Coalition talks pick up pace behind closed doors

With National's potential partners ACT and NZ First finally getting together in Wellington this week, a sense of momentum is building for the trio to form a government. Labour's Chris Hipkins meanwhile has survived a vote on his MPs' endorsement of him as leader with Carmel Sepuloni taking the deputy leadership as the party prepares for opposition. In this week's Focus on Politics, Political Editor Jane Patterson examines politicians' progress towards the incoming government and opposition. "We're working to do it as fast as we possibly can" - Christopher LuxonWith National's potential partners ACT and NZ First finally getting together in Wellington this week, a sense of momentum is building for the trio to form a government. Labour's Chris Hipkins meanwhile has survived a vote on his MPs' endorsement of him as leader with Carmel Sepuloni taking the deputy leadership as the party prepares for opposition. Listen to the full podcast A key player in the negotiations, Winston Peters arrived in the capital this week doggedly determined to say not one word to reporters. ACT leader David Seymour took a distinctly different approach, happy to do a number of interviews over the weekend without divulging confidential details.The man working to entice both of them to make him prime minister, National's Christopher Luxon, has made himself available for select media interviews, while offering very little detail. Christopher Luxon speaks to media after the final election result was announced.There's plenty all three parties seem to agree on: the repeal of Three Waters, the Māori Health Authority and the Resource Management Act; restoring 90-day workplace trials; a smaller public service; and changes in portfolios like justice and education. More tricky could be convincing NZ First about the merits of National's tax on foreign buyers; using funds from the Emissions Trading Scheme for tax cuts; and ACT's proposal for a referendum on the Treaty of Waitangi. As the week drew to a close and with the three leaders all on Parliament's grounds, negotiations have clearly progressed. On Thursday, Peters visited ACT's headquarters on the precinct - breaking the ice on a previously frosty relationship between the pair. Friday saw more of the same, with Seymour returning the favour. Both meetings lasted only about 10 minutes, and there appears to have been no gathering of all three as yet - despite all saying this was likely to happen at some point. Read more: Parliament: Current caretaker role to continue until new government formedSeymour 'achieved what I wanted' in 10-minute meeting…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details