Outrage at NZ First seating plan

National is digging in its toes against New Zealand First's quest to be seated with the Opposition parties in the new Parliament.

NZ First deputy leader Peter Brown said yesterday that the seven MPs wanted to sit facing Labour as it was an "opposition party".

United Future and NZ First have signed deals giving Labour confidence and supply votes for the next three years in return for policy wins and ministerial posts outside the Cabinet for NZ First leader Winston Peters and United Future leader Peter Dunne.

But Mr Peters has continued to cling to the claim that NZ First is not part of the new Government.

Clerk of the House David McGee is understood to have circulated a draft plan which places parties in diminishing order of support for Labour - so NZ First and United Future are seated in the debating chamber next to Labour.

Next to New Zealand First and United Future are the Greens, who are abstaining this term on confidence and supply votes. On the Opposition side are National, the Maori Party and Act.

Behind the scenes Mr McGee is trying to get agreement so MPs can sit with their party when sworn in at the Commission Opening of Parliament on November 7.

Mr McGee was away yesterday but Deputy Clerk Mary Harris said they were still discussing seating so it was inappropriate to comment.

NZ First has told Mr McGee of its wishes, but they have met derision from other parties.

National shadow leader of the House Gerry Brownlee said it was "ridiculous" and "unbelievable" that New Zealand First wanted to sit on the Opposition benches.

"We only have a Government today because Winston Peters is part of it. If you are part of government you sit where the Government sits."

Mr Brownlee vowed National would not budge on the matter.

"If we can't agree on this we'll be sitting in alphabetical order for the entire Parliament because we simply will not give in on this one."

Many MPs were seated in alphabetical order on the first day of Parliament after the 2002 election following disagreement among National, NZ First and the Greens on how the front bench should be divided among them.

Greens co-leader Rod Donald said it was arrogant and ignorant for NZ First to demand to sit on the Opposition side.

"Peter [Brown] should understand that when your leader accepts a top ministerial post and signs up to a confidence and supply agreement, you are part of the Government.

"It's the height of arrogance for New Zealand First to demand that we sit on the Government side ... especially when they just blocked us being part of that Government."

Prime Minister Helen Clark said on Monday she considered NZ First and United Future were in an "enhanced confidence and supply agreement" but not in the Government.

Act leader Rodney Hide said he had told Margaret Wilson, the Speaker in the last Parliament, that it was inappropriate for Mr Peters to have "a bob each way" by sitting in Opposition while a minister propping up the Government.