New Zealand First leader Winston Peters says "everything is going well" in coalition talks with National.
Peters was in Wellington today, and spoke to 1News briefly outside Treasury, where the party is based until office space for parties is finalised.
That will likely come after final election results are revealed on Friday, after special votes have been counted.
On preliminary election results, Peters' party had attracted 6.46% of the party vote, earning it eight seats in Parliament, while National and ACT had 38.95% and 8.98% respectively, totalling 61 seats — a majority of just one seat.
While National leader Christopher Luxon repeatedly said on the campaign trail his preferred governing arrangement was a two-party coalition with ACT, the preliminary numbers mean it's likely New Zealand First would be included in a governing arrangement with National and ACT.
It's also possible official results will mean National and ACT's 61-seat majority drops, meaning New Zealand First is required to help form a National-led government — potentially strengthening the latter's bargaining position.
Since the October 14 election Luxon has conducted most negotiations in Auckland, and stressed that his approach is about building relationships and "chemistry".
On the day after the election Luxon said as a business leader doing "mergers and acquisttions" getting the "chemistry and getting the relationship right is the platform and the foundation for being able to work your way through the transactional issues".
1News also revealed Peters hosted Luxon and his wife Amanda for dinner at his home last week.
Asked today how negotiations were going, Peters told 1News "everything is going well".
He added he wouldn't discuss any outcomes of those talks until final election results were revealed on Friday.
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