Yeah, really good points. I think the coalition negotiation process was also very messy after that first MMP election (part of the why the coalition broke down). But Helen Clark introduced a very streamlined process in 1999, and that has basically been the blueprint ever since.

(As a side note, when the UK was doing a review of its electoral system, they sent people out to see what was happening in NZ. It happened to be during the first MMP term when the coalition had broken down. They concluded that MMP was a nightmare and the UK should avoid it. So that's probably part of the reason it was never offered as an option when they had their own electoral system referendum. If they'd come over just a few years later, they'd have seen how that was an anomaly, and MMP runs extremely well here now!)

Also agree on National... my view is that National at its core is more right than centre, but Labour is more centre than left at its core. So National are happy to pick up Act policies, but Labour are more hesitant to pick up Green policies.