Labour sounds out possible partners

Helen Clark and Michael Cullen greet the Greens' Rod Donald and Jeanette Fitzsimons at the Beehive yesterday. Picture / Mark Mitchell

The New Zealand First caucus will meet in Wellington today to thrash out the detail of its post-election position, including its stance on whether it would object to the Greens being part of Government.

Prime Minister Helen Clark is hoping to meet leader Winston Peters either this afternoon or tomorrow for preliminary talks.

While Mr Peters' party was reduced from 13 to seven MPs in Saturday's election, it is still the biggest smaller party and could be a vital factor in securing a stable arrangement.

New Zealand First and United Future both support the principle of the largest party being given the chance to form a Government. That is Labour by one seat on the provisional count.

The leaders of both parties have also expressed grave doubts about supporting a coalition Government that included the Greens.

Mr Peters refused to speak to the Herald yesterday but senior MP Brian Donnelly said there was no definitive position on whether New Zealand First could support a Government in which the Greens were in coalition.

He said Mr Peters had said clearly that the party would not allow the Government to be ransomed by the extremes of the left or the right.

"So we would have to work out the detail of what that actually means when we sit down and talk [today]."

He also said the party had not ruled out talking to the second biggest party - National - if it was unhappy with the plans of the party it talked to first.

This is at variance with what New Zealand First has previously told the Herald and may also be the subject of intense caucus discussion today. What appears to be undisputed is that New Zealand's First's preference is to abstain on confidence and supply.

Helen Clark began what she called "exploratory talks" yesterday with other three possible components of Government formation: the Greens, United Future and the Maori Party.

Like clockwork, they arrived an hour apart in Helen Clark's office for talks with her, deputy leader Michael Cullen and chief of staff Heather Simpson.

Greens co-leaders Rod Donald and Jeanette Fitzsimons brought their chief of staff, Deb Moran; United future leader Peter Dunne brought his chief of staff, Rob Eaddy, and Maori Party co-leaders Tariana Turia and Pita Sharples brought their political adviser Ken Mair, one of those whom Helen Clark has previously labelled a "hater and wrecker" during the foreshore and seabed hikoi.

Maori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia joined the Labour team for talks with the Maori Party.

At a press conference beforehand, Helen Clark outlined a range of relationship options including coalition, agreements to give support or abstention on confidence and supply, a co-operation agreement or some other kind of formal working relationship (for example the Greens had a close working relationship last term but did not give Labour support on confidence and supply).

She expected the talks to identify the issues that could become the focus of negotiation once the vote was finalised - on October 1. She also said any recount might delay formation of the Government by several weeks.

Tariana Turia said later that her party was developing an option of its own. She called it an indigenous model for relationships that the party would be looking at.

She said they had agreed to meet National and would then begin a series of 21 hui - three in each of the seven Maori electorates, probably next week - about the various options.

She said Dr Brash had telephoned her last night and Dr Sharples yesterday to offer congratulations.

Dr Sharples said they discussed how far apart they were and agreed to meet to discuss their differences.

Mr Dunne appeared more mellow yesterday than he did on Saturday after losing five MPs.

After the meeting he would not repeat his refusal to back a Government with the Greens in coalition, saying nothing was ruled in or out at this stage. And he disputed a suggestion he was dictating who should be in Government.

"We are not seeking to dictate. I have always been strongly opposed to tails that wag dogs and I am not about to start changing that now."

The Greens, however, are furious that Mr Dunne would try to block them getting Cabinet posts but happily accept support from them for his own. Ms Fitzsimons described Mr Dunne as having "more bottom lines than seats in the House."

WORKING THE PHONES

Helen Clark has:

* Exchanged phone messages with New Zealand First leader Winston Peters and agreed to meet today or tomorrow.

* Met Greens co-leaders Rod Donald and Jeanette Fitzsimons.

* Met United Future leader Peter Dunne.

* Met Maori Party co-leaders Tariana Turia and Pita Sharples.

Don Brash has:

* Asked New Zealand First leader Winston Peters to call him but received no reply.

* Telephoned United Future leader Peter Dunne on Sunday and both expect to speak again this week.

* Telephoned Maori Party co-leaders Tariana Turia and Pita Sharples and they have agreed to meet.

* Telephoned Act leader Rodney Hide to congratulate him on winning Epsom.