"Winston Peters is like a snake oil merchant - he refuses to tell New Zealanders what he is really trying to sell them," Labour deputy leader Michael Cullen said today.

"Mr Peters' announcement yesterday carefully avoided the real issues. What he needs to clarify is whether or not NZ First would support a budget which contained policies he claims to oppose.

"For example, would Mr Peters support a budget which sought to eliminate free doctors visit for children aged under six years?

"Would Mr Peters support a budget which proposed increases in the costs of tertiary education?

"Would Mr Peters support a budget which continued the process of reducing the married rate of superannuation from 65 to 60 percent of the average, net, ordinary time wage?

"All that yesterday's announcement confirmed was that a vote for NZ First is a vote for confusion.

"Mr Peters is very reluctant to spell out the nature of government his party would support. Presumably that's because his preferred option - National - is so unpalatable to his diminishing band of potential supporters.

"Yet again the message is loud and clear for all New Zealanders. Only casting their party vote for Labour will ensure a stable Labour-led government following different policies from the extreme agenda a National-Act government would adopt," Dr Cullen said.

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Gordon Campbell: On The Government’s Smokefree Laws Debacle

The most charitable explanation for National’s behaviour over the smokefree legislation is that they have dutifully fulfilled the wishes of the Big Tobacco lobby and then cast around for excuses that might sell this health policy U-turn to the public. The less charitable view is that the government was being deliberately misleading. Are we to think Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is a fool or a liar? It seems rather early on in his term of office to be facing that unpleasant choice... More