David Seymour says parts of Labour leader Chris Hipkins' speech, where he lashed out at ACT and New Zealand First, were "weird".
The ACT leader and Green MP Chlöe Swarbrick appeared on AM’s political panel on Monday.
They were both asked about Hipkins' speech on Sunday where he ruled out working with New Zealand First and the ACT Party but confirmed his party could work with the Greens and Te Pāti Māori.
In his speech, Hipkins lashed out at what he called the alienating policies of potential National coalition partners New Zealand First and ACT.
"In fact, the National, ACT, New Zealand First coalition of cuts, chaos and confusion hold a compilation of views I think would alienate large sections of our society. Not just economically, but to their sense of belonging too," Hipkins said.
Swarbrick said Hipkins' speech comes in the midst of an election campaign.
"We are, unfortunately in the midst of a bit of an election campaign where there are a few ad hominem attacks flying around," she said.
"To that effect, I'd just say if New Zealanders want to see political parties that are putting forward evidence-based policies and having debates on the merits of those, then they know where to find them."
Seymour told AM he was "saddened" by Hipkins' comments but wasn't surprised.
"If you've been in Government for six years, you can run on your record and say, look, we've done health, we've done education, the roads are better, the economy's growing, everyone, can afford to live. But obviously, they can't say that," he said.
"They've massively increased government spending, they've taken on a huge amount of debt. Even if you take COVID out of the picture, they've hosed the cash and they don't have the results to show for it. So they can't talk about that stuff. Instead, they've decided to talk about other politicians and some of it is frankly weird."
Swarbrick and Seymour were also quizzed on the Greens Climate-Safe Communities Plan where they've promised light rail for our three biggest cities and also on ACT wanting to repeal Māori wards.
Watch the full interview above.
