Bill English, waiting... Photo: Getty ImagesNational Party leader Bill English expects a phone call with Winston Peters in the next few days to start negotiating the formation of a new government. He repeatedly said a two-party coalition would be more stable than one made up by Labour, the Green Party and New Zealand First. "If we had the vote that the Labour Party got then we would be talking about how to deal with being in Opposition. "The shortest path to stable government is a two-party coalition between National and New Zealand First." A three-way coalition with a "weaker" Labour Party would be "quite complex", English said, saying last night's results had been "reasonably decisive".

Source: Otago Daily Times September 24, 2017 05:15 UTC