National's campaign chairman has warned of the possibility of a "second election" if it's forced to negotiate with Winston Peters and New Zealand First after the election.
The suggestion comes after party leader Christopher Luxon said he had a duty to pick up the phone with Peters if he wasn't able to form a government with ACT alone. Notions of a "second election" have been ripped by Labour's Chris Hipkins as "chaos".
National's campaign chairman Chris Bishop suggested the odds of the left and right blocs both holding 60 seats were growing — with Winston Peters holding the power.
Party leader Christopher Luxon says he doesn't regret keeping NZ First in the mix. (Source: 1News)
"The second scenario is when there is essentially a hung Parliament and New Zealand First is in the middle, but it is just impossible to do a deal between National, ACT and New Zealand First," he told the New Zealand Herald.
"That is a very real and growing possibility and that would necessitate, essentially, a second election."
Last week's 1News Verian Poll showed National and ACT on 59 seats, with New Zealand First's eight seats being critical to getting to 61 — the number needed to hold power.
Speaking to media this afternoon, Luxon was asked whether talk of a hung Parliament was scaremongering: "No, that could be one of the complexities that emerges, one of the uncertainties that emerges on the other side of an election."
It comes after the party's leader has previously refused to say whether he would cut a deal with Winston Peters or not. (Source: 1News)
He later added: "After 27 years, New Zealand First — we have to be straight up about it — has never gone with National. With 2017, we all remember that outcome."
Luxon reiterated that he wished to form a government between National and ACT and that he foresaw that coalition being "in New Zealand's interests".
"To avoid Labour-Greens-Te Pāti Māori... if that's the reality we wake up to, I will pick up the phone and try to talk to Mr Peters."
Meanwhile, Hipkins has used Bishop's comments to hit out at National. In the latest poll, his party remains far from holding the levers of power while stagnating in the 20s.
"There is no justification for another general election before a general election has even happened," he said.
Hipkins was asked if he would re-consider talking with Peters if National's efforts failed.
He responded: "Christopher Luxon is the person who has left this door wide open. We ruled out working with Winston Peters some months ago. The fact that Christopher Luxon has breathed life into the New Zealand First campaign is really a question for him."
The Labour leader added: "We've made it very clear we won't be working with New Zealand First or Winston Peters… I'm not the one talking about an extra general election, that's Christopher Luxon's threat to New Zealanders."
Peters has ruled out working with Labour and Hipkins.
Speaking to the Herald, Winston Peters said National was "scaremongering" about another election and "threatening to ignore the will of the people".
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