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Many national deputies did not understand that, courtesy of the party’s disastrous electoral result. Collins has finished talking about it, saying she didn’t expect any of her colleagues to question her at the caucus meeting.
“No,” Collins said, when asked if she expected to be questioned about why the electoral defeat was so terrible. “No,” Collins said again, when asked if he expected his MPs to ask questions about his leadership.
But there are still many unanswered questions, not just for the current leader. Muller has now acknowledged that his hit against Simon Bridges played a role in the game’s downfall.
“Oh look, I’m sure I’d do things differently,” he said. “But that’s for the cooling off period and for the discussions that go on inside those meeting rooms.”
The problems and challenges are not over: Collins does not face an obvious leadership challenge, and Bridges and Mark Mitchell dismiss it.
“Yes,” Bridges said, when asked if he could rule out another bid for leadership. “Never more.”
“I’m completely ruling out running for leadership, absolutely,” Mitchell said.
But deputy leader Gerry Brownlee may have to practice his defense.
“Deputy leadership … um, yeah, look, I’m ruling that out at this point, too,” Mitchell said.
Collins said the deputy leadership is up to the caucus to decide.
“I am very happy that the decision is made by the caucus,” he said, when asked if he would like Brownlee to remain deputy leader.
“I want the best for the National Party,” Brownlee said. “I’ve been a deputy before. I’ve stepped aside before.”
And Collins’ finance man might not be so sure after all those tax holes, either.
“We are going to be very careful in doing this portfolio allocation,” he said, when asked if Paul Goldsmith will keep the financial portfolio.
It is not just the National Party that is seeking jobs: the Greens are seeking ministerial awards.
Newshub understands that co-leader James Shaw has been offered the climate change portfolio, which he has held for the past three years, outside of Cabinet, in post-election discussions with the Labor Party.
“We cannot speculate on speculation,” he said after exiting the talks on Wednesday.
Newshub also learned that Green MP Eugenie Sage, currently the Conservation Minister, has yet to receive anything. But it is not clear if that is because their ministerial roles will be eliminated or if the Green co-leaders are not communicating their progress to their caucus.
There is still a big question mark about Marama Davidson.
