Peters fires back, Seymour calls for unity after Nats 'Mum and Dad' dig

National's coalition partners have taken sharply different tacks after the party's campaign chairman likened coalition dynamics to "Mum and Dad" managing misbehaving children — with New Zealand First firing back hard, and ACT calling for unity instead.

Simeon Brown laid out National's election campaign strategy at its annual conference in Wellington today, attacking Labour and the Greens while also making veiled jabs at National's coalition partners.

Brown encouraged party faithful not to vote for National's coalition partners ACT and New Zealand First, characterising the two minor parties as children with National acting as the parents to "keep the peace".

He said it didn't break the household, "but it's just a distraction".

"Energy spent refereeing siblings instead of building the family's future, you know who those two kids are, with Mum and Dad in the middle, finding the time and all the noise to get on and get the job done."

Brown also cautioned against strategic voting.

"Don't vote ACT or New Zealand First, thinking it helps National. It doesn't."

"Here's the simple math: a party vote for National means a stronger place for National and more National Members of Parliament. When it comes to coalitions, sharing isn't caring, sharing is diluting your voice, your values, and your policies."

He also mentioned NZ First’s history of working with previous Labour Governments, including noting that in 2017 “a party vote for NZ First was a party vote for Jacinda Ardern, Chris Hipkins and James Shaw”.

“You want to take that risk again? I don’t. You just can’t trust them.”

'Not much difference between Pepsi and Coke' - Peters

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters said in a post to Facebook it was "ironic" that a party in government due to New Zealand First's support had complained about the manner in which it was provided.

He added it was "comical" that the only government party working with Labour was the National Party, highlighting areas of bipartisan support.

"They are working with Labour to get the Indian FTA over the line, working with Labour to pass the Digital ID social media ban, and working together with Labour on passing the Gene Tech bill," he said.

"As the saying goes, there's not much difference between Pepsi and Coke."

He defended NZ First's values, saying the party stood by "nationalism, conservatism, patriotism and commonsense" — values he said National was treating "as some sort of punchline".

Peters suggested National's comments stemmed from pressure rather than genuine grievance.

"Pressure will make you say dumb things. There is no more 'capital N'," he wrote.

"National should know that saying irrational and dumb things will be highly concerning for voters who are wanting stability, experience, and unity."

'Don't point your finger at each other' - Seymour

ACT leader David Seymour said he was surprised to hear the comments from Brown.

"I think people want more of us working together the way we have, and less of that kind of bickering."

Asked whether he thought Peters was right that the National Party was "in trouble", Seymour said: "Perhaps that explains some of their response lately."

"But I would just say the Coalition, at its best, works together to solve problems for Kiwis. My advice to everyone in our coalition is point to the things we've done to make New Zealand better. Don't point your finger at each other."