Luxon Insists Coalition ‘Strong and Stable’ Amid Fresh Peters-Seymour Showdown

Wellington, New Zealand – November 24, 2025

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has moved to quell concerns over the stability of his three-way coalition government, insisting the administration is “strong and stable” despite a sharp public feud erupting between ACT Leader David Seymour and NZ First Leader Winston Peters.

The latest clash was triggered last week when Peters, the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, vowed that NZ First would campaign at the next election on repealing the Regulatory Standards Act (RSA)—a bill that had only just passed into law and is the flagship policy of Minister for Regulation David Seymour.

The Regulatory Standards Stoush

The Regulatory Standards Act, championed by Seymour, aims to curb government red tape and ensure new legislation aligns with principles that prioritise property rights and economic efficiency. Peters, despite NZ First MPs voting for the bill as part of the coalition agreement, slammed the law, calling it a “terrible overreach” and an “intervention in the democratic process.”

Seymour fired back, interpreting Peters’ pledge to repeal the law as a clear sign of pre-election manoeuvring.

“That’s Labour’s position. It sounds like he’s getting ready to go with Labour again,” Seymour warned, alluding to the possibility of Peters switching coalition partners after the 2026 election, as he has done previously.

Peters, however, dismissed Seymour’s suggestion, responding with a dismissive “Don’t make me laugh.” He countered by stating that while his party had to vote for the law as a “trade-off” of the coalition deal, they had always opposed it and would seek its removal next year.

Luxon Defends Coalition Unity

Appearing on Morning Report, Prime Minister Luxon rejected the suggestion that the public discord signals deep fissures in the government.

“This is a strong, stable coalition government,” Luxon asserted. “We are operating in an MMP environment in which individual parties have their own policies.”

Luxon stressed that while the parties may take different stances on certain issues in the lead-up to the 2026 election, they remain united on the core mandate of the government. He contrasted his administration’s stability with what he described as a “mess” on the left, referring to the mix of Labour, Green, Te Pāti Māori, and recently expelled independent MPs.

A Pattern of Public Clashes

The public spat over the Regulatory Standards Act is the latest in a series of high-profile clashes that have defined the relationship between the two junior coalition partners this year:

• UN Letter Controversy (July 2025): Seymour was publicly rebuked by Peters, the Foreign Minister, for sending an unauthorised, strongly worded letter to a United Nations special rapporteur regarding the Treaty Principles Bill. Peters criticized Seymour for “talking out of his field” and lacking diplomatic experience.
• Karakia Debate (July 2025): The two leaders clashed over the role of karakia (Māori prayers) in official public life, with Peters criticising Seymour for comments that he felt were outside the ACT Leader’s expertise.

Political commentators suggest the increasing volatility is a predictable feature of the MMP landscape as the next election cycle approaches. With both ACT and NZ First hunting for the same segment of anti-status-quo voters, creating clear policy distinctions—even by undermining coalition-backed laws—is a standard political tactic for the minor parties