Derek Mackie: Coalition News Blues

We cast our votes and they've been tallied 

The good folks woke up and now we're ready for change

It's over a month since we all rallied 

To dump hard Labour and stop that brother eat brother exchange

But the victors they're still dealin’ 

Tradin’ policies and posts in secret ‘til they're satisfied 

In the meantime, the media’s been left feelin’ 

Ignored, outside the tent, and nursin’ wounded pride 

Kerre Woodham: What exactly are National, ACT and NZ First all willing to compromise on?

So another week, another five days of negotiations it appears as National, Act and NZ First hammer out the conditions required for forming a government.

Christopher Luxon, the Prime Minister-in-waiting, was on with Mike Hosking this morning and he says while the three parties may agree on most issues, there are sticking points - tax and ACT’s referendum on the Treaty clearly being two of them, given the pause of inner turmoil that occurred when Mike Hosking put the acid on Christopher Luxon.