New Zealand’s Labour And Greens Formally Sign ‘Cooperation’ Deal

Jacinda Ardern’s Labour party has signed a “cooperation” agreement with the Green party, the prime minister has said, saying she hopes the agreement will be an extra level of stability for her second term in government. Ardern been negotiating with the Greens, and signed a deal that gives the left-leaning party, which is outspoken on environmental and social justice issues, two ministries outside of cabinet. Greens co-leaders James Shaw and Marama Davidson will hold the climate change and family violence portfolios respectively, and both will sit outside of cabinet. The Greens secured an increase to their vote in last month’s election by pledging to support Ardern’s government. The parties have also agreed to progress a shared policy agenda on climate change, environment, child wellbeing and “marginalised communities” issues. The agreement means that Labour and the Greens can now push forward with policies they both agreed upon but New Zealand First did not.