"Everyone knows each other": Seymour optimistic experience will lead to faster coalition talks

ACT Leader David Seymour is cautiously confident the coalition could have speedier post-election negotiations this year, compared to 2023.  

National, ACT, and New Zealand First took 40-days to strike a deal after the last election.  

Both the Leaders of National and Labour have promised to try to finish negotiations by Christmas, but no firm promises have been made.  

Seymour told Mike Hosking on the Leaders Breakfast he can't speak for his colleagues in NZ First or National, but they have experience on side this time.  

He says himself and the other party leaders all know each other and have worked together. 

Seymour acknowledged compromise is necessary but says their proposal to remove tax from KiwiSaver is an important aspect of their policy platform. 

He also made it clear though that proposals by potential partners for compulsory KiwiSaver are a "non-starter". 

He didn’t express regret when asked about the level of reform the Government had been unable to progress, again pointing to the need for compromise. 

When asked if this morning’s RNZ Reid Research poll putting National below 25% was an outlier, Seymour didn’t provide a direct answer although noted Reid Research in 2023 had National lower than what it ended up on election night. 

Seymour argued ACT had “come of age as a party”, lauding the efforts of his ministers in Government. 

He believed ACT candidate James Christmas would win the Tamaki seat and likened National’s current candidate to Simon O’Connor, who lost the long-time National seat to Brooke van Velden in 2023. 

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