6 Dec 2011

Deals mean better government - Key

5:24 pm on 6 December 2011

Prime Minister John Key says National needs partners to form a Government and makes no apology for the gains secured by ACT and United Future.

John Banks and Peter Dunne get seven ministerial portfolios and a number of policy concessions between them.

Mr Dunne keeps his roles as the Revenue Minister and Associate Health Minister, and picks up the Associate Conservation Minister position.

He has secured the retention of the Families Commission, although it will be restructured.

ACT now has only one MP compared with five last term, but Mr Banks has more ministerial portfolios than the former leader Rodney Hide and a broader policy agreement.

Mr Key says National needs these parties to govern and concessions had to made, in return for support from reliable and stable partners.

Mr Key says he hopes to be able to inform the Governor General that he has the numbers to form a Government on Monday.

He says he's very confident the Maori Party will also come on board, as they have more to gain by being in Government, than opposition.

Green Party co-leader Russel Norman says the deals are just smoke and mirrors and there is nothing in the deals to tackle the real problems facing New Zealand.

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters says it is a stitch-up. He says United Future and ACT failed to make any significant policy gains.