Parties pushing their wish lists

Rumours and denials, deals and ultimatums. Welcome to the world of coalition politics where just about everything is up for grabs as political parties jockey for power, influence and seats around the Cabinet table.

With six seats in Parliament, the Greens are just one of a possible cluster of parties that could lend support to a Labour-led coalition - but at what price?

While the Greens are claiming not to have any "bottom lines" they do have a solid wish list, ranging from protecting the environment to a universal student allowance and a hike in the minimum wage.

But they're not the only small party flexing their political muscles.

New Zealand First wants a "golden age" card for senior citizens, which would cost an estimated $600 million a year.

United Future's demands are quite modest - four bottom lines: maintaining the Families Commission, stopping hate speech laws, preventing the decriminalisation of cannabis and refusing to work with a Labour-Greens coalition.

The new kid on the block, the Maori Party, with its four seats, wants a review of foreshore and seabed legislation and a review of all Maori targeted funding.

And Progressives leader Jim Anderton, who will definitely back a Labour-led coalition, has put his hand up to be Minister of Education.

Political commentators say United Future and NZ First's demands are likely to end up on the negotiating table unless special votes change the complexion of the next government.

Political scientist Tim Bale, formerly of Victoria University and now based at Sussex University in England, believes United Future leader Peter Dunne and NZ First leader Winston Peters are the men who hold "an enormous amount of power" in the coalition negotiations.

That's because, unlike the Greens and the Maori Party, Dunne and Peters could also be wooed by the National Party.

In Europe, Bale says coalition negotiations can take longer than a month "so no one should panic if they take time".

"It's a complex situation - far more complicated than Christmas lists, in which each party's demands may well conflict with others and will involve a mass of multi-level trade-offs by all concerned."

Bale expects Labour would want to cut down this complexity by sticking to a minority government, where it only has to bargain over policies rather than Cabinet seats.

There has been speculation that Dunne might seek the Foreign Affairs portfolio as one of his bottom lines.

"If he insists on this, other parties might want more on policy to compensate," says Bale.

But Bale stresses the so-called support party role can cause heartache and frustration."

The only reason a party would accept is because it can't force the other party or parties to allow it to become a full partner, or for other reasons, like not being able to get joining past their grassroots."

WHAT THEY WANT

NZ FIRST: A golden age card and senior citizens package ($600 million a year); tougher immigration laws; 5000 more police ($100 million); restructuring the Waitangi Tribunal and removing references to Treaty principles in laws; raising the minimum wage, and taking GST off petrol ($600 million a year).

THE GREENS: Better public transport ($300 million); action to end child poverty and a child tax credit for all children; a universal student allowance ($700 million); half a million solar panels on homes; extra funding for home insulation ($10 million); school environmental education ($5 million); pest control programmes ($50 million); a buy Kiwi-made campaign ($15 million).

THE MAORI PARTY: Retain the Maori seats, review the foreshore and seabed legislation; review all Maori targeted funding; retain references to the Treaty of Waitangi; ensure the Treaty is fairly represented in the country's constitutional framework and in the actions of all New Zealanders and that all legislation is consistent with Treaty principles.

UNITED FUTURE: Prevent the decriminalisation of cannabis; keep the Families Commission ($28 million over four years); prevent introduction of hate speech legislation.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY