Cunliffe: It's just 'Winston being Winston'

Left, Winston Peters. Right, David Cunliffe. Photo / NZ Herald file

Labour leader David Cunliffe said he isn't concerned by Winston Peters' comments that he wouldn't work with the Mana Party.

The NZ First leader said he wouldn't work with either the Maori or Mana Parties.

"We are not going to be in any combination that is race based -- that is with the Maori Party or the Mana Party," Mr Peters said.

"We've made it very clear we think that separatism is extraordinarily damaging for this country."

Mr Cunliffe told TV3 this morning that Mr Peters' comments wouldn't affect the parties forming a coalition after the election.

"I think it's a classic example of Winston being Winston... it doesn't make too much difference to us," he said.

"The parties we expect to be in government with are the Greens and potentially NZ First so Mr Peters' comments don't really make any difference to that arrangement.

"I don't expect internet-Mana to be in the executive, to be part of the government in that sense."

Mr Cunliffe has not ruled out relying on internet-Mana to form a government after the election.