From NZ Herald · · 3m
Very tight election: Luxon won't commit to government by Christmas
National leader says coalition negotiations will take time before Christmas.
In brief
National leader says coalition negotiations will take time before Christmas. National leader Christopher Luxon says a new government won't be confirmed by Christmas due to tight election results and need for official vote counting. Originally reported by NZ Herald.
Election campaign tightens
It's the final week of the election campaign and parties are under pressure to pull out all the stops before voting closes on Saturday.
Over a million votes cast
More than one million Kiwis have already cast their votes ahead of Saturday's election, accounting for more than a quarter of those enrolled.
NZ First leader's stance
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters says whether Michael Laws is a party MP after the election remains a 'live issue'.
Laws supports board meeting
NZ First candidate Michael Laws says he supports Winston Peters' decision to hold a board meeting to decide his future with the party following comments made about the Opportunity Party’s female candidates.
Laws' sexist comments
Laws made sexist comments about his female political opponents in Opportunity on The Platform last week.
Laws' apology
Laws said he deeply regretted causing offence and that his comments were made in his 'usual sort of stand-up comic/editorial routine'.
Laws' MP status
Laws is sixth on NZ First's list and is essentially guaranteed to become an MP, given NZ First's current polling.
Peters' reaction
Peters said women in NZ First were 'very annoyed' by Laws' comments.
Luxon on government timing
National leader Christopher Luxon says a new government won't be confirmed by Christmas due to tight election results and need for official vote counting.
Luxon's Christmas comment
Luxon said New Zealanders will enjoy their Christmas and summer holidays regardless, but we'll move as quickly as we possibly can through negotiations.
Luxon on vote counting
Luxon said the official results are set to be declared on November 27 and negotiations will start after the vote count.
Luxon on coalition
Luxon said the election is very tight and coalition negotiations will take as long as it takes to form a government.
Luxon on market impact
Luxon agreed with traders that a Labour-Green Government could lead to a selloff of the New Zealand dollar and higher bond yields.
Market concerns
Traders worry a left-leaning Government could worsen the cost of living through higher taxes and more government spending.
Laws' clarification
Laws said he would not be continuing to campaign if he didn't believe in New Zealand First's policies and that he was dedicated to the party's aims.
Laws' resignation comment
Laws said reporting that he would resign if elected would be a misquote and he would accept the party board's decision.
The short version
National leader Christopher Luxon says a new government won't be confirmed by Christmas due to tight election results and need for official vote counting.
