Things got testy between the minor party leaders at tonight's multi-party debate – each prepping to be a potential coalition partner for a Labour or National-led government.
According to this week’s 1News Verian poll, the National Party would need both ACT and New Zealand First to form a government.
But during tonight's debate, ACT leader David Seymour and NZ First leader Winston Peters - who have a long running public rivalry - again threw jibes at each other, suggesting it might not be an easy partnership should they go into government together.
Early in the debate, Seymour was asked if he trusted Peters, and he said: “No.”
“The problem is I don’t know where he stands on almost any issue,” he said.
“He said he would stick up for licensed firearm owners and sold them down the river. He said he would stand up for farmers, then voted for James Shaw’s Zero Carbon Act.”
Peters quickly shot back, calling Seymour’s claims “rubbish”.
“There will be people out there tonight saying, ‘for God’s sake, grow up’,” he said.
The former Deputy Prime Minister was then asked if he trusted David Seymour – but he refused to answer.
“Well, we aren’t off to a very good start, are we,” he joked
Things spiced up between the two later in the debate when discussing law and order.
"I think you should get some long trousers and behave yourself," Winston Peters said after an exchange between the two.
"[National leader Christopher] Luxon will expect you to do that as well. So get ready."
Seymour responded: "Oh I will, we'll send you a card."
As a former coalition partner of the NZ First leader between 2017 and 2020, Green Party Co-leader James Shaw was also asked if he trusted Peters.
“If you are voting for the National Party, this is what you are voting for,” Shaw said, waving his arms at Peters and Seymour.
“I would say that's pretty high risk.”
However, he described his relationship with Peters as “cordial”.
“We certainly didn't agree on everything. But for the good of the country, we mentally made it work.”
Shaw was also asked if he would partner up with National should they be able to make gains in climate legislation.
He said a vote for the Greens was “voting for more Green ministers sitting around the Cabinet table with Labour - that is how to get action on climate change”.
“But ultimately, we are campaigning to be returned to government, with Labour and in cabinet so that we can influence the shape of that government.”
The possibility of a National/ACT/Greens coalition was already unlikely and looks might be even harder to reach with Shaw and Seymour trading blows throughout the debate.
Climate change differences
The two bickered at multiple stages throughout the debate, especially when talking about their parties' differing policies on climate change.
Seymour was asked: "Given the party’s history of climate change denial, why should ACT have any authority to shape climate policy?"
Seymour responded: "The ACT Party says that if we're serious about climate change, then we need to put a lot more effort into adapting to the effects of it.
"And that's the problem with James Shaw — or I call him James Offshore because he spends more time offshore talking to foreigners."
That prompted Shaw to quickly interject: "David, you can say something stupid every once in a while, but you are really abusing the privilege."
Seymour responded: "The simple fact is you can have all the wisecracks you like, James, but you've failed on climate change."
According to yesterday's 1News Verian poll, around 40% of Kiwis will vote for a party that isn't Labour or National. Those smaller parties will help determine the form of the next government in post-election negotiations.
If it had the numbers, Labour has indicated it would likely try to form a coalition with the Green Party and Te Pāti Māori.
National has said it would prefer governing with the ACT Party, but that it would also talk to New Zealand First if there was no other option to reach a majority after an election.
Labour has ruled out working with New Zealand First, while National has indicated it's highly unlikely to work with the Green Party or Te Pāti Māori during governing negotiations.
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