David Seymour

So we were actually in a meeting at the time, and the Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, hey, look...

This has just come through, kind of interesting.

We will find out more, and that's what they've been doing since.

Not that they've reported back to me, and I wouldn't expect them to.

I suspect that there'll be a long back and forth, and if it comes to anything, then there'll be a decision for the rest of the government to make.

Open-minded, but also aware that there is so much uncertainty about what actually happens next.

We've been clear that we would wait for a ceasefire.

We're not going into a conflict zone.

But if there was genuine cross-partisan support for us to join a coalition of like-minded nations to ensure that trades on the seas can continue, that is in New Zealand's interest.

We're a trading nation.

We need freedom of navigation.

Without that, an island nation like us is in big trouble.

Look, if you wanted me to characterise the positions right now, I couldn't give you a useful description of what each party thinks, but I would say open-minded is probably the best description for all.

Well, that's one of the most useful things that we have.

And it's something that we can do more easily than sending a ship up there for six months.

So, yes, that's an obvious possibility.

But if you look at it, I wouldn't read too much into him saying that because we've basically got a couple of frigates.

So the fact that he chose that, I mean, you know, you could read something.

We also have the great new Super Hercules.

So, you know, maybe you could read into the fact he didn't mention them.