Todd Muller won't rule out working with Winston Peters

Todd Muller says it's 'quite possible' that 'maybe' National could change its position and work with Winston Peters after the election

22nd May 20, 6:00pm by Jenée Tibshraeny

Nikki Kaye, Todd Muller. Pool image from RNZ.

National’s new leader, Todd Muller, isn’t ruling out working with New Zealand First after the September 19 election.

The party’s now ousted leader, Simon Bridges, in February said: “I don’t believe we can work with NZ First and have a constructive trusting relationship.

“When National was negotiating in good faith with NZ First after the last election, its leader was suing key National MPs and staff. I don’t trust NZ First and I don’t believe New Zealanders can either.”

Asked at Friday’s press conference whether National would reconsider its position, Muller said: “This issue has not been put in front of the caucus to even consider…

“It’s quite possible, maybe, that in the future we could refresh that - I don’t know.

“The caucus position is very clear. It has been clear since January. Let’s see if it changes in the future.”

According to both the latest Newshub-Reid Research and 1 News-Colmar Brunton polls, National would only get 41 seats in Parliament, even with the help of ACT, should there be an election now.

It would need a huge popularity bump before the September 19 election to secure the necessary 61 seats to govern without the support of additional coalition partners.

Meanwhile, NZ First wouldn’t make it back to Parliament, with support of around 2.8% of those polled.

NZ First’s way in could be through Shane Jones winning the Northland seat off National’s Matt King.

NZ First leader Winston Peters on Friday told Stuff he wished Muller "all the best" but didn't want to offer his immediate thoughts on potentially working with National.

Peters said he worked with Muller when he was the National MP for Tauranga and Muller was the head of the Waikato University Young Nats, and had been impressed with him then.

He said Muller inherited a "deeply divided caucus" with "far too many members dancing to a different number".

Muller later in the press conference mentioned the fact he set up the first Young Nats group at Waikato University. He then jokingly commented: “I probably shouldn’t say it, but I’ll say it anyway - our first guest to Waikato University was somebody who was the MP for Tauranga and he turned up with a wine box. I don’t know if you know who that guy is.”

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69 Comments

by Zack Brando | 22nd May 20, 6:14pm 1590128089

Todd Muller may be Catholic but is quick to abort [whole industries].

Lisa Owen (Tonight's RNZ Checkpoint):
"Alright, let's do some quick fire questions Todd, I want some sharp answers from you on these - no dilly-dallying, alright."

Lisa Owen's Question:
Legalize cannabis or not?

Todd Muller's Answer:
"No"

by muzled | 22nd May 20, 6:18pm 1590128313

Excellent question, sums his whole personality and plan up in a nutshell.

Life long gnational party wannabe.

Stale, pale male.

Even as a left leaner that's thoroughly disappointing.

by FCM | 22nd May 20, 7:00pm 1590130804

I Know, here I am trying get through to my 17 year old damaged done going out sinking 10 beers at a party, and trying to keep away from drugs etc...as you don't won't kill anyone driving home next day..damn anyone trying help parents like us, damn them

by Zack Brando | 22nd May 20, 7:18pm 1590131927

The governing National Party in 1999, led by Prime Minister Jenny Shipley lowered the drinking age.

I understand your point, It must be hard raising young-adults in a world of temptations, consumerism and secularism.

Let me also point out .. that 17 is not the legal drinking age ,, should we arrest and charge your teenager? Put him/her in a cage?

Cannabis could be a multi-billion-dollar pharmaceutical industry for NZ - employing thousands, helping millions.

by FCM | 22nd May 20, 7:24pm 1590132294

Yeah you tell every parent what legal drinking age is and pop into teenage party... that's exactly why we need political people with LIFE skills, not utopian ideas

by Speechless | 22nd May 20, 7:41pm 1590133280

If your kid will drink beers at 17 what makes you think he gives a sh*t whether or not weed is legal? If the 10 beers were illegal he would still be drinking them but he'd be buying them at a gang pad rather than getting a mate to pick them up at the local bottlo.

by FCM | 22nd May 20, 7:49pm 1590133752

You obviously have no children that are teenagers in 2020.

by Speechless | 22nd May 20, 8:00pm 1590134446

No I don't but I'm pretty sure I was one more recently than you.

(Edit: Way to go back and edit your comment halfway through the conversation. For the record folks the original comment was just 'You obviously have no children.')

by FCM | 22nd May 20, 7:52pm 1590133944

Well open your eyes....read the papers and go and talk to a few. you be very surprised. ..oh and by the way we all forget very quickly what were like as teenagers, go ask your parents.

by Speechless | 22nd May 20, 8:21pm 1590135679

Huh? What's that got to do with the point? Weed is already as common as salt in NZ. It's everywhere already and currently just funds gangs. It's more dangerous for your kid for it to be illegal than legal, that is the point.

(Edit: Can you stop editing comments after I reply to them? Chur.)

by FCM | 22nd May 20, 8:14pm 1590135260

It's common, but alcohol is sold on every corner in NZ, and teenagers get hold of it a lot more easily than weed. I would hate to see weed this easy to get, medical weed under strict conditions no problem. But NZ is not mature enough for weed to be available on every street corner...we not even mature drinkers

by Speechless | 22nd May 20, 8:20pm 1590135621

"and teenagers get hold of it a lot more easily than weed"

Oh boy, it really has been a while since you were a teenager huh...

Look, weed is significantly less dangerous as an actual drug than alcohol. Any danger around weed comes pretty much entirely from the fact that it's illegal. Alcohol being the one that's legal is incredibly arbitrary in the first place.

Amsterdam has not descended into chaos yet. Relax, it will be fine.

by FCM | 22nd May 20, 8:32pm 1590136355

You are not a parent so have no idea..you speak like a teenager.. grow up. Weed is something they may dabble in, alcohol is common place. Weed is common place, meth is something they dabble in. Dangerous spiral, but as you have no children you have no idea in what parents try teach and quide their kids, so don't even try justify your comments.

by muzled | 22nd May 20, 9:25pm 1590139539

FCM, just because someone tries pot doesn't mean they're hooked and on the downward spiral to shooting up heroin, just like someone who snorts a line of cocaine isn't going to instantly pick up a habit of Stevie Nicks proportions and turn out a societal disaster (she certainly didn't even though she had her issues)

If you think kids (yours or mine) aren't going to try drugs then you're somewhat delusional I'd say.

And as for saying to someone 'you're not a parent so you have no idea', that's just plain daft. No parent wants to see their kids hooked on drugs (be it booze or P or sleeping pills) but having a glass of wine is no more a downward spiral than trying weed/cocaine/ecstacy/P/cask wine or speights.

If in turn your or my kids get hooked on said substance/s then that's an addiction issue that was going to come out in one form or another and should be dealt with appropriately, not by banning everything that the alcohol and big pharma industries have taught the world to despise.

That sounds like a 'good Christian' stance that really is out of touch with reality and the exact reason why the likes of Muller (and a good chunk of his party) will struggle. (imo)

by Speechless | 22nd May 20, 9:28pm 1590139680

Haha oh wow.

Addict. Four years sober. Don't tell me what I know.

You think you're protecting your kid by opposing legalisation and regulation. You're doing the opposite of what you're trying to achieve.

by Kate | 22nd May 20, 8:28pm 1590136137

I'd rather both cannabis and alcohol-to-go products were sold only in government-run retail outlets. I believe that is how Canada operates in many of its provinces.

by muzled | 22nd May 20, 9:29pm 1590139770

I'd agree with that Kate.

Every other corner, especially in the low socio-demographic areas has a booze shop, the councils should hang their heads in shame.

West Auckland is great with the Portage licencing trust, puts a lot of money back into the community and takes away those nasty corner shops.

Weed should most definitely be a govt run thing when it gets legalised. Having corporate greed involved in that is something that should be avoided for sure.

by Solve_it | 23rd May 20, 7:06pm 1590217585

Trust Kate to come up with the smartest comment here. Absolutely and whole heartedly agree. When someone has the ability to make money off something, greed has a way of corrupting and distorting things. Substances are by their nature high risk and need to be dealt with in an appropriate way relative to their ability to cause harm.

by Ex Expat | 22nd May 20, 8:01pm 1590134490

Exactly. I notice Cindy isn’t risking her beatification on this topic. It’s a big No in our house, although the children may vote differently and cancel is out. Pot will fail and Euthanasia will Pass.

by Speechless | 22nd May 20, 8:04pm 1590134679

You vote ACT so you're automatically out of touch with how the vast majority of the population thinks

by muzled | 22nd May 20, 9:35pm 1590140104

I think it'll be the other way around EE, and it'll be as big a yes in a lot of houses as it is a no in your house.

Pot is a lot less complicated than euthanasia though. And legalising weed will be like banning smoking in bars, everyone will look back in 12 months time and wonder what all the fuss was about and wonder why it didn't happen earlier.

As far as the result of the outcome i think both are prob 50/50 at this stage though.

by vman | 22nd May 20, 7:14pm 1590131688

You are right,good to see him oppose drugs...but as long as he remembers it is every National country boy/mans right to get on the turps and drive home from the rugby club.We like to stick to our legal drugs...

by FCM | 22nd May 20, 7:28pm 1590132519

I'm a realist mate, this is the reality we try our best, but teenagers are like zoombies, that awesome wee baby grows up, then they try oppose everything you installed in them, so any help we can get is a bonus, especially not legalising dope, we have hard enough job with alcohol, that's my point

by vman | 22nd May 20, 8:00pm 1590134412

I hear ya mate,I have 3 of them.I used to be really opposed to legalising,but when you find out one of your own has driven to Clendon to buy a tinnie from some dodgy house,you start to think,you will never stop it.I'd rather he popped down to the local dispensary as he would with alcohol in a safe environment than frequenting those places.(he is over 18)

by Speechless | 22nd May 20, 8:24pm 1590135884

"they try oppose everything you installed in them"

And yet you don't understand why weed being illegal makes it MORE attractive to them?

by Kate | 22nd May 20, 8:39pm 1590136792

Totally anecdotal but I've noticed all kinds of people who over-drink that get obnoxious, aggressive and pass-out wasted. Excessively stoned people get mellowed, find everything funny, or amazing - sometimes get a bit paranoid, but never particularly aggressive or offensive.

by KH | 22nd May 20, 9:06pm 1590138408

Kate. ".... Stoned people get mellow..." yes. And too many never get off the couch again.

by Kate | 22nd May 20, 9:14pm 1590138878

Is that an actual observation? All the stoners I know work.

by Speechless | 22nd May 20, 9:30pm 1590139844

I have never ever seen a stoned person get in a fight.

by Kate | 22nd May 20, 9:44pm 1590140646

Same.

by Kate | 22nd May 20, 9:44pm 1590140669

by Plutocracy | 23rd May 20, 10:44am 1590187467

They're probably all too busy listening to music, pondering philosophy, enjoying food and having deep chats with their friends.

What terrible people. They're clearly a massive threat to society and it's best to lock them up! /s

by Jarlaith | 23rd May 20, 8:36am 1590179787

I think you mean instilled.

by Foreign buyer | 22nd May 20, 7:42pm 1590133332

Stale, pale, male?

Please replace each word separately with its corresponding antonym and tell me if you think this snide comment is neither racist or sexist?

by Rosenstein | 22nd May 20, 10:04pm 1590141871

Fresh, Dark, Female.

I just wanted to see it written down.

Looking forward to someone in journalism trying to make it an acceptable phrase. Maybe John Campbell, when he's interviewing Golriz Ghahraman next, could introduce her as such. "And now, it's my pleasure to introduce Golriz, the first MP in NZ from a refugee background, fresh, dark and female, welcome Golriz!"

by Solve_it | 23rd May 20, 8:58am 1590181080

Don't have a problem with legalisation. Commercialisation I am strongly opposed to.

by muzled | 22nd May 20, 6:14pm 1590128093

OMG, I'm gobsmacked!

by Foxglove. | 22nd May 20, 6:33pm 1590129227

Guess all of NZ has the opportunity to prove Mr Muller’s opinion right or wrong by way of the referendum. Except of course those that, either way, are incapable of accepting that outcome, in a democracy, if it is contrary to their own viewpoint and interest.

by Zack Brando | 22nd May 20, 6:41pm 1590129694

"Except of course those that, either way, are incapable of accepting that outcome in a democracy .."

Are you describing Muller?? The readership here know the referendum isn't binding. At this point it's just a case of OK BOOMER.

by The_4th_estate | 22nd May 20, 6:23pm 1590128633

Just another Simon Bridges but without the hair. The Nats just don't realise how out of touch they are with the rest of the Country. While they might be the party of choice for a farmer who lives in the McKenzie Country merrily polluting the environment with his herd of 9000 dairy cows and a pivot irrigator...neither Muller or Kaye will count in the eyes of the voting public because they represent a party that was hopeless for 6 out of the 9 years in government and still can't see the political landscape has changed dramatically over the past 5 to 6 years. HINT: It's called diversity.

by FCM | 22nd May 20, 7:43pm 1590133395

By September majority people will vote for who they think can have polices to save their jobs and livelyhoods, regardless of the party. The fallout from corona will be in full force then.

by The_4th_estate | 22nd May 20, 10:30pm 1590143426

Well I doubt the Nats will have any answers, how can they by virtue of being hopelessly blinkered preachers of orthodoxy? Bullet and bible stuff...might as well be baptists...

by Ex Expat | 22nd May 20, 7:58pm 1590134282

Thank goodness. I thought Muller and Co were too left but if they have your disapproval they must be ok.

by FCM | 22nd May 20, 8:50pm 1590137401

Nikki Kaye is jacindas kyrptonite

by Glitzy | 22nd May 20, 8:22pm 1590135722

I cant see Winston Peters wanting to jump into bed with the National Party at the moment. National simply seem out of touch and unelectable.

Perhaps after a real drumming in the next election they will have a complete overhaul of the party. They really need it.

by printer8 | 22nd May 20, 9:37pm 1590140237

Glitzy
Hopefully I cant see Winston being able to jump into bed with anyone . . . . and while that 2.7% NZF support is encouraging news, unfortunately Winston will pull out the China/immigration/race card(s) over the next few months to attract redneck support. .

by NZChinese | 22nd May 20, 10:49pm 1590144564

The problem is that NZF is part of the government. The card you mentioned is effective if they were in the opposition. They are the victim of their own 'success' if you like...

by Beanie | 22nd May 20, 10:52pm 1590144769

He has already lost them for doing nothing about excessive immigration. They won't forget or forgive.

by sharetrader | 22nd May 20, 11:14pm 1590146087

Winston will be counting on national not getting above 40%, then he will suck in some voters who will want him to put the breaks on a labour/green government.
after all if labour greens get in with a big enough majority they could pull out the CGT as a way of repaying the loans

by Foxglove. | 23rd May 20, 7:53am 1590177190

True, think the prospect of a Labour/Greens only government would alarm most of the electorate. Obviously CV19 has introduced a need for greatly increased government revenue. It is only fair and reasonable that both Labour and National should provide pre-election what their policy is to be in that regard as the people of NZ have a right to know what lies in store, how it will affect them, and choose accordingly. CGT though would not provide significant revenue near soon enough for the current circumstances.

by Solve_it | 23rd May 20, 9:17am 1590182231

CGT + means test super. The best chance we have of addressing the issue

by Foxglove. | 23rd May 20, 8:27am 1590179250

WP is a proven strategist, on top of a whole heap of parliamentary experience, good and bad. So the door to National is now suddenly ajar. That might just clinch Labour doing an Epsom or Ohariu for NZF somewhere up north.

by Rob | 22nd May 20, 11:07pm 1590145665

I see him a a night watchman before Luxon gets in next year. Hope nationals policy won’t be mainly on increasing immigration to grow things which seems to Australia’s plan.

by sharetrader | 22nd May 20, 11:17pm 1590146275

i see Australia already calling to open the borders to students with no plan in place for isolation. i hope our government does a trial with a university to see if they can isolate and test students to let them back in.

by streetwise | 22nd May 20, 11:30pm 1590147003

I'm a spoilt baby boomer aged 72 years and I've never been able to settle on one particular party, but I have mainly voted Labour because basically I'm a humanist at heart. I don't like seeing people suffer. However, I have to incorporate some sympathy for National because I've been a self-employed small businessman for most of my life and that's how I've made a living, being incapable of doing anything else.
So, a couple of times I've voted for National back in the early days when trade unions were bent on bringing businesses to their knees. I witnessed this in the mid to late 1960's when I worked two consecutive summer holidays at Hellaby's meat works at Westfield....my mate was sacked on the spot for refusing to join the union. Later on I worked for a time at Pacific Steel where the unions virtually ran the place. I've also voted a couple of times for NZF, including at the last election where I voted strategically to get rid of National; I can't stand the navy-blue-suited corporate set. Another thing I can't stand are those ultra-conservative religious types, especially Catholics like Maggie Barry and evangelicals like Colin Craig. I would hope for his sake that Todd Muller keeps his Catholicism to himself, as Bill English mainly did, and doesn't try to impose his loopy morality on everyone else if he ever gets into power.

FCM: I really sympathize; if you're having these problems with your son I can only suggest that it is a phase that many young people go through and try to be supportive rather than ranting and raving at him (easier said than done). Unfortunately, under the Key government liquor stores proliferated to the extent that they now exist on every street corner in vulnerable neighbourhoods; they are mainly operated by Indians who probably came to NZ under the guise of "skilled workers". But the Key government didn't care, that's one of the reason's I voted to get rid of it.

by Foxglove. | 23rd May 20, 7:01am 1590174065

Tks for that. Parallel to most of it myself. Particularly how & why I voted last time.

by vman | 23rd May 20, 7:21am 1590175278

Well said streetwise,you are correct about the corner liquor stores,a scourge on society,but loved by corporate alcohol companies etc.
But then most of the RTD type manufacturers would be classed as 'entrepeneurs' and to be encouraged.
As you say,mainly run by Indians,part of Nationals voter base,hardworking small business owners like Bhushan Kumar Bansal in this aerticle,ripping off his own people,essentially slaves;https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/112560189/super-liquor-mt-albert-worke….
And I am sure those owners take the RTDs home to their daughters so they can get on the piss and go to parties too.(sarc)
Question is,will Todd revisit Nationals policy on a voters worth,i.e is it still "2Chinese are worth more than 2 Indians"
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/107914931/jamilee-ross-and-si…

by muzled | 23rd May 20, 8:05am 1590177936

Great post streety!

I'm sure a lot of people that vote both Lab or Nat will agree with 99% of what you've said.

Note how Maggie is retiring at this election, exactly 9 years after she got in, which just so happens to coincide with the timing when you get all the perks. She's a horrible piece of work that lady, up there with Coleman.

by Carlos67 | 23rd May 20, 7:08am 1590174494

National need to kick Winnie to the curb.

by Ex Expat | 23rd May 20, 1:25pm 1590197147

Yes, but leaving the door open is smart. It might stop Cindy gifting Jones a seat in case that seat goes to National via a deal post election.

by bw | 23rd May 20, 8:43am 1590180232

(DP)

by Mr Ed | 23rd May 20, 12:51pm 1590195074

Another religo “ social conservative “ leading the national party. Dinosaur.

by Boatman | 24th May 20, 12:05pm 1590278711

Most New Zealanders when asked in the last Census said they were Christians

by Mr Ed | 24th May 20, 12:18pm 1590279517

Where did you get that piece of misinformation ?
Religion does not play a major role in the lives of many of the population.. . Less than half represented themselves as Christians in the last census . The national party is and always has been riddled with “moral majority “ religious types , some of them secretly .

by Kate | 23rd May 20, 6:54pm 1590216851

First big mistake;

“I love American politics, when I was a little boy I wanted to be the US president. I’ve got a different ambition now in three months time.”

Yikes, what's to like, let alone LOVE, I wonder?

https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/nationals-new-leader-todd-m…

by Ben72 | 23rd May 20, 7:01pm 1590217267

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/23/world/asia/jacinda-ardern-coronaviru…

by Boatman | 24th May 20, 12:04pm 1590278644

Muller may just be our man to MAKE NEW ZEALAND GREAT AGAIN

by Ben72 | 24th May 20, 4:26pm 1590294363

How “ Great” is it similar like previous 9 years national government by not helping and favouring FHB ‘s to buy their own house at the right price ha.

by Jack Lumber | 24th May 20, 4:48pm 1590295701

Can someone tell me what he plans to do that is better than now ? - read a bit by Goldsmith the morning but Im none the wiser. All seems a bit vague and waffly - just "we are better people than the current lot" to implement the same ideas. I assume he's had plenty of time to think about this over the past few months as he's seems to have been working on getting to where he is now.