‘There is a lot to learn’
DRESSED in their finest and having had their photos taken and received a guided tour, the Labour Party class of 2020 has arrived at Parliament.
‘‘It is so exciting, and it does feel a little bit like the first day of school,’’ the new MP for Taieri, Ingrid Leary, said.
Parliamentary Services organises an induction programme for new MPs to teach them the rules they must operate within, and political parties also have their own orientation process to help their newlyelected representatives get their bearings.
Ms Leary was familiar with Parliament, having previously worked there, but had already been taken to parts of the building she had not previously ventured into.
‘‘I’ve already managed to get lost once,’’ she said.
‘‘The gallery and Bowen House were the only parts of the complex I knew, so it’s already quite different being over on this side, in this incredible building (the House of Representatives), which is so steeped in history.
‘‘When I was younger I don’t think I appreciated the absolute beauty of the building.’’
Labour leader Jacinda Ardern made an informal welcoming speech to her new MPs in the afternoon, where she talked about her own experiences as a firsttime MP.
For now, the new MPs are sharing space, before individual offices are allocated.
New Dunedin list MP Rachel Brooking’s previous career as a lawyer had also taken her to Parliament to attend select committee meetings, but she, too, was on a voyage of discovery.
‘‘I suspect it will happen frequently that I will get lost, but there seems to be lots of diligent and friendly staff here who are on the lookout to help new MPs,’’ she said.
‘‘It is a new ballgame and there are lots of new administrative things that we are learning about at the moment, but then obviously the House part of
Parliament will be very different again.
‘‘There is a lot to learn.’’
The South’s new National MPs, Joseph Mooney, of Southland, and Penny Simmonds, of Invercargill, attend their first caucus meeting today.
They will have a very different experience from their Labour counterparts, as National will formally farewell its departing MPs before discussing their party’s heavy election defeat.
WELLINGTON: Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern held talks in the Beehive with Green Party coleaders James Shaw and Marama Davidson yesterday but is not thought to have given them any hope of governing in a coalition.
Ms Ardern and her chief of staff, Rajesh Nahna, met Mr Shaw, Ms Davidson and Green Party chief of staff Tory Whanau in preliminary talks.
The object was to talk about the future talks, rather than to begin negotiations.
But there is clear resistance within Labour to get into any powersharing arrangement — which coalition government entails — when the clear mandate from Saturday’s election was for a Labour government.
Neither Ms Ardern nor Mr Shaw would comment yesterday but Mr Shaw has repeatedly made it clear — as recently as last week — that the party’s preference is for a full coalition.
“Obviously, it depends on the numbers and the deal,” Mr Shaw said last week.
“We want to keep the other options on the table, but obviously the option that has the greatest influence is coalition,’’ Mr Shaw said.
But in her speeches since the election result was clear, Ms Ardern has repeatedly referenced former National supporters who may have voted Labour for the first time and the mandate that Labour has won.
Ironically, some of those who switched may have been indirectly encouraged by National leader Judith Collins in the final days of the campaign with her repeated warnings over a Green Party wealth tax.
Some National voters may have thought that was much less likely if Labour did not need the Greens in a coalition.
Ms Ardern has said she wants to accelerate Labour’s policy programme.
Any major policy decisions in the last government required the support of all three parties, Labour and New Zealand First in coalition, and the Greens, which had a confidence and supply deal with Labour and three ministerial positions outside Cabinet.
But there are several other arrangements through which the Greens could win policy concessions, put up Budget proposals and have influence throughout the term of the government even if coalition is off the table.
It may or may not involve Green MPs as ministers.
Formal talks between Labour and the Greens are expected to begin, at the earliest, later this week.
Labour won an outright majority on Saturday night, its 49.1% bringing in 64 MPs out of 120 — 18 more than at the last election.
The Greens’ 7.6% gives it 10 MPs, two more.
New MPs began arriving at Parliament yesterday and caucus meetings will be held today in what will be a mix of sweet and bitter gatherings.
Ms Ardern and the Labour caucus had a celebration dinner in Wellington last night and will squeeze into their old caucus room for perhaps the last time.
The government could be formed and sworn in before the final results are declared on November 6. — The New Zealand Herald