-
Related
Winston Peters is showing no interest in responding to news that the National Party may be prepared to keep him on as Foreign Minister.
Opposition leader John Key has confirmed that the New Zealand First leader could remain in the post if National comes to power.
Peters avoided responding to Key's admission. Instead he posed a question of his own, asking where such a move would leave New Zealand First.
Key says that because of MMP, he may have no choice but to use New Zealand First to form a coalition government, depending on the results of this year's election.
Asked on Wednesday morning's Breakfast programme if he could run the country with Peters continuing as foreign minister Key said: "Yes, conceivably."
That response follows Peters' announcement that his party will not be voting for the free trade agreement with China.
Key's comment will come as a disappointment to Murray McCully, National's Foreign Affairs spokesman.
"Murray McCully would be an outstanding minister of foreign affairs. And there's no question that obviously any major party would like to govern in their own right, but I don't necessarily get that choice," said Key.
"I'm in an MMP environment. I have to live with that."
Several members of the New Zealand trade delegation in China to
sign the agreement say it's bizarre that Peters' party is voting
against the deal, considering he holds the Foreign Affairs
portfolio.
But Peters remains critical of the agreement, and New Zealand
first has taken out a series of newspaper ads on Wednesday slamming
the deal.
VIDEO: Watch John
Key on Wednesday morning's Breakfast
