Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has fired back at coalition partner Winston Peters, with tensions between National and NZ First breaking into public view. Luxon reminded Peters that NZ First "put Jacinda Ardern in power," highlighting the fragile nature of the three-party government.According to Stuff, the exchange came during questions about coalition decision-making and policy direction. The coalition, which includes National, NZ First, and ACT, has shown increasing signs of internal strain barely a year into its term.The coalition's barely a year old and already publicly brawling. Peters is doing what he does best - destabilizing governments he's part of. This matters because policy paralysis helps no one across the ditch.Winston Peters is a singular figure in New Zealand politics. The veteran MP has been kingmaker in multiple elections, forming coalitions with both National and Labour over his long career. He formed a coalition with Labour and the Greens in 2017, installing Jacinda Ardern as Prime Minister - the very point Luxon was referencing.That history makes Peters both valuable and volatile as a coalition partner. He brings political experience and a loyal voter base, but he's also shown willingness to publicly undermine governments he's part of when it suits his political purposes.The current coalition was formed after National won the most seats in the 2023 election but fell short of a majority. Luxon needed both NZ First and ACT to form government, creating a three-way coalition with diverging priorities and personalities.ACT, led by David Seymour, represents libertarian economics and social liberalism. NZ First is populist and nationalist, with Peters personally holding significant sway. National sits in the middle, trying to keep both partners happy while implementing its own agenda.The tensions aren't just about personalities. The coalition faces genuine policy disagreements on issues from Treaty of Waitangi interpretation to economic management to New Zealand's relationship with China and the Pacific.Luxon's reminder that Peters "put Ardern in power" carries an implicit threat: we remember that you're not a reliable partner. But it also reveals Luxon's frustration with managing a coalition that seems determined to make governing difficult.For New Zealand voters, the public brawling raises questions about whether the coalition can survive a full term and whether it can actually deliver on policy promises while managing internal conflicts. Policy paralysis serves no one, but that's where Wellington seems headed.