'You can finish now and have your beauty sleep, but we're not' – Peters on form with response to reporter's question about coalition talks

October 9, 2017

The NZ First leader wasn't giving much away as emerged out of the second round of talks with National after meeting Labour earlier today.

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters says his team hasn't finished work today after coalition talks with National and Labour.

Mr Peters said yesterday that talks could go on late tonight, but he emerged at 6pm from a second round of talks with National. 

"You can finish off now and go and have beauty sleep, but we're not," he told a reporter.

Mr Peters confirmed his team will meet again with Labour at 9.30am tomorrow, then the NZ First caucus will meet, before further talks with National at midday.

The issue of foreign ownership has emerged as a top priority in talks.

"And Labour probably later in the day as well. Maybe two with National as well," he said. 

On day two of 'formal' talks to form a government, Mr Peters remained tight lipped on the specifics but dropped hints about what he hopes the talks will achieve. 

The NZ First leader wasn't giving much away as emerged out of the second round of talks with National after meeting Labour earlier today.

"These talks are about a change in the way this country is run both economically and socially," he said earlier in the day.

One policy New Zealand First has always advocated to bring about that change is tighter restrictions on foreigners buying Kiwi farms, houses and businesses, and today Mr Peters signaled the issue is on the negotiating table.

"I don't think there is anybody in the press gallery that would not think foreign ownership is not part of these talks," he told reporters at Parliament. 

Day two of formal negotiations started with Mr Peters having fun with the media.

When it comes to policy on restricting foreign ownership, Labour is closer to NZ First than National as it also advocates a ban on foreign home buyers.

"We're now are in a position where we're discussing quite a bit of policy detail which moves us further along in these negotiations," Labour leader Jacinda Ardern said after meeting with NZ First.

Labour, however, isn't just talking to NZ First, with Ms Ardern saying: "Labour of course working at the same time with the Green Party in negotiations that will continue tomorrow."

Just what role the Greens will play in any Labour-led government involving NZ First isn't yet clear, but leader James Shaw is upbeat, confident there could be a Labour-led government. 

National leader Bill English however was critical of the Greens today, suggesting a deal involving NZ First, Labour and the Greens would be problematic. 

"In a way it's simpler for him (Winston Peters) dealing with National and National dealing with him because on the other side of it you've got Labour and the Greens and in the end he has to deal with both of them so that probably does put a squeeze on the timetable," Mr English told TVNZ1's Breakfast.

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