Labour leader Chris Hipkins, who last week accused Winston Peters of "pure racism" in Parliament, says he still won't rule out working with NZ First after the election.
Speaking to Breakfast this morning, Hipkins was asked whether he could rule NZ First in or out as a post-election partner.
He declined to rule either way, saying he would set out bottom lines closer to the election. But he said Peters' "race-baiting" behaviour in Parliament was making potential post-election arrangements "very difficult"
"I will set out, closer to the election, some pretty clear bottom lines about who we can and can't work with and under what circumstances," Hipkins said.
"Clearly, New Zealand First posturing at the moment is very problematic for us.
Leader Chris Hipkins says the party will focus on doing fewer things, and doing them better. (Source: 1News)
"The stuff that we saw last week, which was race-baiting at its worst in Parliament. Attacking an MP for being of Cook Islands descent. You know, that's not acceptable.
"Attacking migrant New Zealanders is not territory that I'm interested in going into. Attacking the rainbow community, that's not territory that I want to see us going into, either. Some of their behaviour at the moment is making that very difficult."
The comments came after last week's parliamentary controversy, in which NZ First leader Peters questioned Green MP Teanau Tuiono's right to ask questions in the House, referring to him as someone "who came from Rarotonga".
National and Labour leaders go neck-to-neck in the popularity stakes in the countdown to the election. (Source: TVNZ)
Tuiono had used the word "Aotearoa" while questioning a minister about Pacific climate aid cuts, prompting Peters to interject. Speaker Gerry Brownlee later ruled Peters' comment was "highly disorderly" but declined to require him to withdraw and apologise.
Hipkins accused Peters of "pure racism" in Parliament following the incident.
Despite the strong language used in criticising the NZ First leader, the Labour leader still left the door ajar to working arrangements with his party.
"I've said that I'll make those calls closer to the election," he said.
"A lot of water can flow under the bridge between now and then — but certainly some of their current positions are ones that don't sit comfortably with the Labour Party."
February's 1News Verian poll showed NZ First has doubled their share of the party vote over the past 12 months and they are polling at a level above where their support was at the last election.
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