Winston Peters to take NZ foreign ministry

NZ First leader Winston Peters is set to become foreign minister today when Jacinda Ardern unveils her ministry.

Winston Peters and Jacinda Ardern seal a coalition agreement at parliament in Wellington yesterday. Picture: Getty Images

New Zealand First leader and incoming deputy prime minister Winston Peters is set to become foreign minister today when ­Labour leader Jacinda Ardern reveals her ministerial line-up.

Mr Peters’ deputy Ron Mark is expected to be confirmed as defence minister, with NZF gaining the plum portfolios as part of its coalition agreement to support Labour for government.

NZF will also hold the portfolios of infrastructure, internal ­affairs, seniors, veterans’ affairs, children, forestry, state-owned enterprises, and a newly created ministry of regional economic development.

Four out of nine NZF MPs will serve in the 20-member cabinet. The Greens with eight MPs will have three ministers in the outer ministry. Labour with 46 MPs in the 120-member parliament will have 16 cabinet ministers and the other five members in the outer ministry.

Signing the coalition agreement yesterday, Mr Peters ­secured a $NZ1 billion ($890 million) per year boost for regional New Zealand.

A Regional Development (Provincial Growth) Fund will invest in regional rail, plant 100 million trees a year, and fund a scoping study into options for moving the Ports of Auckland, potentially to Northland. Some functions of government will be reallocated to the regions.

“We have prioritised regional economic development and job creation for New Zealanders,” Ms Ardern said yesterday. She will be sworn in as prime minister with her ministry tomorrow.

Non-resident foreigners will be banned from buying existing homes, a policy Labour and NZF agreed during the campaign.

“The reality is there is going to be a change and a clear signal sent internationally that New Zealand is no longer for sale in the way it has been. We’re happy with that,” Mr Peters said.

NZF also secured a commitment to review and reform the Reserve Bank Act, which could see the central bank’s remit changed to address unemployment or the exchange rate, rather than just targeting inflation.

In a separate confidence and supply agreement signed between Labour and the Greens, Ms Ardern committed to a referendum on legalising personal use of cannabis by 2020.

“We absolutely believe and agree with the Green party that it’s time to take this to the public,” she said. “We agreed that what we’re doing now isn’t working — so we’ve said yes to having that referendum.”

Under the agreement with the Greens, the Labour government has also committed to a goal of 100 per cent renewable energy by 2035, and a net zero emissions economy by 2050.

Labour took power with the support of NZF, despite securing fewer votes and seats than the ousted National party. National won 56 seats at the September 23 election.

At a caucus meeting yesterday, National re-elected outgoing Prime Minister Bill English as leader.

“I’ve committed to leading the National party into ­opposition, we are the strongest opposition the New Zealand parliament has seen,” Mr English said, committing to lead the party until the 2020 election.

He said he was committed to “leading an opposition that is going to make sure that the benefits New Zealanders have worked so hard for in our economy are not just preserved but continue to improve”.

Mr English said National MPs were feeling “sober and positive” following the coalition result. “Sober about the reality that the government is changing ... but very positive about this unique situation we find ourselves in,” he said.

James O’Doherty is Sky News New Zealand bureau chief