October 04, 2017
Greens-NZ First antipathy old news for Shaw
Greens leader James Shaw believes the majority exists for a change of Government and there should be no major obstacles to the Greens and New Zealand First working together.
The parties are this week preparing for coalition talks which won't start in earnest until the results of the special votes are known on Saturday afternoon.
Mr Shaw says at the current count the three Opposition parties have 61 seats and that could increase by one or two, making it easier for New Zealand First leader Winston Peters to commit himself to a government of change.
He says many years have passed since Mr Peters said he could not work with the Greens.
"It was a long time ago and a lot of things have changed. His caucus is almost 100 percent different. So is ours. Our leadership has changed a couple of times actually. I think there is enough common ground there. There is a lot of policy we have in common. I know most of the news was about stuff that separates us. There are some points of contention there but that is true in any coalition," Mr Shaw says.
He says across the three parties there is a strong Maori caucus that would play a role in any Government they form.
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