Greens soften towards Nats

Prime Minister John Key. Photo / Greg Bowker

The Green Party may open the door to a confidence and supply agreement with National, building on the work it has done with the Government on areas of "common interest" over the past three years, but admits the possibility is unlikely.

A draft remit circulated to branches recently considers the Greens' support options after the November election.

"Supporting National with confidence and supply is extremely unlikely given our political differences," said co-leader Russel Norman, "but the option is on the table for our members to think about."

Dr Norman said the proposal reflected "a preference for supporting Labour with confidence and supply under the right circumstances".

However the remit represents a further incremental softening of the Greens' attitude towards National - many of whose policies, particularly on environmental and social issues, would be unpalatable to most Green Party supporters.

The Greens have a memorandum of understanding with National under which they agree to work on areas of common interest. The parties have worked on the "Warm Up New Zealand" home insulation scheme, the national cycleway and a pilot programme for better pest control in native forests. The remit allows for an extension of that arrangement.

Green Party members will vote on the remit at the party's annual meeting in June.

Prime Minister John Key said the signal he was getting from the Greens was if they held the balance of power after the election, they would go with Labour.

"I think what they are saying is if that's not the position, then they could countenance a view where they might work in some form with National."

Labour leader Phil Goff said it was "very unlikely" the Greens would go with National.

"The Greens and National don't have much in common. I think it stands to reason the Greens would support a Labour-led government and I welcome that."

Additional reporting NZPA