The Green Party's role in the new Government has been almost overlooked in the drama of N Z First's decision, the enthusiasm that has greeted Jacinda Ardern's rise to the position of Prime Minister, and the interest in appointments to the Cabinet. It's a Cabinet that, most unfairly, does not include the Greens.
Despite their leader, James Shaw, frequently declaring their preference was to be in a formal coalition inside a Labour-led Cabinet, Winston Peters has obviously vetoed that. So Shaw and colleagues Eugenie Sage and Julie Anne Genter have had to be content with ministerial positions outside the Cabinet but able to attend cabinet committees where much of the detailed work of government is done.
They seem more than happy, understandably for a party that has waited 21 years in Parliament for a slice of some power. It has quietly secured some modest policy by agreement with governments of Labour and National during that time, but now it is in a position to make some much more far-reaching change to New Zealand's environment, economy and lifestyle.
Indeed, when Labour's agreements with both its partners were published this week, it was the Greens' deal that offered a more coherent, focused, forward-looking prospectus. Its guiding target is a "net zero emissions economy by 2050". Labour has agreed to legislate a Zero Carbon Act and establish a standing Climate Commission to monitor progress on reducing all greenhouse emissions from New Zealand, including from agriculture.
The commission's influence could soon be noticed in our power bills, transport choices, farming and urban planning. By 2035, all our electricity may be generated by hydro, geothermal heat and other renewable sources. Immediately, solar panels for schools are to be investigated. More money from the national land transport fund, raised from road taxes, is to be diverted to railways for cities and regions, and for cycling and walking tracks.
