Teal Deal

The Teal Deal is a hypothetical blue–green political alliance between the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand and the New Zealand National Party. The term Teal Deal is a reference to the medium blue-green colour teal, which combines the political colours that represent the two parties.

Green The Green Party use the colour green to
represent their party in reference to the environment
Teal Teal is a mix of blue and green
Blue Blue, the traditional colour of conservatism in New Zealand,
which is used by the National Party

Background

Ideas of an arrangement between the Greens and National Party have been floated without success, notably in 2006 when MP Nándor Tánczos stood for the Greens co-leadership, claiming the Greens (then supporting the Fifth Labour Government) needed flexibility to work with both the political left and right in order to better advocate environmental issues. However the idea was rebuked by party members and Tánczos lost the co-leadership race to Russel Norman.[1]

Following the demise of the Labour-led government at the 2008 general election the Greens briefly flirted with the Fifth National Government in 2009 by signing a Memorandum of understanding (MOU) with National to jointly work together on shared policy initiatives including a home insulation scheme and updating New Zealand's energy efficiency strategy.[2] The MOU between the Greens and National lapsed in 2011 and was not renewed following the 2011 general election.

2017 election

During the government formation negotiations following the 2017 general election, there was much public and media speculation a so-called "teal deal" between National and the Greens.[3] National had won a plurality of seats but could not form a parliamentary majority without support from either the Greens or New Zealand First.

Former National Prime Minister Jim Bolger weighed in on the issue saying that the Greens had a responsibility to "pick up the phone to National".[3] National leader Bill English and Greens Co-Leader James Shaw both maintained if the other rang, they had a responsibility to listen, but the obligation did not go further than that.[3] Shaw later said most of the talk of a "teal deal" was fed through proxies, saying, "It's all just PR and fluff, there's no substance to it".[3]

On 4 October Green Party campaign committee member Andrew Campbell (also a member of the Greens negotiation team) had a meeting with English leading to initial reactions that the two parties were negotiating. It was soon revealed that Campbell was meeting English formally in his role as senior media relations advisor for New Zealand Rugby.[4]

Ultimately, the Greens did not do a deal with National and on 19 October 2017 the Greens announced they would support through confidence and supply a coalition government between Labour and New Zealand First. The Greens entered government for the first time, gaining three ministers outside cabinet (Shaw, Julie Anne Genter and Eugenie Sage) and an Undersecretary (Jan Logie).

Later developments

A grassroots petition for a National–Green coalition (not authorised by either party) initiated by Christchurch-based organic fashion entrepreneur Clive Antony (a National supporter) acquired more than 3,700 signatures.[5]

In February 2018 National leader Bill English encouraged the Greens to work with National on areas of common interest, which would allow the Greens to achieve policy gains without needing the support from the Labour–NZ First coalition government. This caused speculation that National was attempting to build a better relationship with the Greens by the 2020 election.[6] When Simon Bridges replaced English as National's leader he stated his preferred coalition partner leading up to the next election would be the Greens. However, both Green co-leadership candidates (Julie Anne Genter and Marama Davidson) were skeptical that the suggestion would work out.[7]

In March 2018 Shaw announced that the Greens would cede much of their primary question time in parliament to National so the Government can be held to greater account and not be asked 'patsy questions'. Bridges welcomed the Green Party's decision saying it will equip him better to be an effective opposition.[8]

At the Greens 2019 annual general meeting Shaw announced that the Greens had ruled out forming a coalition with National whilst Simon Bridges is their party leader.[9]

Blue–green party

Another speculated outcome is the formation of a new political party. In the mid-1990s new Zealand had a blue–green party, the Progressive Green Party, made largely of former Green Party activists, which sought to combine environmentalist policies with right-wing politics.[10] The party polled poorly in the 1996 general election and disbanded soon after, with most members joining the "Bluegreens" faction of the National Party.

Following the 2017 election, there was talk of a new centrist green political party being formed. Commentators have cited National's lack of potential support partners as the biggest impediment they face in forming a government in the future and a newly created party being a potential solution.[11] Speculation heightened during the 2018 Northcote by-election when former Green Party leadership candidate Vernon Tava sought (unsuccessfully) the National nomination.[12] Tava has since been touted as the front-runner to lead any new party. In January 2019 he told media that a party truly having the environment at its heart was absent from the political scene. He reaffirmed his enthusiasm for the notion of a new environmentalist party and said he would consider leading such a party.[11]

Tava launched the Sustainable New Zealand Party on 10 November 2019. National's deputy leader Paula Bennett said she thought the party had a chance of attracting Green voters who were upset of focusing on cannabis instead of more environmental policies. Shaw said he wished Tava luck with the party.[13]

References
  1. Small, Vernon (5 October 2017). "No, honestly, National really did seem to be serious about a coalition with the Greens". The Press. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  2. "Green & National Parties Announce Shared Policy Initiatives". Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand. 8 April 2009. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  3. Walters, Laura; Small, Vernon (3 October 2017). "Talk of a teal deal is speculation, nothing more, says James Shaw". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  4. Jones, Nicholas (4 October 2017). "Bill English meets with member of Green Party negotiating team - to talk rugby". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  5. Collins, Simon (27 September 2017). "Grassroots petition calls for National-Green coalition". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  6. Cheng, Derek (9 February 2018). "National's olive branch to NZ First and Greens". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  7. Swannix, John-Michael (10 March 2018). "Greens' Julie Anne Genter intends to be a 'clearer, stronger' leader than James Shaw". Newshub. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
  8. Moir, Jo (18 March 2018). "Green Party co-leader James Shaw has done a deal with National - Labour warned". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  9. "Greens will 'never' do a deal with National while Simon Bridges is leader". Newshub. 3 August 2019. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  10. Scherer, Karyn (3 May 1994). "Dissident Greens may form new party". The Evening Post.
  11. Bennett, Lucy (27 January 2019). "Blue-Greens movement could be National's answer to toppling Ardern". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
  12. "Former Green activist Vernon Tava seeking National nomination in Northcote". The New Zealand Herald. 30 March 2018. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
  13. Cooke, Henry (10 November 2019). "Sustainable NZ party launches, promising to be a 'full-time environmental party'". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
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