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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)
9.23am BST
09:23
I’ll post a summary soon of the various leaders’ announcements.
Here is a key part of Winston Peters’ speech – just as he made the big reveal that NZ First would back Labour:
this seemed like the crucial/decisive part of Winston's speech tonight: pic.twitter.com/LOWcmNGneK
9.14am BST
09:14
Shaw dismisses the “mythology” that NZ First and the Greens hate each other, adding that while Winston Peters is not easy to work with, he is “constructive”.
Arden, he adds, “is the boss – I’ll follow her lead.”
And he’s done.
9.10am BST
09:10
He says a confidence and supply arrangement will allow the Greens to vote against the Labour/NZ First on issues outside the deal. It means the government will be the first truly MMP (mixed member proportional representation) government, he says:
It forces us to work together.
He repeats Ardern’s line that the three parties have found they have more in common than issues that divide them.
9.07am BST
09:07
Shaw says there are around 155 delegates on the call right now to determine whether the party accepts the deal; 75% need to agree.
9.05am BST
09:05
Greens set to enter confidence and supply deal
Shaw says his party will decide tonight and he is “very confident” it will back the deal.
It will be a confidence and supply deal, he confirms, rather than a coalition, with the Greens having three ministers outside cabinet and one under-secretarial role. It is the first time the party will be in government, he stresses:
We will be in cabinet for those discussions which are relevant to our interests.
Where we’ve landed up is, we think, a really good place for us to be.
9.03am BST
09:03
Greens to back coalition
Green leader James Shaw says his delegates are still discussing the details of the deal that would see it back the Labour/NZ First coalition, but he sees it as a great opportunity:
For the first time we are probably going to be in a position to have ministerial control of the issues that are important to us.
Jacinda Ardern earlier confirmed that the Greens would be offered ministerial roles, although Winston Peters had said this would not be in the cabinet.
8.51am BST8.51am BST
08:5108:51
English says questions of leadership are not for tonight but for the weeks ahead.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.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.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 BST8.45am BST
08:4508:45
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.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, asIt 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.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”.He calls Ardern’s win “a fairly remarkable performance … 10 or 12 weeks ago she was deputy leader of a fading opposition”.
8.43am BST8.43am BST
08:4308:43
“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.”“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 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”.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 BST8.40am BST
08:4008:40
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.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.)(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 BST
08:19
Ardern 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:
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.
And on her relationship with Peters, she adds:
We’ll have a partnership, we’ll continue to learn from one another.
8.15am BST
08:15
Four 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.
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.
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.
Updated
at 8.19am BST
8.12am BST
08:12
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 policy agreements are the “solid foundation on which we will now build a coalition government”.
8.11am BST
08:11
Jacinda Ardern speaks
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.