Politics Live Blog: September 4-10
Hipkins: Peters brings 'division' and 'chaos'
Braden Fastier / Stuff
Labour leader Chris Hipkins has also criticised NZ First leader Winston Peters' comments on indigenous people.
He said Peters telling public meetings that Māori aren't "indigenous" was an attempt by Peters to stoke division.
"Māori are indigenous to New Zealand," Hipkins told reporters in Nelson a few moments ago.
"It's another example of the sorts of divisive policies that Winston Peters would bring to a National, ACT, New Zealand First government."
Hipkins and Peters have ruled out working with each other after the election, despite Peters siding with the Jacinda Ardern-led Labour party in 2017.
In most recent polls, NZ First has been just below the 5% threshold required to return to Parliament. Some polls have had the party above that threshold, which would require a three-party coalition of National, ACT and NZ First to form the next government.
"I think what's going to be tragic, is a National, ACT, New Zealand First government where Winston Peters and David Seymour would just be running circles around Christopher Luxon," Hipkins said.
"Peters is a force for chaos in any government that he has been a part of. And his track record shows that he would destabilize any government."
Both Luxon and Seymour have told Stuff they also disagree with Peters' comments about Māori not being indigenous to Aoteaora. But Peters doubled down during another public meeting, in Blenheim, this afternoon.
Seymour said the comment showed Peters was "desperate".
Luxon said Peters was wrong, but refused to say if he would enter a coalition with NZ First. He also refused to say where he would draw the line on working with Peters.
He said Peters telling public meetings that Māori aren't "indigenous" was an attempt by Peters to stoke division.
"Māori are indigenous to New Zealand," Hipkins told reporters in Nelson a few moments ago.
"It's another example of the sorts of divisive policies that Winston Peters would bring to a National, ACT, New Zealand First government."
Hipkins and Peters have ruled out working with each other after the election, despite Peters siding with the Jacinda Ardern-led Labour party in 2017.
In most recent polls, NZ First has been just below the 5% threshold required to return to Parliament. Some polls have had the party above that threshold, which would require a three-party coalition of National, ACT and NZ First to form the next government.
"I think what's going to be tragic, is a National, ACT, New Zealand First government where Winston Peters and David Seymour would just be running circles around Christopher Luxon," Hipkins said.
"Peters is a force for chaos in any government that he has been a part of. And his track record shows that he would destabilize any government."
Both Luxon and Seymour have told Stuff they also disagree with Peters' comments about Māori not being indigenous to Aoteaora. But Peters doubled down during another public meeting, in Blenheim, this afternoon.
Seymour said the comment showed Peters was "desperate".
Luxon said Peters was wrong, but refused to say if he would enter a coalition with NZ First. He also refused to say where he would draw the line on working with Peters.