Green Party co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons says her party will offer to work together with National on areas her party is concerned with, although it has ruled out supporting National on confidence and supply.
A delighted Ms Fitzsimons welcomed two new MPs into the party after the lift in
its party vote from 2005 ensured Catherine Delahunty and Kevin Hague would add to the six MPs it currently has.
Speaking at the Greens election night headquarters in Auckland, Ms Fitzsimons said she was also hoping the special votes would allow Kennedy Graham into Parliament.
However, her jubilation was tempered by the strong vote by National and Act, which she said
She said although the Greens' result was not quite as high as polls immediately before the election had suggested, it gave the party a stronger base to work with.
She made a jibe at the vote for the right: "I wonder in 20 years time if there will be people who look back at 2008 and say 'I'm really glad I voted for tax cuts rather than for the future of our children."
She said it was highly likely the government would be formed by National and Act, and it would be charged with seeing New Zealand through "unprecedented challenges" in the economy and environment.
"Although we have said after a lot of democratic discussion and debate we will not go with them on confidence and supply, we will be looking for areas where we can work together and if there is common ground we will offer our expertise and passion to help make things better for New Zealand."
She said the party had a strong campaign.
