THE Labour Party is mightly pleased with itself, but then that's nothing new. It has received a fax from the New Zealand Labour Party seeking copies of our last two coalition agreements. New Zealand Labour is looking forward to being the main partner in a centre-left government following the recent general election. Our Labour party is pleased because its success at negotiating complicated coalition arrangements is obviously world renowned and because it feels it is one in the eye for their rivals, the PDs. The PDs, it will be remembered, frequently cite New Zealand as an example of a near-perfect society. Now their political counterparts - Jim Bolger's National Party - have taken a dive and Labour leader Helen Clarke may become New Zealand's first woman prime minister.
Then again she may not. The New Zealand First Party holds the balance of power and while they say the coalition talks will last another month, the pundits believe they won't side with anyone, thus allowing Bolger to return with a minority government. No wonder Ms Clarke wants a few tips from Dick Spring and his mates.