New foreign affairs minister Winston Peters says he has confidence in the new Labour-led government.
The new government will be a Labour-Progressive coalition, with confidence and supply agreements with United Future and New Zealand First. Peters and United Future leader Peter Dunne, will have ministerial positions outside of cabinet.
Peters will be minister of foreign affairs and racing and associate minister of senior citizens, while Dunne will become minister of revenue and associate minister of health.
Speaking to Close Up Peters said he can be effective outside of cabinet.
"I think one can be enormously effective if one remembers that you're there to represent on this issue the will of parliament, which happens to be the majority that forms this government and with the support of confidence and supply from New Zealand First and the United (Future) Party."
Peters said the country has his word on the issue of stability.
The New Zealand First leader denies he has gone back on his word prior to the election that he would not join a formal coalition.
"We said we would not go into coalition and we have not, we said that we would abstain on confidence and supply and ensure, though, that if a government was being bought down that we would act in the affirmative and vote for them to be maintained for the next three years, whether that was National-led or Labour-led."
Peters said he did not demand a ministerial role and that during coalition talks it emerged that him having a ministerial post would be better for the government. He said the ministerial portfolios he has taken are the only ones he could have taken without compromising New Zealand First's position.
The Australia government said it will work with whoever is New Zealand's foreign affairs minister.
A spokesman for Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said the government would work with whoever was in the role.
"(Who they appoint) is a matter for New Zealand," the spokesman said.
