The leaders of the three political parties set to form New Zealand’s next Government have finally sat down together to talk face-to-face.
National Party leader and incoming Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has met with ACT Party leader David Seymour and New Zealand First’s Winston Peters this morning at an undisclosed location in Auckland.
Luxon, the MP for Botany, and Seymour were both in Wellington yesterday to continue coalition talks but news media reported Peters was not in the same city at the time.
Luxon and Seymour flew to Auckland last night, November 14, and are meeting with Peters today.
Peters posted a photo on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) of the three party leaders seated together at a table this morning.
Luxon posted the same photo on Facebook and said: “Good meeting. There’s still work to do – but making serious progress to forming a Government to deliver for Kiwis.”
It’s been 32 days since this year’s general election was held on October 14 and 12 days since special votes and the formal results of the election were announced.
Luxon had said he was hoping to have a Government sworn in so he would be able to attend the important APEC summit in San Francisco in the United States from tonight.
Outgoing Labour Government Minister for Trade and Export Growth Damien O’Connor will represent New Zealand at APEC instead.
