Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's Labour Party has signed a "cooperation agreement" with the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand as she prepares to form a new government.
Of note: Labour won enough parliamentary seats in the Oct. 17 election to govern alone for the first time since NZ's proportional representation voting system was introduced in 1996.
- But Ardern said during a briefing Sunday morning local time after the Greens accepted Labour's offer that she wanted to draw on "shared goals and expertise" on "environmental and wellbeing issues."
What else she's saying: "This cooperation agreement reflects the positive working relationship between our two parties and our areas of shared interest while respecting the mandate voters gave Labour to form a government," Ardern said.
- "It will deliver stability and cooperation in key policy areas while allowing the Greens to take an independent position from the government on all other matters."
The big picture: Under the deal, Greens co-leaders Marama Davidson and James Shaw will hold ministerial portfolios outside of New Zealand's Cabinet.
- Shaw will retain the post he held in the previous government as climate change minister and gain the role of associate minister for the environment.
- Davidson will be appointed to the new role of minister for the prevention of family and sexual violence and become an associate housing minister focused on homelessness.
- Ardern will announce her new Cabinet on Monday.
