Bottom lines up to voters

WELLINGTON: The Green Party is keeping quiet on what its bottom lines will be at potential coalition talks.

It is also still adamant discussions on a potential wealth tax will happen at the negotiating table, despite Labour repeatedly ruling it out.

In its last event before the election, the Green Party held a rally in Auckland on Wednesday night where party leaders outlined plans for helping to govern the country if given the chance.

Coleader Marama Davidson is firm Labour cannot govern alone.

‘‘Unchallenged decisions can mean bad decisions and with the Greens at the decisionmaking table, we’ll make sure that we truly face the challenges we’ve been ignoring for too long.’’

She and fellow coleader James Shaw went into campaigning clear there were no bottom lines, instead pointing to the party’s top priorities around farming, transport, oceans, housing, poverty and energy.

However, their key priorities each contain a plethora of different projects and policies.

Mr Shaw was reluctant to say which his party would refuse to back down on — although the party was not taking no for an answer on Labour’s rejection of wealth tax discussions.

‘‘We’re going to put those policy packages on the table and say ‘how much progress can we make on those’ and ultimately, that’ll come down to voters on Saturday.’’

Ms Davidson said parties could say what they needed to in an election campaign.

‘‘It is our party, after the votes have been put in, that will decide what we take to the negotiation table.’’

The Greens’ last election event was held in Auckland central, where Chloe Swarbrick is hoping to win a seat, which could be a back stop if the party does not reach the 5% threshold, though in last night’s 1 NewsColmarBrunton poll it had 8% support. — RNZ