New Zealand Labour Party leader and incoming prime minister Jacinda Ardern says she hopes to take a trip across the ditch as soon as possible.
"My intention is to make a trip to Australia as soon as I am able," she said at a press conference shortly after NZ First leader and kingmaker Winston Peters said he would form a coalition government with Labour.
Australian Labor leader Bill Shorten was quick to respond to the announcement, hailing it "a new era for New Zealand".
Ardern confirmed that the position of deputy prime minister had been offered to Winston Peters after the leader of the small nationalist party threw his support behind her party.
Labour will hold a caucus meeting on Friday morning to select a cabinet, she said.
The deal marks the end of nearly a decade of centre-right National governments.
