26 August, 2002

Greens Welcome Constructive Relationship

Today's signing of a cooperation agreement between the Green Party and the Government is a signal of the constructive but independent course the Greens will pursue over the next term, Co-leaders Jeanette Fitzsimons and Rod Donald said.

"While we have significant differences with the Labour-led Government," said Jeanette Fitzsimons, "there are areas where we wish to support and strengthen the direction of government policy.

"We owe it to the country to be responsible and cooperate in the development of legislation that improves the lot of New Zealanders and which is environmentally and socially sustainable.

"At the same time, we reserve the right to offer our alternatives to legislation that we consider to be flawed and not in the best interests of this country and its people."

"This document in no way restricts our freedom to state our differences," agreed Rod Donald. "What it does do is establish a process whereby we can identify areas of common interest with the Government and work constructively within a framework to achieve agreed goals.

"We achieved significant successes in cooperation with Labour over the past term and this agreement offers us the opportunity to continue playing a positive, active role in the development of legislation and policy.

"This is MMP in action," said Rod Donald. "It's cooperation without capitulation."

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