NZ First touts progress in talks to form government, but decision delayed

Winston Peters, leader of the New Zealand First Party, walks with officials to a meeting in Wellington, New Zealand, October 8, 2017. REUTERS/Charlotte Greenfield

WELLINGTON (Reuters) - The leader of the small nationalist party that will decide New Zealand's next government said on Wednesday that "huge" progress had been made in coalition talks, but he has dropped a self-imposed deadline of Oct. 12 to announce the new government.

Prime Minister Bill English's ruling National Party won 56 seats at the Sept. 23 election, while a Labour-Green bloc have 54 seats, leaving both needing New Zealand First's nine seats to meet the 61 seats needed for a majority in parliament.