Will the 2017 deal be equally rich in detail?
The 1996 document was 73 pages long plus a one-page supplementary agreement.
With NZ First poised to decide whether National or Labour should lead the next government, there are echoes of 1996 as the parties hammer out a deal.
Word has it NZ First is heading down the track of detailed policy wish lists, rather than the less prescriptive 2005 deal struck with Labour.
So just what did that 1996 deal look like? And what could we learn about the shape of the 2017-2020 government from the 1996 agreement between NZ First leader Winston Peters and National prime minister Jim Bolger?
In all, the 1996 document was 73 pages long plus a onepage supplementary agreement covering off some outstanding matters.
It started with 10 pages of background, interpretations, definitions, disputes resolution procedures and ‘‘fundamental principles’’ that included promises not to vote for any members’ bills the Opposition might wheel out.
As far as ministerial jobs were concerned, it set down 20 Cabinet ministers and six posts outside Cabinet.
NZ First was to have initially five of the Cabinet slots and four of those outside. But it was agreed that from 1998 NZ First’s Cabinet posts would step up to eight while the number of jobs it controlled outside Cabinet would drop by one to three.
Famously, Peters was appointed deputy prime minister and a new ‘‘senior finance’’ role of Treasurer was created just for him.
The deal was also highly prescriptive, perhaps reflecting the role of Peters’ friend and adviser, lawyer Brian Henry, down to the timing and chairing of Cabinet meetings and what would constitute a quorum (half of each party’s members).
But the bulk of the document is given over to the detailed policy, with almost every page carrying the proviso put in by National’s finance minister Bill Birch that Peters has since railed against, because it made every policy agreement provisional: ‘‘All funding proposals subject to being considered within the agreed spending policy parameters.’’
Those ranged from the significant to the very small – such as $10 million for possum control research, with a note that this was $3.75m more than National’s policy, and $100,000 for ‘‘recreational input to fisheries management’’.
Each included a cost and an assessment of any implications for law changes and were listed under subject headings: ACC, Agriculture, Broadcasting, and so on.
The policy on asset sales – which eventually blew up the coalition over the sale of Wellington Airport – ruled out the sale of strategic assets listed as Electricorp, Contact Energy, Transpower, NZ Post, TV1 and Radio NZ.
But the airports, power and gas utilities, and ports ‘‘presently owned by local bodies or consumer trusts’’ would require ‘‘prior approval of ratepayers or consumers’’ if more than 24.9 per cent was sold.
The ‘‘agreed spending parameters’’ were covered off in Schedule B of the deal which set out the abolition of the superannuation surcharge and $1b for tax cuts..
The provision for extra spending was set at $5b over three years and there were also revenue, tax and debt ‘‘parameters’’ that the parties agreed spending would have to stay within. A West Coast councillor has been stood down due to his citizenship status.
Martin Hill’s position was vacant immediately, the Buller District Council said on Thursday.
Hill, an Australian citizen who represented the Seddon ward, was elected to the council last year.
Hill apologised to ratepayers. ‘‘I honestly believed that Australian/new Zealand have reciprocal rights. I did not resign from the position as I know that in a matter of weeks I could easily rectify my citizen status. However, the mayor and CEO were very keen to escalate this situation,’’ he said.
The Buller council will call a by-election and has 89 days to do so. Hill said he would not be standing.
Under the Electoral Act 2001 all nominees standing for election must be a New Zealand citizen.
The Buller District Council said in a statement: ‘‘All candidates sign a declaration as part of the process to say they are a NZ citizen, but the act does not require this to be checked or verified so occasionally this does happen.’’ Mayor Garry Howard said the council had to comply with the act.
‘‘I have encouraged Martin to get his citizenship and to stand again.
‘‘There is an expense to a by-election, but it is not legally possible to hold a position and await citizenship.’’
Howard said Hill disclosed to him that he was not a New Zealand citizen on Tuesday.
Whangarei District councillor Jayne Golightly resigned in September after it was revealed she was not a New Zealand citizen.
Citizenship issues have plagued politicians across the ditch, where MPS including Australia’s deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce unknowingly had dual citizenship in breach of Australia’s constitution.