PM Ardern to decide on line-up for cabinet

FACING her first major task as New Zealand’s next prime minister, Jacinda Ardern has begun appointing a cabinet with 28 Labour, NZ First and Green MPs in it.

There was applause as she entered the caucus room to see her MPs altogether for the first time since kingmaker Winston Peters chose to bring the left out of opposition and into government for the first time in nine years.

The result was delayed but negotiations were a chance to build common ground with the other parties who campaigned for change, she said.

“We have found allies in this parliament who wish to join with us in building a fairer New Zealand — a country where our environment is protected, where we look after the most vulnerable, where we support our families, where we make sure people have the most basic of needs, like a roof over their heads,” Ms Ardern told them.

Labour is forming a coalition with NZ First and will have an agreement with the Green Party to support the government on confidence and supply.

It gives the left block 63 seats, two more than the 61seat majority they needed.

The cabinet will have 16 ministers from Labour and four from NZ First.

There will be eight ministers outside cabinet — three Greens and five Labour.

Key portfolios will most likely go to the MPs who held them as shadow ministers.

Mr Peters has been offered the position of deputy prime minister, and is still deciding whether to take it up.