Greens co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons. Photo / Greg Bowker

Greens co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons. Photo / Greg Bowker

The Green Party is confident it will not suffer the same fate after the election as it did last time when Labour left it on the sidelines after coalition talks.

The Greens announced today they would work with Labour and not National after the election, just as it did before the 2005 election.

But Labour ended up putting together deals with New Zealand First and United Future - both of which ruled out working with the Greens.

Green Party co-leaders Jeanette Fitzsimons and Russel Norman were today confident that would not happen again, as neither NZ First nor United Future were doing so well in the polls.

"It's about the numbers," Greens co-leader Ms Fitzsimons said. "We think this time it's looking as though we are much more likely to have the numbers that we need to negotiate the sort of outcome that we want."

Prime Minister Helen Clark this month said she would like to be able to involve the Greens in Government this time.

After analysing policy in 12 key areas canvassing everything from the environment to social policy the Greens decided they could not form a government with National, give it confidence and supply, nor abstain in order to let it govern.

The party released its preference for a post-election partner at a press conference in Wellington today.

Greens co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons said "on the whole" National's policies would take New Zealand in the wrong direction.

"This means that we can not form a government with National, or support them on confidence and supply, although we could work with them in areas where we have common ground."

She gave Labour a mixed report card, but said support for a Labour-led government was possible if it progressed the right policies.

"Whether we could form a government with them would depend on reaching a policy agreement that advanced green policies on a number of fronts."

"Whether we could form a government with them would depend on reaching a policy agreement that advanced green policies on a number of fronts."

The Greens other co-leader Russel Norman said the two major parties had more in common with each other than with the Greens.

"Neither of them aligns closely with our own ideals for a fairer and more sustainable New Zealand."

National leader John Key said this afternoon that the Greens in government meant environmental policies over economic.