9 Nov 2008

ACT willing to work with other parties

6:30 pm on 9 November 2008

ACT's leader Rodney Hide is confident his party will be able to work with any coalition partner in a National Party-led Government.

ACT will contribute five seats to the yet-to-be formalised Government.

Mr Hide says he will be having talks with Mr Key over the next two days.

He held his Auckland electorate of Epsom and the party has 3.7% of the party vote.

National's leader John Key has said United Future will be part of his administration, and he'll also hold discussions with the Maori Party.

Mr Hide says he can work with parties from the other side of the political spectrum.

Seeking role for Douglas

Mr Hide says he's certain the state of New Zealand's finances will be worse when Treasury opens its books.

He says he has no doubt the situation has deteriorated since Treasury's last update, and it's just a matter of how bad it is.

Mr Hide says he will also be looking for a role for Sir Roger Douglas in Government, especially given the tough economic challenges ahead.

Sir Roger is the founder of ACT and was Labour Finance Minister from 1984 - 1988 in David Lange's Government. He is back in Parliament as number three on the ACT Party list.

However, Mr Key has stated that Sir Roger will not sit around the Cabinet table.