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Jacinda Ardern is next prime minister of New Zealand, Winston Peters confirms – live Jacinda Ardern is next prime minister of New Zealand, Winston Peters confirms – live
(35 minutes later)
8.51am BST
08:51
English says questions of leadership are not for tonight but for the weeks ahead.
But it is the second time he has led National to general election defeat. In 2002, under his leadership, National had its worst-ever electoral defeat, losing to Labour’s Helen Clark.
This time, National was the largest party, securing 44.4% of the vote, but is once again the loser. There will inevitably be questions over how long English can stay as leader, particularly against Ardern, the 37-year-old who stormed from deputy leader of a Labour party flagging in the polls to prime minister in the space of less than three months.
8.45am BST
08:45
English says there is probably not a party in the world that won 44.4% of the vote – as National did – and did not end up in power, but says that’s just how the system works.
It means National will be a large opposition, he adds, as
A group of people who were geared up to be a government. We’re not going to be a government, we accept that.
He calls Ardern’s win “a fairly remarkable performance … 10 or 12 weeks ago she was deputy leader of a fading opposition”.
8.43am BST
08:43
“We had satisfactory negotiations,” says English of talks with Peters and NZ First, adding: “He had more influence on forming a government than we did.”
He says speculation about disagreements over ministerial roles is “quite wrong”, but declines to go into details about what National offered to Peters.
He says learning that he was no longer PM via Peters’ televised speech, and not in advance, English dismisses it as “a bit of a detail”.
8.40am BST
08:40
English says he has called Jacinda Ardern to congratulate her on becoming prime minister – but adds that National will be the strongest opposition the country has seen.
(National has 56 seats in the 120-strong parliament.)
8.37am BST
08:37
Bill English concedes defeat
The outgoing PM is speaking now.
He says he is proud to leave New Zealand “in great shape … a more confident country with more aspiration”. He says he wishes the new government well.
8.34am BST
08:34
Ardern key points
Here are the key takeaways from Jacinda Ardern’s press conference:
NZ First will have four cabinet roles in the Labour-led coalition, plus one ministerial role outside cabinet. Portfolios will be revealed next week.
Winston Peters, NZ First’s leader, has been offered and is considering the role of deputy prime minister.
The Green party has yet to vote on its agreement to back the Labour/NZ First coalition but has been offered ministerial roles.
Ardern says she “enjoyed the theatre” of finding out via Peters’ televised speech that he was entering a coalition with Labour. Peters said he did not tell Ardern or National leader Bill English in advance which party he had picked.
Ardern said coalition negotiations had been robust and agreements would be published early next week. She said the parties had more in common than issues that divided them, including affordable housing, clean rivers and reworking the TPP.
The Labour caucus will meet on Friday to elect its cabinet.
English has conceded that National cannot form a government.
English, the outgoing PM, will hold his own news conference shortly.
8.29am BST
08:29
Ardern, amid a barrage of questions, has asserted some of her priorities as prime minister. She has mentioned:
Housing and the need for affordable homes, as well as restricting foreign ownership of NZ homes.
A manned re-entry of the Pike River mine.
“A period of renegotiation” on the TPP.
A possible alternative site for Auckland’s port (a key Winston Peters concern).
Protection of NZ rivers.
Updated
at 8.38am BST
8.24am BST
08:24
“We have tried to be as proportional as possible” in determining ministerial roles, Ardern says, but insists she won’t be drawn on what has been offered to the Greens until that party’s delegates have concluded their meeting, which is happening now.
8.22am BST
08:22
Asked if she’s had congratulations from other world leaders, Ardern says she hasn’t had a chance to check her phone.
8.21am BST
08:21
Ardern says she is looking forward to travelling to Australia “as soon as I am able”.
(Here’s why it could be diplomatically tricky.)
8.19am BST8.19am BST
08:1908:19
Ardern on learning her win from TVArdern on learning her win from TV
Asked if she’d have preferred to find out that she was PM-elect before Winston Peters announced it on television, Ardern laughs:Asked if she’d have preferred to find out that she was PM-elect before Winston Peters announced it on television, Ardern laughs:
I enjoyed the theatre … I joined with NZ as we learned the news together.I enjoyed the theatre … I joined with NZ as we learned the news together.
She says she is “privileged and humbled” to become prime minister.She says she is “privileged and humbled” to become prime minister.
And on her relationship with Peters, she adds:And on her relationship with Peters, she adds:
We’ll have a partnership, we’ll continue to learn from one another.We’ll have a partnership, we’ll continue to learn from one another.
8.15am BST8.15am BST
08:1508:15
Four cabinet roles for NZ FirstFour cabinet roles for NZ First
On the Greens, Ardern says she awaits the outcome of the party’s decision on whether it will back the Labour/NZ First coalition.On the Greens, Ardern says she awaits the outcome of the party’s decision on whether it will back the Labour/NZ First coalition.
Tomorrow afternoon the Labour caucus will meet to elect cabinet positions. The coalition agreements with NZ First and the Greens will be published early next week, followed by news of ministerial appointments.Tomorrow afternoon the Labour caucus will meet to elect cabinet positions. The coalition agreements with NZ First and the Greens will be published early next week, followed by news of ministerial appointments.
NZ First will hold four cabinet positions and one junior ministerial role.NZ First will hold four cabinet positions and one junior ministerial role.
Peters has been offered the role of deputy PM and is considering whether to take it, she says.Peters has been offered the role of deputy PM and is considering whether to take it, she says.
Ardern won’t be drawn on what roles could be offered to Green MPs, but confirms they will have ministerial portfolios.Ardern won’t be drawn on what roles could be offered to Green MPs, but confirms they will have ministerial portfolios.
UpdatedUpdated
at 8.19am BSTat 8.19am BST
8.12am BST8.12am BST
08:1208:12
Ardern says coalition negotiations have been “robust”, but says the parties found more to unite them than divided them.Ardern says coalition negotiations have been “robust”, but says the parties found more to unite them than divided them.
She says Labour and NZ First are “true allies” when it comes to protecting the rights of New Zealanders.She says Labour and NZ First are “true allies” when it comes to protecting the rights of New Zealanders.
She says policy agreements are the “solid foundation on which we will now build a coalition government”.She says policy agreements are the “solid foundation on which we will now build a coalition government”.
8.11am BST8.11am BST
08:1108:11
Jacinda Ardern speaksJacinda Ardern speaks
The PM-elect starts by thanking Bill English for his service as prime minister.The PM-elect starts by thanking Bill English for his service as prime minister.
She says English has conceded that coalition talks have now concluded.She says English has conceded that coalition talks have now concluded.
8.09am BST
08:09
The Australian prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, says he has sent Ardern a congratulatory text and hopes to speak to her soon.
We’re yet to hear from the Australian foreign minister, Julie Bishop, who during the election campaign said it would be “very difficult to build trust” with a Labour government in New Zealand. It came after news broke that the Australian deputy prime minister held dual Australian/New Zealand citizenship – and that an NZ Labour MP had asked a question about dual citizenship that (apparently unwittingly) contributed to the revelation.
Bishop accused NZ Labour of collaborating in a plot to destabilise the Australian government. Ardern called that “false claims”.
8.00am BST
08:00
Outgoing prime minister Bill English and Green party leader James Shaw will also speak later, after Ardern. Green support – likely through an informal deal, as Winston Peters appeared to rule out a three-party coalition – will be essential for any Labour-led government.
Labour has 46 seats and NZ First nine, not enough to bring them to the 61-seat majority. The eight seats belonging to the Greens will therefore be crucial.
It’s expected that the Greens, who have distanced themselves from National, will fall into line. But nothing is yet certain.
7.50am BST
07:50
Ardern: 'We said we could do this'
The first official pronouncement from NZ Labour – the new government – has landed:
Labour is pleased to have successfully concluded negotiations with New Zealand First as a critical step to forming a Labour-led progressive government, says Labour leader Jacinda Ardern:
I thank the New Zealand First party and leader Winston Peters for agreeing in principle to a coalition arrangement with Labour.
The negotiations have been courteous, constructive and robust. Throughout, we have focused on our shared values and the policies that can take New Zealand forward.
We are both committed to forming a strong and durable government that can deal with the many challenges this country faces.
The Green party is now undertaking its internal approval process before we confirm final arrangements to form a Labour-led progressive government. This too has been an excellent process, which I thank James Shaw and his team for.
This is an exciting day. We aspire to be a government for all New Zealanders and one that will seize the opportunity to build a fairer, better New Zealand.
We will work hard to ensure New Zealand is once again a world leader, a country we can all be proud of. We said we could do this, we will do this.
I thank Bill English and acknowledge the service he has given to this country as prime minister, and for a hard fought campaign. We both share a commitment to making New Zealand a better place and Bill has left his mark.
7.45am BST
07:45
Jacinda Ardern – who learned she would become prime minister watching Winston Peters’ speech on TV – will face the media for the first time since the announcement in around 15 minutes from now (8pm NZ, 6pm AEDT, 8am BST). We’ll cover it live here.
Press gallery waiting for Ardern pic.twitter.com/L26FFKbt0K
7.40am BST
07:40
A statement from ACT leader – and the party’s sole MP – David Seymour warns that a Labour coalition with Peters is “beholden to a madman on the loose”.
ACT was one of three smaller parties that kept Bill English’s minority National government in power in the last parliament.
Seymour’s statement reads:
With no hints on policy and vague attacks on capitalism, New Zealanders now face a weak leftwing coalition beholden to a madman on the loose.
Winston Peters’ perverse marriage with Labour and the Greens threatens countless groups: taxpayers, Auckland infrastructure users, millennials, immigrants and the businesses relying on them, and more.
If this coalition governs as it campaigned, then New Zealanders face a big-spending, tax-everything-that-moves, 1970s-protectionist, red-tape-loving government.
7.30am BST
07:30
A reminder that Jacinda Ardern became leader of the Labour party on 1 August – less than three months ago. Weeks later, she is the prime minister.
7.28am BST
07:28
Further congratulations from former Australian Labor prime minister Julia Gillard:
Congrats to Jacinda Ardern and the NZ Labour team. After many nail-biting days, a great result! - JG
7.23am BST
07:23
A quick guide to what you need to know about Jacinda Ardern, Labour leader and New Zealand’s next prime minister:
7.22am BST
07:22
Peters says talks between NZ First and Labour have been “extremely constructive” but refuses to divulge what cabinet and ministerial roles have been dished out.
That’s for the prime minister to reveal, he says.
And now he’s done. We’re expecting to hear from Ardern soon.
7.19am BST
07:19
Peters did not tell Ardern in advance
“No doubt she saw it on the television,” Peters says.
He confirms he did not tell English first either, saying he thought the New Zealand public had the right to know first.