September 17th, 2024
National Leader Christopher Luxon has announced today that the party will not consider a coalition with Te Pāti Māori in forming a National-led government following the 2023 elections.
“National is focused on making life better for all New Zealanders. We believe New Zealand is one country with one standard of citizenship, meaning one person, one vote," Luxon said.
He suggested that the ideological gap between National and Te Pāti Māori is too significant to bridge.
“The bridge between National and Te Pāti Māori is too wide to close," Luxon affirmed.
Today I have announced that National has ruled out coming to any arrangement with Te Pāti Māori in forming a National-led government after the 2023 election.
— Christopher Luxon (@chrisluxonmp) May 9, 2023
We believe New Zealand is one country with one standard of citizenship, meaning one person, one vote.
The National leader also highlighted that Te Pāti Māori in 2023 is a very different entity compared to the one with which National had signed a confidence and supply agreement three times since 2008.
He further asserted that voting for Te Pāti Māori would essentially amount to supporting a "Labour/Greens/Māori Party Coalition of Chaos and continued economic mis-management".
Luxon pledged that a National government would focus on strong economic management to mitigate the cost-of-living crisis and augment incomes for all Kiwis.
“National is deeply committed to improving outcomes for Māori, but doesn’t believe separate systems is the best way to do this," Luxon declared, underlining the party's commitment to enhancing outcomes for Māori within the framework of a unified system.
He also said that National would be vigorously campaigning for every party vote in the forthcoming elections, aiming to form the stable government that New Zealand requires.