IS KIWI PM
deputy prime ministership under the deal, said he believed Ardern offered change that could provide “capitalism with a human face”.
“That’s why, in the end, we chose a coalition government of New Zealand First with the New Zealand Labour Party.”
The “kingmaker” was full of praise for Ardern, who revived Labour’s fortunes when she became party leader just weeks out from the election.
“She exhibited extraordinary talent in the campaign itself from a very hopeless position.”
Once the Greens formally approve the coalition, Ardern will become New Zealand’s youngest leader since 1856 and only the third female prime minister of the nation of 4.6 million.
Ardern thanked Peters for his support, saying it was “a critical step to forming a Labour-led progressive government”.
She campaigned on issues such as housing affordability, free tertiary education, environmental action and improved healthcare.
The result was a bitter blow to outgoing conservative Prime Minister Bill English, who ran an unexpectedly strong campaign to claim 44.4 per cent of the vote, far higher than Labour’s 36 per cent.
He congratulated Ardern and said he had not yet decided whether he would remain National party leader in opposition.
It is the first time since New Zealand adopted proportional voting in 1996 that the party that claimed the largest slice of the vote failed to form a government.
Ardern said cabinet positions would be discussed with her party caucus today.
She confirmed that the position of deputy prime minister had been offered to Peters. Agencies