Senior Liberal Greg Hunt isn't about to offer his thoughts on how to resolve the New Zealand election with a result days, if not weeks away.
Despite NZ Prime Minister Bill English's strong showing in Saturday's election, maverick NZ First Leader Winston Peters holds the balance of power and may yet form a government with Labour and the Greens.
Mr English's National Party won 58 seats, short of the 61 required, while Labor secured 45 sets.
"I think the last thing the New Zealanders need at this point is advice from Australia," Mr Hunt told reporters in Melbourne on Sunday when quizzed on the election result.
However, he added it has been "just a pleasure" working with the NZ National government as a partner.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten congratulated both sides of NZ politics for their election performances.
He was especially pleased with NZ Labour's strong showing under the leadership of Jacinda Ardern and how it might reflect on the Australian Labor Party.
"It certainly shows that people should never underestimate Labor, and I think New Zealand Labour came from behind to give it a pretty good shake," he told reporters in Sydney.
