Russel Norman could be finance minister

The Greens would agree to a full coalition with Labour if the party wins the next general election.

Leader Russel Norman, speaking this weekend on TV3’s “The Nation” said that in return the party would expect various Cabinet portfolios including in the finance area.

“We come as a package, so we've got co-leaders, and we've got some really talented MPs, so we'd be looking at some of those key portfolios, both economics and finance portfolios, but other social and environmental portfolios as well,” he said.

He said he wouldn’t rule in or out becoming Finance Minister himself.

“Obviously we are interested in positions like that,” he said.

“But in terms of the detail you couldn’t really sort it out until you know what the vote was.

“It’s up to the voters to decide how much influence the Green Party has.”

And Mr Norman said the party could work with New Zealand First in Government.

He said the Greens and New Zealand First Leader, Winston Peters, were already working together on the Inquiry into Manufacturing.

“Our whole approach to working with other parties is where there's common ground, so we've worked with National where we've found common ground, the home insulation scheme I think was an excellent programme.

“But in terms of working with New Zealand First again it would be based on common policy.”

And on policy, Mr Norman said the party would seek to have climate change considered across a broad range of Government policies.

“I think climate change should be an issue whatever the policy is,” he said.

”We should be considering the impacts on climate change; it is the greatest global environmental and social and economic challenge we face.”

But he also said the Greens could agree to drilling for gas.

We don’t oppose it in principle but obviously it's a case by case depending on the environmental impacts,” he said.

“So if you look at fracking there's concerns there about the environmental impacts, other kinds of gas drilling don’t necessarily have the same kind of environmental impact.

“But our main focus is on the development of renewables which is a great economic opportunity for New Zealand, and addresses climate change.”

Watch Russel Norman's full interview here.