Luxon Not Ruling Out NZ First as Coalition Partner
November 21, 2022
PHOTO: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
National Party leader Christopher Luxon is not ruling out working with New Zealand First, after Winston Peters said Labour could not be trusted.
In a break with his usual approach, Peters has ruled out working with his former coalition partner, accusing it of deliberately withholding information about its work on He Puapua, and what he describes as its “separatist” agenda in other areas.
In past elections he has kept his options open, to give him and his party a stronger hand in post election negotiations.
“In the past we have worked with both Helen Clark and Jim Bolger. We shook hands with them and they both kept their word. So did we,” Peters tweeted on Monday.
“In 2017 Labour shook hands with us then spent millions on the He Puapua report and other plans deliberately hidden from us.
“Lying to their coalition partner and going back on their word is the reason we will not go back into government with them.
“Nobody lies to me and gets a second chance.”