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Fitzsimons back to help Greens in talks

Author
Newstalk ZB staff,
Publish Date
Tue, 26 Sep 2017, 4:27PM
Jeanette Fitzsimons will return to help the party (Getty)
Jeanette Fitzsimons will return to help the party (Getty)

Fitzsimons back to help Greens in talks

Author
Newstalk ZB staff,
Publish Date
Tue, 26 Sep 2017, 4:27PM

Former Greens co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons will return to help the party in its post-election negotiations.

The party on Tuesday announced its negotiating team for talks with Labour and NZ First as they try to hammer out a deal to change the government.

Co-leader James Shaw and MP Eugenie Sage will lead the process, along with acting chief of staff Tory Whanau, co-convenor Debs Martin, and campaign committee member Andrew Campbell.

But the party will also get support from a reference group, which will include Ms Fitzsimons and other senior members.

"While formal negotiations have yet to start, I think it's important to be transparent about who's being entrusted to lead our team when they do," Mr Shaw said.

"Forming a stable, progressive government and advancing the Green Party's priorities of real climate action, cleaning up our rivers and ending poverty are all top of mind."

Labour and National are still both in the process of finalising their negotiating teams, although Labour has confirmed leader Jacinda Ardern and deputy Kelvin Davis will lead its team.

Between them, Labour and the Greens fell well short of forming a government on their own in Saturday's election and a change of government will require NZ First to back the bloc over siding with National.

Mr Shaw has already said a deal between the Greens and National was highly unlikely.

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