Politics Central

It's been 28 days from the 2023 election and one week since the final results were counted- and coalition talks are carrying on.

Chris Luxon and National will need NZ First and ACT to help form a new Government, after the special votes were weighed up.

Electoral law expert Graeme Edgeler says other Governments have taken extra time to get established, and that this isn't an isolated case.

"It really is the few extra days the recount had added to the timing. Once the recount's done, we'll have MPs and then anyone who's an MP can be a minister."

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It's been almost a month since the 2023 general election, and because of the special votes, and errors made by the Electoral Commission we still don't have our new Government formed.

Barrister and electoral law expert Graeme Edgeleshares his take on whether this electoral system needs to change to speed things up.

Later, United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Counter-terrorism Professor Ben Saul breaks down the international law crimes occurring in Gaza, and what outcomes to expect.

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A former Attorney General has faith the parties set to form the incoming Government will get over their differences.

The final election result shows National will need ACT and New Zealand First, if it wants to govern.

ACT leader David Seymour and New Zealand First's Winston Peters butted heads repeatedly during the campaign.

But Former National MP Chris Finlayson says they have plenty of overlap in policy.

He says there will be smart-aleck quips from time to time, but that's the way it is - and the system requires people to work together.

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ACT's David Seymour says the final election results haven't changed his relationship with Winston Peters- but it's their job to make it work now voters have decided.

National and Act now need New Zealand First to form a Government after National lost two seats in the special vote counts.

Seymour says he'd reached out to New Zealand First before that, but they haven't heard back.

"I think now they're clearly made part of a future governing arrangement by Friday's numbers, it's incumbent on them to show up and talk- and I'm sure they will."

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On Friday, the final election results were announced and NZ First brought in 8 seats and the ACT Party got 11.

How will these coalition agreements go? To give us his insight, Former Attorney General Chris Finlayson joins the Weekend Collective.

Later, David Seymour tells us what his bottom lines are- and why he hasn't changed his option of Winston Peters.

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Is Winston Peters senile or cynical?

Political commentator Matthew Hooton explains why Peters is unfit to be in government. Plus, Dr Paul G. Buchanan joins us to give his insight on Israel-Hamas war and why there might be no end in sight.

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The Israeli Defence Force is warning citizens in Gaza to evacuate to the south.

The IDF has apparently dropped flyers in the Sabrah neighbourhood warning people to flee urgently.

It's while the US military is sending more missile defence systems to the Middle East, and placing additional troops on a 'prepare-to-deploy' notice.

Otago University international relations professor, Robert Patman says there was a window of hope in the 90s in conversations around a two-state solution.

"We've never got back on track in terms of getting a serious negotiation going between the Palestinians and the Israelis. We've come close since then- and particularly in the 21st century, the issue has been side-lined."

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Phone calls and negotiations behind the scenes, as National and ACT look set to form the next Government.

With the special votes yet to confirm the make-up of the Beehive, both parties are likely to need New Zealand First in a three-way majority arrangement.

Former National MP Steven Joyce, was part of talks in 2017, when Winston Peters eventually sided with Labour and Jacinda Ardern.

He says it's a different situation now, as Peters had to choose between two parties, while this time Labour's already conceded.

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This week on Politics Central, Steven Joyce weighs in on the key challenges impacting Luxon and National in forming a Government, particularly in negations with their coalition partners.

Later, Professor Robert Patman provides an update on the Israel-Gaza war and how the US can navigate its involvement. 

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In 2020 the Labour Government won 65 seats, with National taking only 33.  

The tides well and truly changed last night at the 2023 election, and to wrap it all New Zealand Herald's Thomas Coughlan joined Tim Beverage on the Weekend Collective.  

Plus, on Saturday, a major setback to the country's efforts for reconciliation with its First Peoples. Australia rejected a proposal to recognise Indigenous people in the constitution. 

Australian correspondent Murray Olds joined to talk about the upset. 

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