@norightturnnz I think there's maybe a 20% chance that elements in Labour are secretly angling to go into coalition with National.

On one hand, this would obviously be unacceptable for most Labour voters.

On the other hand… it's the logical conclusion of the last forty years of centrist strategy and it would go down well with the only people they seem to listen to: right-wing political commentators.

They could disprove this theory easily by presenting any policy that would be unpalatable to National. Even acknowledging that they will need to negotiate policy with the Greens would indicate that they're serious about a progressive coalition. But it's been a long time since they've done these things.

Obviously even the most right-wing people in Labour would prefer to govern alone. But I suspect there must now be a significant faction who see National as their preferred coalition partner. And who'd expect to be praised for it.