Luxon and Hipkins Refuse Deadlines for Coalition Talks

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and opposition leader Chris Hipkins have refused to establish a fixed deadline for coalition negotiations following the upcoming election. The lack of a timeline leaves the formation of a new government uncertain before the Christmas holiday.

Luxon indicated that formal negotiations will likely only commence after the final vote count is released on November 27. While he expressed a hope to reach an agreement before Christmas, he stated that the process will take as long as necessary.

Hipkins noted that while securing a deal before the holidays is a priority, the late date of the election could make the process more challenging. Both leaders emphasized that the eventual timeline and the strength of their negotiating positions depend entirely on the mandates provided by voters in the final results.