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November 21, 2023
Luxon claims policy deal done but partners stalling
Claudette Hauiti
Posted On November 21, 2023
National Party leader Christopher Luxon says he has reached agreement with both ACT and New Zealand First on what parts of their policy programmes will be taken up by the new Government, and what’s left now is to agree on ministerial positions.
The minor parties are studying their respective deals, which Mr Luxon doesn’t believe will cause major issues.
He refused to speculate on whether a government could be formed by the end of the week.
Mr Luxon says all three coalition parties have had to make trade-offs on policy to reach an agreement, but they are all getting major parts of their agenda through.
He refused to confirm or deny whether ACT’s proposed referendum on Te Tiriti o Waitangi has survived the five weeks of negotiations, but says everyone had to make trade offs along the way as that’s the nature of MMP and coalition government.
NZ First Leader Winston Peters says it was an assumption to say the parties had agreed on policies, and ACT and NZ First will drill down on the details of each other’s agreements before negotiating ministerial roles.
ACT leader David Seymour says a deal is still days away and the National leader may have had “too many weet-bix”.
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