Updated: 9:10pm – She said the Labour Party would hold a caucus tomorrow to lay out cabinet positions. Early next week they would sign and release the agreements with both New Zealand First and the Green Party.
“Later in the week we will confirm and release ministerial portfolios more broadly and a swearing in ceremony will take place.”
New Zealand First would hold four cabinet positions, she said.
She confirmed New Zealand First leader Winston Peters had been offered the deputy Prime Minister position, and it would be up to him whether he accepted.
She said she wanted to thank her political opponent, National Party leader Bill English.
“For the role that he has played in that campaign, but also as Prime Minister and for serving in the past as New Zealand’s Finance Minister,” she said.
“Mr English has already called me this evening and acknowledged that for the national party negotiations have now concluded.”
She said there had been more that has united the parties than divided them.
Ms Ardern paid him perhaps the greatest compliment when she appeared to take a line from Mr English’s book: “Labour has always believed that government should be a partner in ensuring an economy that works and delivers for all New Zealanders.
“I also in the same vein want to thank and acknowledge the New Zealand Green Party,” she said.
Mr Peters said in his earlier press conference that the Green Party would enter into a confidence and supply arrangement with the Labour-New Zealand First coalition.
“They’ve engaged with us on areas of consensus and on areas where we have taken different views,” Ms Ardern said.
“I acknowledge that they are undertaking a process with their party which I respect and we will wait for the outcome of that to confirm that together we will indeed have successfully changed the government.
-RNZ
Picture: Jacinda Ardern speaks after New Zealand First leader Winston Peters said the party had chosen her to be the next Prime Minister. Photo: Screenshot / RNZ
