Peters will negotiate with largest party

Tim Donoghue reports in the Dom Post that Winston Peters has confirmed that NZ First will negotiate post-election with the largest party. Of course that depends on whether they make it back.

Now this does not mean that they will automatically support the largest party.  It means they will give them first preference to negotiate an acceptable deal. It won’t be like in 1996 when parallel negotiations occurred with both major parties.

It is interesting that Peters is signalling that the balance of power will be a choice between him and the Maori Party.  That’s quite a smart tactic which may appeal to his core support.