Coalition will work, says Clark

Former prime minister Helen Clark says she is confident Winston Peters won’t let the new Labour government down.

Speaking about the formation of a government led by Jacinda Ardern and involving Labour, NZ First and the Greens, Clark said it was a new age.

The country was pulled out of limbo on Thursday evening, when NZ First leader Winston Peters announced he planned to give Labour his support. The 52nd government will be a Labour-NZ First coalition, with the Green Party holding a confidence and supply agreement with Labour.

The critical thing for the new government was for the parties involved to keep faith, Clark said, and she was certain Ardern would do that. ‘‘It’s important when you make these arrangements to then carry on in a very inclusive and consultative way and I think that’s her nature.

‘‘I am very confident that Jacinda will find it entirely possible to work well with [NZ First leader] Winston Peters ... He was my minister of foreign affairs for three years. I can say that on no occasion did NZ First let us down. In the business of government we had a very very functional and good working relationship.

‘‘I’m really so excited that in this day and age it’s possible for people to come through like this.

‘‘We’ve just seen a 31-year-old elected in Austria, Jacinda is 37, the president of France is 39. This is a new age and I think it’s really exciting.’’

Ardern was a natural communicator, who exuded empathy with people, was courteous and reasonable but also firm.

‘‘I am very confident she’s going to make a good fist of this.’’