The Prime Minister Bill English isn't ruling out giving the New Zealand First leader Winston Peters the Deputy PM position if National win the next election.
The PM also talked to Morning Report about his meeting with Malcolm Turnbull, the response to the Port Hills fire and the man tipped to become the next US ambassador to New Zealand.
On Winston Peters role post election
Bill English & Winston Peters in the house Photo: Supplied / The Office of the Clerk
He wouldn't rule out the potential for National to offer New Zealand First leader Winston Peters the deputy prime minister role post-election
He says "We won't be spending the next few months courting Winston Peters." but added "The only thing we'd rule out would be sharing the Prime Minister's job."
Port Hills Fire
Mr English says some of Civil Defence's decisions around the Port Hills fire "could have been made better".
However, he told Morning Report today local authorities faced an "unprecedented situation" for New Zealand and Christchurch.
Meeting the Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull
Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and NZ PM Bill English. Photo: RNZ / Brad White
English also spoke to Morning Report about his meeting with the Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
On Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull rejecting New Zealand's offer to take 150 refugees from Australia's off-shore detention camps: The main focus for Australia was on the refugee deal with the US.
He says "the [New Zealand] offer remains, it doesn't look likely to me they will take it up in a hurry."
On reviving the TPP trade deal without the USA
He said the US was a stabilising influence in the Asia-Pacific. Many countries decided to sign up to the TPP thinking the US would be part of it, he said.
On Trump supporter Scott Brown being tipped to become the next US ambassador to New Zealand.
Mr English says the relationship between the two countries was in "good shape" and New Zealand wanted an ambassador who understood that.
"The [New Zealand] offer remains, it doesn't look likely to me they will take it up in a hurry."
