Coalition talks are still "bubbling away" – but there is now only a slim chance a deal will be done this week, 1News understands.
It's understood incoming Prime Minister Christopher Luxon sees the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) as a valuable opportunity for New Zealand, as it is a chance to talk to world leaders as the new Prime Minister and push two-way trade.
However, a coalition deal would need to happen in the next six days in order to make the trip.
Teams from ACT and NZ First met for the first time today to try and progress a coalition deal.
It took place in Wellington, but didn't involve leaders David Seymour and Winston Peters.
The coalition needs to be agreed, then ministers need to be sworn in. The Prime Minister-elect assured Kiwis he had the business acumen to secure a coalition quickly, but he has already cancelled plans to go to the Pacific Islands Forum and doesn’t want to cancel APEC as well.
The caretaker government can only be in place until Sunday, November 12, so if a coalition deal isn’t done, relevant Labour ministers would need to be sworn in again.
Any big calls are made in consultation with National – for example, the situation in the Middle East – that required urgent decisions.
One anomaly is Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta. She will not be returning to parliament so an interim Foreign Minister from Labour would need to be sworn in in her place to take care of anything pressing. This is likely to be an experienced minister.
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