Three-way coalition deal ‘more stable’

Greens leader James Shaw has poured cold water on the idea of supporting a Labour-nz First government without having a seat at the table, as the parties jockey for position ahead of coalition talks.

Asked on Newshub’s AM Show if the Greens would back a Labournz First government on confidence and supply, Shaw said it was ‘‘unlikely’’ the party would sign up to that sort of arrangement.

‘‘We are in politics in order to make change.’’

Shaw has speculated that could also suit NZ First leader Winston Peters because a government would be stronger and more stable with a three-way deal, working on an agreed programme, rather than a minority government with Green support needed issue-byissue.

‘‘My goal is to be at the heart of the next government,’’ he said.

‘‘I do believe we’ve learned our lessons over the past 20 years of MMP that for the Greens to advance our policy agenda that we need to be in government and in Cabinet.’’

Meanwhile Prime Minister Bill English has talked up National’s chances as the biggest party and his ability to do a simple two-party and stable deal with NZ First. On election night numbers that would produce a strong 67-seat majority in the 120-seat Parliament.

But Labour and the Greens have emphasised that a majority voted for the Opposition parties, Labour, the Greens and NZ First with the previous government shedding support, including losing two key support partners – the Maori Party and United Future.

Shaw said he and Labour leader Jacinda Ardern talked on Sunday but mostly about ‘‘process’’.

A key date in the negotiating timetable will be October 7 - the deadline for counting of more than 384,000 special votes representing 15 per cent of the total vote.

It is likely on the basis of past elections they could swing one or two seats towards the Greens and Labour, lifting the numbers in a possible Labour-green-nz First deal from a bare majority of 61 on election night to 62 or 63.

That would give the centre-left option a much bigger buffer and make it a more attractive option for Peters.

Shaw said he expected Peters would be more comfortable with that.

Peters has indicated he will choose whether to back a National or Labour-led government by October 12 - writ day.