One year on, Jacinda Ardern and Winston Peters reflect on the decision to work together

The Prime Minister and her deputy sat down with 1 NEWS political editor Jessica Mutch McKay.

As the Government sees its first year pass, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and deputy PM Winston Peters sat down to talk about the decision, and what happened in the moments leading up to the announcement. 

"I didn't know Jacinda Ardern at all before the coalition talks," the NZ First leader told 1 NEWS political editor Jessica Mutch McKay. "I think to be honest we may have had something for more than five minutes only once before that.

"The reality is you’re facing a need to run a country and you've got to look at the person then very, very closely. What's their track record on things like honestly, principle, keeping their word? That's what matters to my party.

"In that respect she had an un-blemished record."

Ms Ardern said her thoughts moments before watching Mr Peters announce NZ First would go with Labour and the Green Party were "just the same thing that every other New Zealander at that point was thinking".

"Just which way is it going to go?"

However, she said she gathered from Mr Peters' mention about whether or not the status quo had served people properly "was the moment I knew that it was Labour he'd chosen". 

Ms Ardern said she and Mr Peters then spoke on the phone, with him apologising for not having the chance to tell her beforehand.

"We'd only just made up our mind," he recalled today. "I was more focused on trying to prepare a speech.

"The thing I find most amusing about that night was being asked, 'Well, have you got any message for Jacinda Ardern?'  

"I'd just given her a message. The best message I possibly could."

The pair both said one year on that it had gone "better than expected".

"I think the fact in that short space of time we’ve been able to tick off so many of those agenda items for all parties I think is something I personally feel very proud of," Ms Ardern said. 

Mutch McKay asked the pair about any points of contention within the coalition.

"It's not rocket science, and equally it’s iterative - communication is key. We just talk it out, work it through," Ms Ardern said. 

"There is always a solution. It just takes time to find."

"I have not heard reports of you losing your rag," Mr Peters said to Ms Ardern. "And I haven't lost mine.

"In the end, nobody wants to be in Opposition. You want to make a change. And frankly, the level of social and economic need in this country was so great, it befits us all… to try and get it fixed." 

Watch the full 11-minute interview here:

It is just over a year ago that Winston Peters made the announcement to go with the Labour Party.

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