Former prime minister Jim Bolger says New Zealand First leader Winston Peters should be the next deputy PM, citing what he says is a lack of experience under the National Party's current leadership.
The ex-National Party leader joined Breakfast this morning, expressing preference for Peters over ACT leader David Seymour for the deputy role.
Bolger said one thing the incoming government "don't have a great deal of, for understandable reasons, is experience".
"Winston Peters brings a lot of experience, there's no question about it," he said.
"If I was Christopher Luxon, I'd be looking at my team saying none of them have had much experience in government, if any at all, and therefore maybe [the] best bet is to go for somebody who has had a lot of experience in government, and that has to be Winston."
Peters served as Bolger's deputy PM from December 1996 until the former PM's resignation in December 1997.
The NZ First leader continued his tenure under Jenny Shipley until his sacking from Cabinet in August 1998, later returning to the role under Jacinda Ardern's Labour Government between 2017 and 2020.
Bolger said if Seymour were to become deputy PM, he "will still be learning on the job".
"On that balance, you might say Winston Peters has that leading edge."
Bolger acknowledged that ACT received 8.6% of the party vote in the election, slightly more than the 6.1% received by NZ First, however reiterated that Luxon should consider Peters' experience over Seymour's share of the vote for second in command.
Reflecting on Luxon's efforts in coalition talks since election day nearly six weeks ago, Bolger said he has handled the pressure "with a calm, reassuring smile".
"He has been very calm about it, he has been very sensible... from my perspective, it suggests he'll be a calm, thoughtful prime minister."
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