Greens ditch earlier plan to horse-trade over waka-jumping bill

Green Party co-leader James Shaw says he expects the Greens to support a waka-jumping bill. The party previously floated the idea of seeking support for a National Parihaka Day in exchange for its support. Photo / Dean Purcell

The Green Party looks set to support the Government's waka-jumping bill, while ditching an earlier proposal to gain concessions by horse-trading over the bill.

The Greens have traditionally opposed waka-jumping, and in an internal email said that a change in position would require an explanation to core party members. The email also floated the idea of seeking support for a National Parihaka Day in exchange for its support.

When the horse-trading proposal was made public after the email was accidentally sent to media, Labour and NZ First were quick to dismiss it.

The Greens caucus met this morning and co-leader James Shaw confirmed that the party was no longer considering horse-trading over the waka-jumping bill, which he expected the party to support.

"We're working with the Minister of Justice on making sure that there's a bill that we can support. Andrew Little has been very open and very constructive in working with us about the nature of the bill, and I would anticipate that, by the time we get around to it, it will be in a shape we can support."

Yesterday Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said she expected the Green Party to support a waka-jumping bill, which would ensure a party proportional representation remained intact if a party expelled one of its MPs.

Ardern said the discretion in the bill for party leaders to manage their MPs should make it amenable to both NZ First and the Greens.

The bill, which is part of the Government's 100-day programme, is expected to have a high threshold for expelling an MP. One suggestion was to have at least two-thirds of caucus support​ before an MP could be kicked out.

The Greens can oppose government legislation as part of its confidence and supply arrangement with Labour.

But the same agreement also binds the Greens to act in good faith and allow Labour to comply with its agreement with NZ First, which specifies passing a waka-jumping bill.