Article by Craig McCulloch of RNZ
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has dismissed New Zealand First’s criticism of National’s economic strategy, stating that Winston Peters holds strong opinions that are not surprising.
During an interview on RNZ’s Morning Report today, Peters criticized Luxon’s support for asset sales as a “baseless argument.” Peters accused National of wanting to “dispose of those [assets]” due to their alleged failure in managing the economy.
Responding to Peters’ comments as he entered a caucus meeting at Parliament, Luxon expressed his lack of concern over his coalition partner’s remarks.
“Winston Peters has been a fixture in politics for decades. His entrenched views on various matters are well-known to me and the public.”
Luxon reiterated that the government has no plans to sell state assets in the current term but emphasized the importance of discussing the optimal utilization of government funds.
He mentioned that National and NZ First will outline their policies in the coming year and campaign on them leading up to the 2026 election.
“Winston has his perspective, and I have mine. Given his long tenure in politics, his differing opinions are not unexpected.”
Luxon emphasized that it is common for coalition partners to have differing views, especially in an election year, and reassured that such differences do not hinder the government’s functioning.
Regarding Peters’ claim about the economy’s slow turnaround, Luxon stated that all three coalition parties are diligently working towards economic improvement.
“As a coalition government, we are united in our efforts. While parts of the economy have rebounded successfully, there are challenges that need to be addressed.”
In his Morning Report interview, Peters praised Singapore’s economic model, but Luxon pointed out Singapore’s practice of selling assets to reinvest the capital effectively.
Peters also opposed the potential sale of the government’s stake in the telecommunications lines company Chorus, a move advocated for by Finance Minister Nicola Willis.
Luxon mentioned that Willis is still gathering information, and the government will deliberate on the next steps in due course.
“We will convene at Cabinet, have a thorough discussion, and determine the appropriate course of action,” Luxon stated.
“The decision for New Zealanders lies in whether they prefer funds tied up in Chorus debt or allocated towards essential infrastructure like hospitals or schools.”
Labour leader Chris Hipkins reacted to Peters’ acknowledgment of the government’s economic challenges by describing it as “remarkable.”
Hipkins remarked, “If this is their public discourse, one can only imagine their private discussions. The discord seems evident.”
