Labour email raises Peters' coalition hopes

Prime Minister Helen Clark has asked New Zealand First leader Winston Peters for his phone number, in case she has to call him on Sunday.

An email from a senior member of the Prime Minister's staff asked for contact numbers "for Winston for this weekend".

Mr Peters said yesterday that the email showed that while Helen Clark was publicly ruling out working with him, privately she was preparing to do just that.

"I do not work like that. What I say publicly and privately are the same," said Mr Peters, who in 1996 ruled out working with National, then went into coalition with it.

A spokesman for the Prime Minister said all parties had been sent the same request for contact numbers.

"We've even contacted National - or we would have if they hadn't contacted us first.

"I'm sorry to disappoint Winston. He might have thought he was on to something, but he's not."

Other parties confirmed that was the case, with United Future celebrating that its email arrived before the one to New Zealand First.

Helen Clark has ruled out inviting New Zealand First to join a coalition post-election, dubbing its policies "offensive and daft". But Labour could still seek its support on confidence and money supply votes.

Mr Peters said Labour was "already preparing for something else" regardless of what its stated intentions were.

"They want to be able to contact us, and because they have provided their numbers, presumably they want us to be able to contact them.

"I'm certain that email doesn't mean she will be calling to see what I had for breakfast."

- NZPA

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