ACT Party leader David Seymour said coalition negotiations are progressing well as New Zealand waits for its new government.
Seymour confirmed he's yet to speak personally with NZ First leader Winston Peters – but teams from ACT and NZ First met for the first time yesterday to try and progress a coalition deal.
"We're just trying to create some connection, work out how we can work together over the next three years," Seymour told Breakfast this morning. "So far, so good. It's taken a while to get them to respond, but here we are.
"They've started to be a bit responsive so that can only be good, given that the people have asked us to come together, form a government – and ultimately work together for what I worked out is over 1000 days, three years. So let it begin."
Seymour said he's "sure" a meeting between himself and Peters will take place.
"I think it's important that we can work together, that's what the voters have asked us to do and that's what we will do," he said.
"You've got to respect the result of the election and make it work as best you can, from what the people have asked you to do.
"That's what we're doing, I can't get into speculating what other people are thinking or waiting for – but, it seems pretty obvious to me we've got a job to do."
Policies no positions
Asked if he'd discussed a potential position for himself in the next government, Seymour said: "Not really, no.
"ACT has always said that it's the policies for people that matter more than the positions for politicians.
"Before you decide who's sitting where on the bus, let's make sure it going to the right destination."
Seymour said it's not about the job or the title for him.
And each of National, ACT and New Zealand First want negotiations to happen as quickly as possible, the ACT Party leader added.
With National Party leader and incoming Prime Minister Christopher Luxon hoping to head to APEC next week, Seymour said he thinks "it can be done" in time.
"But no one party can actually decide what the outcome or even the timing of the outcome is," he added. "We're at a point where we've got some pretty good discussions, but there's one party that we haven't been able to meet yet despite our efforts.
"So, obviously that puts you in a position where you can't actually sign anything."
Should an agreement not be reached by Sunday, relevant Labour ministers would need to be sworn in again.
Currently major decisions are made in consultation with National.
It's now nearly a week since the final election results were released last Friday. The Electoral Commission has admitted data entry errors in three booths, but said the mistake will have little impact on the overall result.
A number of recounts are expected to take place after close results in certain electorates.
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