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Welcome to the Politics Briefing as MPs gather at Parliament for their first caucus meetings after Labour wasswept from office on Saturday.
Were it not for those ministerial scandals during the year, Michael Wood and Kiri Allan would have almost certainly been contenders, which only serves to highlight how devastating their behaviour was for the party. Members will be tempted to blame the election loss on the absence of a wealth tax. It is my firm view that if a wealth tax had been Labour’s policy, it would be being blamed right now for Labour’s loss. There was no single reason.
Whatever else happens, Hipkins has given a commitment to remain as the MP for Remutaka. And Grant Robertson has given a commitment to stick around to help get Labour established as a “ship-shape” opposition. He and Hipkins, who both entered Parliament in 2008, have had more experience in Opposition than Government.
Former leader and list MP Andrew Little has announced his retirement, saying he won’t take up his list position in the new Parliament.
Labour leader and outgoing Prime Minister Chris Hipkins speaks to the media ahead at Parliament today. Photo / George Heard
Let the coalition games begin
Christopher Luxon and Nicola Willis received a standing ovation at the start of National’s caucus meeting from current, new and former MPs. Former MPs, including former leader Todd Muller, were there to receive the traditional silver tray that National gives retiring and losing MPs.
Pre-coalition manoeuvres are underway, with Act leader David Seymour willing to publicly discuss what areas he will prioritise (the economy, crime and the Treaty of Waitangi) and Luxon wanting to hose down speculation about Act and New Zealand First.
No one is quite sure what Luxon means when he says he has been unimpressed with previous coalition negotiations, because negotiations have never been conducted in public. Party leaders, particularly New Zealand First’s Winston Peters, have often agreed to speak to the media during talks, as is their right. But Peters has never given anything away.
Luxon, however, was emphatic today that reports Peters had been offered the Speaker’s job were wrong. He did not elaborate, but it is well known that that is Sir John Key’s brainwave and that he believes Peters could be enticed by the prospect of a diplomatic posting and knighthood following a term as Speaker. That Key thinks Peters is so venal is likely to rankle with Peters.
National leader Christopher Luxon and deputy Nicola Willis with the party's 23 new MPs at Parliament. Photo / Mark Mitchell
While Luxon can plausibly deny the offer, because talks haven’t started, it is almost certain that Peters’ people have been sounded out about it. Hopefully it doesn’t go any further. Not only would Peters be an awful Speaker, it is difficult to imagine him having led the ultimate comeback only to be sidelined to the referee’s job. However, there would be plenty of people who would welcome him back as Foreign Minister, perhaps outside Cabinet.
“There is honour in losing this election to this girl” - Metiria Turei on veteran MP Nanaia Mahuta losing Hauraki-Waikato to 21-year-old Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke (TVNZ’s Marae).
“Get the stones red-hot before you cook the tucker” - Shane Jones compares coalition negotiations to a hangi.
“It’s all about moving from champagne to lemonade” - Outgoing Labour list MP Dan Rosewarne after telling media his Koru Club membership had been cancelled since the election result.
Quiz answer: Winston Peters first stood for National in 1975 in Northern Māori against Labour’s Matiu Rata.
Audrey Young is the New Zealand Herald’s senior political correspondent. She was named Political Journalist of the Year at the Voyager Media Awards in 2023, 2020 and 2018.
For more political news and views, listen to On the Campaign, the Herald’s politics podcast.
