New Zealand First leader Winston Peters has hinted coalition talks may be nearing their conclusion, saying parties are "closer to the finish line than you guys think".
Peters made the comments as he exited the Cordis Hotel this afternoon following talks with National. He was there for about three hours.
He said he was feeling good and was successful in the day, but did not want to expand on how or why.
As the days tick over, Christopher Luxon is facing greater scrutiny on his well-publicised negotiation skills. (Source: 1News)
"I can't possibly tell you that, can I? No, I can't, because we're having private conversations with three parties and ... it would be wrong for me to break the confidence of the arrangement we're entering into."
He said they were forming a "long-term, stable, enduring government".
"That's going to take a few more hours, I don't quite know when but we're probably closer to the finish line than you guys think."
He said a conclusion to negotiations today would be "a bit premature".
Peters was also briefly accosted by a member of the public. (Source: 1News)
"We're still working on things."
Talks would continue tomorrow in Auckland, he said.
Similarly to this morning, he took aim at the media saying it didn't understand that coalition discussions in Germany - which has a similar electoral system - could sometimes take "months and months and months".
However, his point was briefly interrupted by a member of the public who emerged from the hotel, put his arm around Peters and said "how are you?"
Peters explained he was in the middle of a press conference.
"Hey. We're not the Labour Party," he said to the man.
He would not say which of New Zealand First's policies had been ruled out.
Peters began to leave but when asked if there would be a mini-Budget before Christmas he said: "I think I can say that, yes".
"Not a Budget, but an announcement that's related to it."
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