The leaders of the National and Labour parties might find out Winston Peters' coalition choice at the same time as the New Zealand public does, former Prime Minister Jim Bolger says.
Speaking to TVNZ1's Breakfast programme this morning, Mr Bolger said history could repeat itself this week when the NZ First leader reveals his pick to form a coalition.
"I think the leaders of the two groups probably won't get a great deal more warning than you and I in the public."
Mr Bolger told Breakfast host Jack Tame that when he was leader back in 1996 during coalition talks between National and NZ First, it was Mr Peters' deputy that informed him of the decision.
"The warning that we were given was almost simultaneously with what Mr Peters was telling New Zealand public via the media.
"So there wasn't a long warning."
Mr Bolger says Mr Peters could already know which party he wants to form a coalition with but is holding his cards very close to his chest.
"Obviously NZ First have a strategy in place and he's not sharing it with us."
Last night, following negotiation talks with the National Party, Mr Peters told media he won't be making his decision tomorrow, saying negotiations would still be ongoing until tomorrow night.
Mr Bolger says the drawn-out negotiation period, in his opinion, is "going smoothly" and has no concerns about talks taking an extra day.
He says the negotiations are coming along quite quickly and should be over sooner than they were when he was negotiating with Mr Peters back in 1996.
"Everything I hear or see - it's going quite smoothly," Mr Bolger says.
"We all get a bit impatient and we all would like to think it would finish quicker."
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