Love them or loathe them (and I think I can guess which side of that equation most NBR readers fall), the Greens have an even chance of being part of the next government.
While way out in front overall, National is level-pegging with combined Labour+Greens support (and no other party is guaranteed a seat).
That matters, because as Otago University political science lecturer Bryce Edwards tells NBR ONLINE, "MMP is not as simple as the party with the largest Party Vote having the first chance to form a government - although I'm sure that this is the public perception. There are no such firm rules established, apart from the Governor General needing to be satisfied that one particular party can lead a government that has the support of the majority of Parliament."
As conservative political commentator and NBR columnist Matthew Hooton frequently points out, a Labour-Green lead coalition (perhaps backed by NZ First) could well be sitting on the Treasury benches after the 2014 election (with, he speculates, Russel Norman as finance minister and policies that will make a dramatic impact on your rental properties.).
So it's time to get to know the Greens, via high-profile MP Gareth Hughes.
The Green MP posted replies to NBR reader questions (see Comments below) on between 11am and 12pm on Friday January 25. Hughes didn't have time to get through all the questions in the hour, but is angling to answer more later today.
BACKGROUND READING:
Greens introduce rent-to-buy home ownership scheme
Why the Green Party may alienate current home owners (paid)
Greens: print money to drive down dollar
Russel Norman could be finance minister
Greens eagerly eye finance porfolio, warm to business (Hooton)
Banks lays into Green's 'xenophobic' bill to restrict land sales to foreigners
Adams hits back at Greens, Huawei responds to US Congressional report
Dump those rental properties now (Hooton)
Wheeler drawn into Greens politicking, says bank returns still below GFC levels
"What are the barriers to aligning with National? A lot of well-educated, up-and-coming voters in the 20-40 age group have very Green tendencies, but don't like Labour."
Featured comment