By 3 News online staff
Prime Minister John Key today announced a confidence and supply agreement with the United Future Party.
Party leader Peter Dunne will continue his role as Minister of Revenue and Associate Minister of Health but will also become Associate Minister of Conservation.
Mr Dunne will remain outside of Cabinet.
As part of the agreement, Radio New Zealand and KiwiBank will not be sold along with a number of other provisions.
New Zealanders will also maintain free access to rivers, lakes, forests and coastlines. Heli-hunting will also be banned on conservation estates.
Other policy agreements are freezing Radio New Zealand and TVNZ funding tracks and investigating free health checks for over 65s.
Mr Dunne has given way on the Families Commission, set up under his 2008 agreement, and it will in future be run by one commissioner instead of four.
Mr Key says a proposal discussion document is being worked on for Mr Dunne’s more extreme superannuation policy.
He says many of Mr Dunne’s policies have cost issues, such as flexible superannuation and income sharing.
Mr Dunne says he is “very pleased” overall with the agreement.
Prime Minister John Key has agreed to pass a law stating that no more than 49 per cent of any state-owned asset can be sold.
That was always government policy and Mr Key says he doesn't have a problem with having legislation that gives an absolute guarantee.
Mr Key says he looks forward to continuing the two parties’ successful partnership.
“United Future has agreed to support the legislation required to give effect to the policies contained in National’s Post-Election Action Plan.
“I look forward to continuing the constructive relationship we built with Mr Dunne in the previous term,” he says.
Mr Key says he is confident the agreement will help National build a “strong, stable government that New Zealand needs.”
3 News / NZN