of National or Labour it would to support in forming a government.

That deadline has been and gone and English said: ‘‘There’s still issues relating to the formation of government that need to be discussed.’’ Both English and Peters hinted at a longer wait than expected.

On Thursday, Peters said the country would have an answer by the end of this week at the latest but all signs were pointing to a decision early in the week.

The NZ First board examination of options for an agreement was ‘‘not going to be focused on completed agreements’’, English said.

Ministerial roles had not yet been discussed and National did not have a deal to take to its own board, English said.

The lack of discussion over ministerial roles should not be taken as any indication about what form of agreement was being discussed, he said.

Ministerial positions could be decided quite quickly, English said.

‘‘The focus of the discussions so far has been purely on policy,’’ English said.

‘‘Matters such as ministerial positions or the nature of a coalition agreement have yet to be discussed,’’ he said.

‘‘It’s quite important people understand the discussion NZ First are having today is another step in the process but it’s by no means the final step in actually agreeing a government.’’

There would have to be discussions about what jobs NZ First might fill if a government was to be formed, English said. He expected that to happen ‘‘before too long’’.

Peters was confident there would be a new government before the end of the week.

‘‘I wouldn’t want to guess what that timetable would be,’’ English said.

But he said he would like an answer sooner rather than later.

Peters said: ‘‘I said we’d have an agreement by the end of this week. I’m certainly going to be much earlier than that but I don’t want to put a time on it.

‘‘I’ve never had a decision to make like this, in the context of the potential positive side of it.’’

NZ First had talked ‘‘reasonably extensively’’ to both National and Labour during the weekend.

Party board member Sue Sara did not answer media questions when she arrived at Wellington Airport ahead of yesterday’s meeting.

NZ First MP Shane Jones said yesterday was a good opportunity to meet with the board and caucus.

He would not comment on whether a full agreement was to have been taken to the board during the day.

Arriving at Wellington airport, NZ First MP Mark Patterson said the party had to get a ‘‘sound governing arrangement’’ but there was still some work to do.