Luxon says Willis will hold finance; Seymour says he may ask for it

Christopher Luxon said National would hold the finance role, and that the minister would be Nicola Willis. He called that position "non-negotiable".

ACT's David Seymour has served for three years as an associate finance minister. On Newstalk ZB, he said it was "very possible" he would ask to be finance minister if the coalition was re-elected. In Christchurch, he said he had no particular desire for any particular position, and that he would serve in whatever role was available after the election.

ACT colleagues Laura McClure and Paul Henry backed Seymour's credentials at a press conference in Auckland. McClure said Seymour had held the associate finance minister role and would do a wonderful job as finance minister. Henry said Seymour's "extraordinary intellect" qualified him for the job.

Labour leader Chris Hipkins said Willis probably would not be in Parliament after the election. Willis is running list-only, which means she is standing on her party's list rather than for an electorate seat.

Seymour has also welcomed confirmation that Budget 2026 will spend less new money than previously planned. In his State of the Nation 2024 address, he said that as associate finance minister he was responsible for cost control.