NZ First reaffirms support on money motions

New Zealand First will honour its election commitment and back Labour - as the party that won the most votes - on money motions in Parliament.

The promise holds despite Labour's bid to overturn Winston Peters' 62-vote majority in Tauranga via a judicial recount.

The NZ First leader said yesterday that his party would be a steady and "moderating" influence on the Coalition Government when its votes were needed to pass legislation.

The minority Labour-Alliance Coalition has 59 seats in the 120-seat Parliament and relies on the seven Green MPs or five NZ First MPs to pass legislation.

NZ First has already stated it will support the Coalition's legislation banning party-hopping by MPs that will be introduced into Parliament next week. The Greens do not support the legislation.

Mr Peters said the future of MMP would be on trial over the next three years.

"Hopefully the last three years provided a learning experience for everyone and an end to the first-past-the-post mentality in New Zealand politics. It was certainly a learning experience for NZ First - and one that does not need repeating." - STAFF REPORTER, NZPA