NZ First is slow to back a govt

NEW Zealand First leader Winston Peters is dragging his heels in deciding whether to back the ruling National Party or Labour to form a coalition government.

A decision had been expected yesterday but Mr Peters was still talking with both major parties and said the NZ First board would meet on Saturday, Sunday or Monday to gain a "serious consensus” on which party to support.

National won 56 seats in the September 23 election.

The Labour-Green bloc has 54 seats.

This leaves both parties needing NZ First's nine seats to reach the 61 seats that would give a parliamentary majority.