Opposition parties hustle for alliances

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Wed, 14 Dec 2011 5:21a.m.

Newly elected Labour leader David Shearer and his Deputy Grant Robertson

Newly elected Labour leader David Shearer and his Deputy Grant Robertson

The Greens and the Mana Party are offering to work with Labour's new leadership team as opposition parties get their act together in Parliament.

Now ACT, United Future and the Maori Party have signed support agreements with National, the lines are clearly drawn in the debating chamber with Labour, the Greens and Mana on the opposition benches.

New Zealand First is there as well, with its eight MPs, but leader Winston Peters said before the election he wasn't going to work with anyone.

David Shearer: From warzones to the political frontline  

Green's co-leaders Russel Norman and Metiria Turei have congratulated Labour's new leader, David Shearer, and his deputy Grant Robertson.

"We wish him the best of luck, we had constructive working relationships with previous leaders and look forward to developing a good relationship with David Shearer too," they said.

Mana Party leader Hone Harawira, the party's only MP, says he's going to talk to Mr Shearer and Mr Robertson about working with them on common issues.

Labour's former leader, Phil Goff, said before the election he wouldn't have Mr Harawira in a coalition government but he didn't get the chance to form one and Mr Shearer might not be so dismissive.

David Cunliffe, defeated by Mr Shearer in the caucus leadership vote, is pledging to support Mr Cunliffe and Mr Robertson.

He says he ready to work with them on restructuring the party and the front bench.

Mr Cunliffe was third-ranked MP and finance spokesman during Labour's first term in opposition and There's a lot of interest around where Mr Shearer will fit him in.

Mr Goff and former deputy leader Annette King will almost certainly leave the front bench as Mr Shearer cleans out the old guard and puts in younger MPs into senior positions.

NZN
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Comments

14 Dec 2011 04:48p.m.

jon wrote:

'David Cunliffe, defeated by Mr Shearer in the caucus leadership vote, is pledging to support Mr Cunliffe and Mr Robertson.' lol

14 Dec 2011 09:47a.m.

atrout wrote:

How about our politicians working together to improve the lot of NZers instead of playing confrontation politics? That would be a bit of a change and certainly of infinitely more value to the country.

14 Dec 2011 09:45a.m.

Stanley wrote:

Go with Mana, then we get National for certain next election.

14 Dec 2011 09:03a.m.

ben wrote:

the strange thing when i saw the new labour leader on tv i all of a sudden found my self saying norman kirk , not lange not a muldoon but this labour leader is another norman kirk .