Greens and Progressives line up to back Labour

The Greens and the Progressive Party are lining up as partners for Labour and both want to keep New Zealand First out of the next government.

Labour and the Greens have been putting on a public display of togetherness, burying the differences that split them during the 2002 election campaign, and the Progressives say a three-way partnership could work.

The Progressive Party is in coalition with Labour now, but leader Jim Anderton said yesterday he did not want the "virtually xenophobic" NZ First in the mix.

Mr Anderton said a coalition which included the Greens could work, and Greens co-leader Rod Donald said his party was committed to keeping National and NZ First out.

The Greens' other co-leader, Jeanette Fitzsimons, campaigned with Prime Minister Helen Clark on Friday and said yesterday she regretted the problems that plagued the 2002 campaign.

"We are now ready to go to the country and say together, we can govern New Zealand and make it a better place for all Kiwis," Ms Fitzsimons said at her party's campaign launch.

However, the Greens are perilously balanced at about 5 per cent in the polls.

The party does not hold an electorate seat and must pass the 5 per cent threshold to stay in Parliament.

"Our rolling average of 5 per cent gets us back in but with only seven MPs," Mr Donald said yesterday.

"We've got to do better than that."

- NZPA