Labour is increasingly being held prisoner by the Greens as leader Phil Goff "cuddles up'' to its potential coalition partner and its policies, Finance Minister Bill English says.
In an economic debate with Labour finance spokesman David Cunliffe on Radio Live this morning, Mr English said Labour was being "dragged in'' by the Greens and adopting its policies.
He cited Labour's promise to extend Working for Families tax credits to beneficiaries and its opposition to lignite mining in Southland - both existing Green Party policies.
Mr English said Labour's aspiration for a low-carbon, energy self-sufficient economy was "straight off the Greens' pamphlet''.
National had taken a balanced approach to the environment but would not allow a minority to cramp economic growth in areas like mining.
"We're not going to be held prisoner by the Greens who are just against all of this stuff. And Labour are increasingly prisoner to them,'' he said.
"The Greens are clearly dragging Labour closer to them, and that is why we are working so hard on this campaign, because we know what a bad result that would be in New Zealand.''
Asked what advice he would give Phil Goff, Mr English said: "I think he's doing the wrong thing by cuddling up to the Greens, frankly, and that is going to make Labour less attractive to middle New Zealand. And actually it's getting our voters motivated, because they know they can't take this election for granted if that's the alternative.''
Mr Cunliffe said no party was putting any pressure on Labour.
"This is about Labour having a long-term plan for the future given the way the world is changing.''
The Greens were a credible coalition partner that Labour could work constructively with.
"We don't agree with everything that they think, but there's enough common ground that we would be a credible government, we would be a secure government, and we would be a government that really cares for New Zealand.''
Mr Cunliffe said the Greens had moderated significantly in recent years, which had broadened their appeal, but Labour would still be core to a strong economy.
An extractive, low-wage economy would take New Zealand in the wrong direction.
"Let's get real. We can't dig enough coal, we can't milk enough cows, to lift New Zealand's income to the levels that we need to aspire too.
"The bigger game is investing in clean technologies and transitioning to a low-carbon, highly efficient future. We face fossil fuel shortages, we face oil shortages around the world, and that will put up the price of energy in New Zealand.''
