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New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern agreed to a governing “cooperation agreement” with the Green Party, offering two ministries and agreeing on a handful of shared political priorities for her second term, an offer they accepted on Saturday night.
Labor won the general election in October with an absolute majority, meaning they could rule alone. But Ardern invited the Greens to a “cooperation” agreement, saying it would allow the government to benefit from the expertise of Green Party members in areas such as the environment, climate change and child welfare.
In a move applauded by supporters on the left, Green Party co-leaders James Shaw and Marama Davidson will occupy ministerial portfolios outside of Cabinet, making the most of their areas of experience, interest and expertise.
Shaw will continue as Minister for Climate Change, as well as Associate Minister for Environment (Biodiversity), while Davidson will be appointed to the new position of Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence, and will also assume the role of Associate Minister for Housing. . (abandonment).
Davidson is a Maori and a survivor of sexual violence.
“We showed in the last government that we can work well with the Green Party,” Ardern said. “On environmental and welfare issues, there are a lot of things that we agree on are good for New Zealand and I want to build on our shared goals and experience to move that work forward.”
Ardern was reelected a fortnight ago in a resounding victory, obtaining a parliamentary majority in the October 17 elections. He has held talks with the Green Party, a government partner during his first term, since the elections.
“This cooperative agreement reflects the positive working relationship between our two parties and our areas of shared interest, respecting the mandate that voters gave Labor to form a government,” Ardern said.
“It will provide stability and cooperation in key policy areas while allowing the Greens to take an independent position from the government on all other issues.”
The Labor leader’s offer has given the Greens a chance to continue their alliance for the next three years.
“On election night I said that I wanted to govern for all New Zealanders and reach the widest possible consensus on key issues,” Ardern said. “This agreement does that.
“This arrangement allows us to have the benefit of continuing with a strong mandate and delivering all those things that we campaigned on, while also using the skills and experience that exist in the Green Party.”
More than 75% of the 160 members of the Green Party voted to accept Labor’s offer on Saturday night, after a teleconference.
Davidson said the party was “excited” about the deal. “We entered this negotiation with the hope of achieving the best results for New Zealand and our planet,” said the co-leader.
“New Zealanders voted for us to be a productive Labor partner to ensure that we move faster and faster on the issues that matter. We will make sure that happens this period.
“In the areas of climate change, caring for our natural environment and tackling inequality, there is no time to waste.”
Coalitions are common in New Zealand, which in 1996 changed electoral systems to give minor parties a larger role. This agreement falls short of a formal coalition, and Labor is calling it a “cooperation agreement.”
The parties agreed to work together on climate change, the environment, child welfare and “marginalized communities.”
The agreement does not force the Greens to speak out against government policies with which they do not agree.
Ardern will announce his full second-term ministry on Monday and will meet for the first time as a cabinet on Friday after confirmation of final results by the electoral commission.
