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Judith Collins rules out working with NZ First

Author
Nicholas Jones, NZ Herald,
Publish Date
Sat, 18 Jul 2020, 2:04PM
Judith Collins after helping put up a new election billboard today. Photo / Sylvie Whinray
Judith Collins after helping put up a new election billboard today. Photo / Sylvie Whinray

Judith Collins rules out working with NZ First

Author
Nicholas Jones, NZ Herald,
Publish Date
Sat, 18 Jul 2020, 2:04PM

National leader Judith Collins appears to have ruled out working with NZ First after the election - and says Winston Peters and his party are probably on the way out, anyway.

Former leader Simon Bridges in February announced a decision by his MPs that the party wouldn't work with NZ First to form a Government after September's election.

When Todd Muller took over as National leader he said it was possible that the decision could be revisited in future, and he'd make clear the final decision before the campaign.

Now Collins has slammed the door shut on the chances of reversing the decision not to work with NZ First.

"We have made that very plain as a caucus and as a party, and I know a lot of our party supporters and voters certainly wanted us to do that.

"I'm pretty clear - the caucus has decided it. That's the caucus view."

The National leader spoke to media after putting up new campaign billboards in her Papakura electorate, joking that the electric drill reminded her of holding a Taser. NZ First is holding its annual conference in Auckland today and tomorrow.

Collins said she had a cordial relationship with Peters - "he's always pleasant with me, and I'm always pleasant to him" - but that didn't mean they could be in Government together.

"This is not likely, because I don't know his party's going to be there after the election.

"It's really important to understand the caucus has said that they don't want to do a deal with Winston Peters. There is no reason that I know that we are going to change that.

"My view is I'm just not worried about him, or his party vote. I'm focussed on the National Party vote."

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