Winston Peters has declared New Zealand First won’t join a governing coalition with Labour after the 2023 election. Many voters will recall Peters explicitly ruled out National before the 1996 election and then formed a coalition with them anyway. Depending on final election results, a minority coalition could form a government if it has the support of another party (or parties) on confidence and supply votes. If the election dates set in 2014, 2017 and 2020 (before COVID intervened) are any guide, we’d expect the election to be on September 23. But the final vote count and the government formation negotiations (which could be drawn out) would then come close to the Christmas break.

Source: New Zealand Herald November 27, 2022 02:33 UTC