Coalition negotiations: Key players leave capital - a podcast by RNZ

Negotiations to form a government continue, but the key players from all three parties are decamping the capital and heading home. Work is carrying on behind-the-scenes to reach a deal between National, ACT and New Zealand First - but a final agreement is highly unlikely to eventuate this weekend. Here's our deputy political editor Craig McCulloch. The Labour government's caretaker position was due to expire at midnight tomorrow, but will now be effectively extended by the Governor General. The arrangement was agreed after consultation with the incoming PM Christopher Luxon and will continue until a new government is appointed. Ministers will continue in their existing roles, except that Grant Robertson will also take on the Foreign Affairs portfolio as Nanaia Mahuta has left Parliament.

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