NZ First leader Winston Peters says coalition negotiations are "substantial" and "progressive".
Peters emerged from Treasury - where NZ First is currently based in Wellington - today to field questions posed on behalf of the public.
It follows the announcement of the official election result last Friday, where it was revealed National and ACT would require the support of NZ First to form a government.
"It takes a lot of time to get to the detail because the detail has got to be cross-matched with other detail."
Asked by 1News how ACT and NZ First's discussions were progressing, and how Peters' relationship with ACT leader David Seymour was, Peters said both he and Seymour were "negotiating with the National Party".
"Those are the critical engagements that we're involved in. Just like we've always been in the past. This will happen as we get further down the track - maybe sooner rather than later. But there's nothing unusual about that at all.
Winston Peters says speed is of the essence in coalition discussions. (Source: 1News)
Asked why he had not responded to texts from Seymour, Peters said: "For the most obvious reasons, I had so many looney tune texts. You might not believe this, but I do, and I can show you if you want to see them. I decided I'm going to find out who I'm dealing with before I answered".
He said "of course" New Zealand's presence at APEC weighed on his mind as a former Foreign Minister.
If coalition negotiations aren't complete and ministerial warrants issued before the Asia-Pacific economic forum next week, it's possible Christopher Luxon will not be able to attend.
Seymour said an agreement by Sunday is "quite possible". (Source: 1News)
Peters said he was also concerned about the Pacific Island Forum (PIF) , currently underway in Rarotonga. There, New Zealand had been represented by outgoing deputy prime minister Carmel Sepuloni and senior National MP Gerry Brownlee.
Peters said the delay in the official vote count was due to a law change that allowed people to enrol to vote on election day.
"I wish the media would focus on who caused that delay, than the last few days, where we've been flat out all day, and half the darn night, trying to get the matters of the negotiations completed."
NZ First's previous parliamentary caucus - of which Peters was part - voted to support the law change at all stages of the legislative process, while in government with Labour in the previous term.
"It was seriously important to be at the PIF and we've missed that. It is seriously important to be at APEC. Of course it is. But let's look at the barrier or the obstruction or the detour put there by the Labour Party that we're having to live through."
He said speed was "of the essence" with the negotiations.
"We're not wasting time here. Some of us would like to get back home and have got other things to do. We've been on the [campaign] trail for two and a half years."
Earlier, senior NZ First MP Shane Jones, emerging from Bolton St on a short walk to Treasury, said a cheery "morenā" to waiting media.
When asked how coalition meetings were progressing, he said: "well, all the kōrero are in a cone of silence".
Probed further, he said: "What I said in terms of timing, it's Shakespearian - it's a great line from Shakespeare, better three hours early than a minute late. That's out of the Merry Wives of Windsor."
1News understands both Luxon and Seymour are in Wellington today for negotiations.
Luxon has previously signalled that he would like to see all three meet at once.
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