1 Sep 2017

Possible Labour-Greens without Peters 'big news' - James Shaw

From Morning Report, 6:39 am on 1 September 2017

With three weeks to go, the election is shaping up as the closest since 2005 when Labour under Helen Clark narrowly beat Don Brash's National Party.

The Greens have clawed their way back to the five percent threshold after falling below it following the Metiria Turei benefit fraud debacle. 

"Labour and the Greens together are just, nearly able to form a government by themselves without Winston Peters. To me that was one of the big pieces of news in that poll," Greens leader James Shaw tells Morning Report.

"Relying on New Zealand First is not a reliable option," he says. 

Mr Shaw says he's open to working with New Zealand First, but wouldn't comment on the possible scenario of the Greens giving confidence and supply to Labour from outside government.