\u201cI\u2019m going to tell you what, very shortly before Christmas, we\u2019re going to give you an answer and we\u2019re going to stick to it all year.\u201d<\/p>\n
As to whether it will state NZ First\u2019s position on working with Labour, he responded: \u201cNo, I\u2019m going to give you an answer to shut you all down and start getting back the focus about politics being about policy and about issues, and not coalitions.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Herald attempted to extract more from Peters, including whether he would reveal whether he might be seeking to sit on the crossbenches.<\/p>\n
\u201cDid I not say just before Christmas? Here we are here and it\u2019s Thursday and you want me to tell you now.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Herald understands this planned \u201canswer\u201d is unlikely to say with which parties NZ First would or would not work, but will act as a stock-standard line for responding to such questions in future.<\/p>\n
NZ First leader Winston Peters says an “answer” to be given “very shortly before Christmas” will silence those asking the coalition question. Photo \/ Mark Mitchell<\/p>\n
Given NZ First\u2019s traditional \u201ckingmaker\u201d status and history of working in Government with both Labour and National, there has been growing interest in Peters\u2019 perspective ahead of the 2026 election.<\/p>\n
He has permanently ruled out working with Hipkins<\/a>, but hasn\u2019t answered whether he would be willing to work with Labour should it change its leader. Labour has refused to set out its preferred coalition partners <\/a>until closer to the election.<\/p>\n Questions were raised in November after Act leader David Seymour said it appeared Peters was \u201clining up for a different kind of coalition\u201d after Peters said he would seek to repeal the Regulatory Standards Act<\/a> \u2013 for which NZ First had just voted – if re-elected into power at the election.<\/p>\n \u201cSo if he wants to do this, he\u2019s got to go with Labour. If his goal is to get rid of the Regulatory Standards Act, he\u2019s not going to get votes from us to do that, so he\u2019d have to go with Labour.\u201d<\/p>\n After Seymour\u2019s comments, the Herald repeatedly asked Peters whether he was open to working with Labour after the election<\/a>. He would not answer.<\/p>\n During yesterday\u2019s interview, he said \u201cno one would have heard of\u201d Ardern, former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson or \u201csausage roll eater Hipkins\u201d were it \u201cnot for the fact that I gave them a chance\u201d.<\/p>\n He stands by his view that there was a \u201clong litany of actions\u201d withheld from him during his time in Government with Labour.<\/p>\n