Audrey Young: Which way will he go? The pros and cons of Winston Peters picking red or blue

With New Zealand First having difficulty in making up its mind which way to go, political editor Audrey Young provides a summary of the pros and cons for them going either way as they make their decision today.

TEAM BLUE

Pros:
• More experienced hands running the economy and the coalition.
• Greater chance to be noticed next to boring Bill English.
• Ability to hit the ground running with an already up-and-running govt
• A simpler two-way coalition and safe majority.
• Greater policy contrasts will make NZ First easier to define.

Cons:
• Winston Peters has more potential to clash with newly mandated English.
• Associated with a third-term govt whose fortunes will probably wane by the 2020 election.
• Might not look like the change NZ First campaigned for.
• Competing for the same vote in provincial NZ.
• National could change leaders part way through the term, like it did in 1996, upsetting coalition arrangements.

TEAM RED

Pros:
• Peters complements Jacinda Ardern in gender, age and experience.
• Ardern may be more willing to take advice from Peters.
• Ardern associated with Helen Clark-era which was good for Peters.
• Many more policies in common.
• Greater chance to influence new govt.

Cons:
• Ardern untested as a leader and Grant Robertson untested in finance role.
• NZ First could be overshadowed by three years of Jacindamania.
• Battling perception it is a govt of losing parties.
• Part of a three-way govt with thinner majority.
• Having to work more closely with the Greens.