ACT leader David Seymour says his meeting today with Christopher Luxon and Winston Peters was "very positive".
The trio's meeting at the Pullman Hotel in Auckland this morning was confirmed after New Zealand First leader Peters posted to X with a photo of the three sat around a meeting table.
National leader and incoming prime minister Luxon posted the same photo five minutes later, noting it had been a "good meeting" but there was "still a lot of work to do".
Yesterday Luxon was forced to forgo his trip to the Asia Pacific Economic Forum (APEC) this week as a coalition deal had not yet been struck. The trip would have been a chance to rub shoulders with other world leaders for the first time as prime minister.
Speaking to 1News today, Seymour said the meeting had also been "optimistic and hopeful".
"It's been a long and winding road for sure, but this is another step towards a strong, stable, united government that can deliver the changes that I think this country needs, and I know people voted for."
He said negotiations were "always tough".
"You're trying to make three people, representing different groups of voters, come together and form one cohesive plan that the country needs from its government. That's not a bad thing, that's as it should be."
Seymour said of Peters' absence from Wellington yesterday that there had not been any particular appointment to meet.
"On the other hand I'm sure there's some explanation of logistics or misunderstanding."
Seymour said he was more interested in forming a government.
He said ACT had not yet discussed ministerial roles.
Asked if that meant there was still a significant amount of work to do towards reaching an agreement, he said: "Only if you believe that the positions for politicians are a big part of the job.
"For us, it's policy first, that's the end."
He had also not "entered into a discussion" regarding the role of deputy prime minister.
Regarding the length of time it had taken for the three leaders to meet as a trio, Seymour said ACT had been "open to meeting and really tried to close gaps and be prepared to get together with people" throughout coalition negotiations.
"It's taken as long as it's taken, but we're very happy we got there."
He said there wasn't anything to read into him and Luxon flying to Auckland to meet Peters for the meeting, but rather just a reflection that all three lived in Auckland.
"If I could choose to be in my home city rather than another city then like basically every person who works away from home, I'd rather be home than away… I don't see any real drama around that.
"I know people will try [to] manufacture drama but I'm not sure there's that much to be manufactured.
"The location can change but the business stays the same."
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