Christopher Luxon: National Leader on winning the election and what comes next

Published: Oct. 15, 2023, 6:55 p.m.

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Incoming Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says he wants to "get cracking on" building relationships and starting conversations with respective political parties in forming a government.\\xa0

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Speaking to Newstalk ZB\'s Mike Hosking this morning, he acknowledged there is a large chunk of special votes still needing to be counted.\\xa0

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Asked about his thinking on NZ First and party leader Winston Peters, he said: "I would prefer as I\'ve always said, in a coalition National and ACT - I think that would be the strongest and simplest way to do it."\\xa0

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But he said there are other things to consider, namely special votes and an overhang.\\xa0

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"What I want to do is progress the relationship, progress arrangements. And we might move at different rates and different paces, with respective parties, but actually want to get on with that."\\xa0

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Pushed on Peters and whether or not he would be part of the new government, Luxon was firm: "Again, I\'m not going to go into that. I\'m really not."\\xa0

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"As I\'ve said, my preference is to work with National and ACT - if we can do it alone, we will. But as I said, I\'d pick up the phone and we would work with Mr Peters and New Zealand First."\\xa0

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