The election was over a week ago and it looks like talks at forming agovernment will kick off this week
Where we are at so far:
- National (previous government) 58 seats,
- Labour and the Greens 52 combined
- New Zealand First won 9
- 61 seats required for a majority - which means NZ First decision on which side to support is key
- There are still votes to be counted ('special' votes) which may change the results I quoted above a little, not by much, but in such a close race any change will be important. These votes will be counted by October 7
- NZ First leader Peters says he will begin talks this week
- Nationals leader Bill English tried to call Peters over the weekend but the two did not speak - Peters said he was out of cell phone range. (ps. I can't speak for NZ but I was 100kms out of Australia's 2nd largest city on Friday evening and I didn't have cell phone coverage where I was)
- Peters says he expects to complete all talks and reach a decision by October 12
The man of the moment Winston Peters
