So the coalition negotiations are going as well as I thought they would.
Yesterday the parties each gathered in Wellington so that negotiations continue. But there was a notable exception.
For some reason Winston Peters did not travel to Wellington to be with his NZ First caucus but instead stayed in Auckland.
And after that there were scenes in Wellington that resembled a cross between the Thick of It and the Goodies as Christopher Luxon and David Seymour caught late night flights to travel to Auckland to meet with Peters.
Luxon’s dream of concluding the negotiations so that he could rub shoulders with the World Leaders at APEC are in ruins.
And there were earlier developments that should strike fear in the hearts of those who want the best for Aotearoa New Zealand.
From One News:
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters and ACT’s David Seymour have joined forces to negotiate with the National Party after not getting what they want, 1News understands.
It’s understood there has been a “significant warming of relations” between the pair.
ACT and NZ First will work together on race relations, infrastructure and climate change, 1News understands.
It’s understood incoming prime minister Christopher Luxon wants to get coalition talks wrapped up to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in San Francisco next week, and both ACT and NZ First will use this as a negotiating tool to try and get more policy wins.
This is significant. Both parties have extreme views on race relations. Although NZ First has expressed opposition to Act’s Treaty Referendum some hybrid proposal may be considered.
And if they have their way the country’s climate change response will be in tatters.
Winston is in his normal grandstanding mode. Given a chance, any chance, to be the centre of attention he will seize the opportunity.
And the calculated insult in preventing Luxon triumphantly attending the APEC convention is something I suspect National will not forget.
This Government has all of the signs of being a coalition of chaos. Stand by …
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