Labour leader Chris Hipkins has finally and officially ruled out working with New Zealand First in any government he leads. New Zealand First leader Winston Peters had already ruled out working with Labour. Hipkins had previously said it was "highly unlikely" his party would work with New Zealand First again, and had already ruled out working with Peters as foreign affairs minister. Asked why he could not have said so sooner, Hipkins said New Zealand First's "pattern of behaviour" had escalated. Hipkins said there was "not a single person" in Labour who thought the party should be open to working with New Zealand First.