Greens No Barrier to Labour-NZ First Deal: Shaw
The Greens say the party’s requirement to consult their membership on any deal would not hold up any agreement between New Zealand First and Labour.
Leader James Shaw met again with Labour yesterday, as coalition negotiations continue at Parliament. New Zealand First leader Winston Peters and his negotiating team are also hosting four separate meetings with National and Labour today, as each try to win his support.
The parties are sticking tightly to confidentiality agreements struck before the talks started, and Mr Peters remains adamant he will make his decision on Thursday.
Mr Shaw said a reference group, comprised of MPs and members of the Green Party, was working alongide the negotiating party and would eventually help to draft any agreement that would be presented to members. If the Greens did end up with a deal, they would call a Special General Meeting for ratification.
Delegates representing electorates around the country would attend the meeting, which could possibly be held online to help speed things up.
If someone opposed or sought to block the deal, it would then have to be put to a vote, and the deal would need 75 percent support to proceed.
Those involved said that because of the time constraints and the nature of the negotiations there would be no opportunity for members to change the agreement once presented to them - they could either just accept it or reject it. On his way into yesterday’s meeting with Labour, Mr Shaw said he thought a deal could be struck by Thursday.
“But I’ve said before the process takes as long as it takes, a day here or there is no big deal.”
He said the party could ratify any agreement “pretty quickly”.
Bumper day of negotiations
Labour and New Zealand First started the first round of meetings for the day, at 9.30am yesterday, while National’s first meeting with New Zealand First got under way early yesterday afternoon.
Going into Labour’s meeting yesterday, Ms Ardern was asked what she was taking to the table today.
“Biscuits”, she replied. After the meeting, which ended after just over two hours, she described it as “another very productive session”.
Ms Ardern echoed a statement from Mr Peters yesterday, about what the parties wanted to achieve. “Our meetings have focused on our shared ideas, areas where we want to make sure where we progress New Zealand socially and economically, and that’s where our focus continues to be.”
Mr Peters said they were making good progress. Asked whether he would be making an announcement on Thursday, Mr Peters said: “We’re worried about Tuesday and Wednesday, the next couple of days, nothing else but that.” They weren’t considering extending the Thursday deadline for making a decision, he said.
“We’re not talking about that, we’re sticking with our talks now, they’re going very well, they’re very serious, very meaningful and we’ll get through the programme.”
National and New Zealand First went into their first meeting of the day at 12.30pm yesterday while Labour was planning to meet with the Greens at 1pm.