New polling shows Winston Peters would be the kingmaker after this year’s election, but Labour leader Chris Hipkins said if that’s the case it will mean a new National-led government.
The Newshub Reid-Research poll had New Zealand First up to 5.2%, meaning they would bring six MPs back to parliament after October 14. It would propel the right bloc – which between National and Act would fall short on 60 seats – into government.
Appearing on Newshub’s AM show this morning (and sitting on the the “therapy” couch next to Ryan Bridge), Hipkins said New Zealanders were concerned about what a National-Act-New Zealand First government would mean.
“I’m doing fine, the polls last night showed National and Act are coming down,” he said. “The National Party are proposing a whole lot of cuts they’re not being upfront about. I get… it’s natural to think about change. But change to what?”
All of this is despite a Herald poll of polls revealing just a 0.2% chance of Labour being able to form a government on October 14. It would be the worst result for a major party after being in government since the Great Depression, the outlet reported.
On Peters specifically, Hipkins said he had made it clear that he wouldn’t work with him again and told RNZ that the New Zealand First leader was a “force for chaos” in government. “I made a principled decision to rule him out,” he said. “National-Act-New Zealand First would be absolute chaos for New Zealand, it would bring it backwards.”
It’s just under three weeks until polling day and early voting formally kicks off next week. Hipkins said that’s a long time in politics but that “every single day” matters in this campaign. “I’m going to be out there fighting for this,” he said. “We’re out there to remind New Zealanders what’s at stake. I’m very proud of our track record… [and] we’ve got a positive vision for the future.”
Hipkins told Newshub that while he would answer the phone if Peters called after the election, he would only do so because he’s not rude. But there’s no chance of them working together.
Newshub’s poll also showed Christopher Luxon was now the country’s preferred prime minister. “I don’t claim perfection but I do claim that I would be honest with New Zealand,” said Hipkins. “Ultimately that’s one poll out of many.”