'It's quite North Korean' – seemingly secret NZ First board to make final call on government, political commentator says

It's the final day of negotiations to form New Zealand's next government,

Former Labour Party president Mike Williams and right-leaning political commentator Matthew Hooton discussed the pros and pitfalls to Winston Peters choosing a Labour-Green government, and what would sway NZ First's decision. 

The elusive NZ First Board

"I think his caucus is a little bit divided on this," Mr Hooton said. 

"There will genuinely be a debate within their party."

"Then there's meant to be this meeting of this board. These are the people, whoever they are, who will make the final decision."

He thought Winston Peters would be announcing the members of the board, otherwise "it would be a very strange situation that the government of New Zealand is chosen by a secret board."

When asked by host Hilary Barry if the secrecy around the board was unusual, Mr Hooton said it "was quite North Korean". 

Policies

Mr Williams thought the policy issues that would appeal to NZ First was forestry with Labour, with immigration being a "significant stumbling block with National". 

Mr Hooton said a lower dollar, greater political interference in the Reserve Bank, slashing immigration and regional development were the important topics for Mr Peters, and didn't think the Green Party would be "terribly impressed" with NZ First's stance on forestry. 

The Green Party

"Poor old Greens," Mr Hooton said, in reference to NZ First rebuffing their extended invatation to coalition talks. 

"Greens have no choice whatsoever to sign whatever is in front of them. They have ruled out dealing with the other side completely. Even if they said, 'we're not happy with this, we're not going to vote for it, it would deliver a National-ACT government. Greens are totally powerless."

"They must do whatever they're told today."

National or Labour, who will NZ First will choose?

"I'm driven to paranoia," Mr Williams said.

Mr Hooton thought the "best thing" for Mr Peters would be to be part of something new, "to go with the Labour government propped up by the patsy Greens on the side". 

"Then he's got a young new prime minister, he can genuinely say this is a new, exciting government."

However, Mr Hooton said the reasons why NZ First would not go with a Labour-Green coalition was, "he has said very strongly a National government would represent change", and then there was the "mocking of the Greens as we've seen this week". 

He said he wasn't sure Mr Peters would want to be reliant on a majority based on a merger of MPs such as Eugenie Sage and Chloe Swarbrick from the Green with NZ First MPs Shane Jones and Ron Mark. 

"That seems a bit tricky to me," Mr Hooton said.