Wong not budging on bottom lines even if it risks another election

The incoming Opportunity Party caucus has arrived at Parliament, as leader Qiulae Wong says she expects a phone call from Christopher Luxon.

It is the first time all the party’s seven incoming MPs have been in the same room together, Wong said, as she fielded questions from media after taking a group photo on the steps of Parliament.

Wong this morning revealed she had already spoken to Labour leader Chris Hipkins, and Greens co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick over the weekend, who she said both “reached out to say congratulations”.

“We’ve had brief conversations about reflecting on the campaign and just getting to know each other really because we are going to be working together one way or another,” Wong said, but stressed there had been no chat about a potential coalition deal yet.

National Party leader Christopher Luxon said this morning he intends to speak with Opportunity leader Qiulae Wong “shortly”, but Wong said she had heard “no word from Christopher Luxon yet”.

Luxon campaigned unequivocally on not working with Opportunity, repeatedly ruling out a deal with the party.

His stance has since softened, saying he does not think he will require Opportunity’s support to form a government, but he intends to talk to Wong.

“I intend to build a relationship with her and try and find common ground with her, too,” he said.

Asked what she believes to be the most likely role for Opportunity in the 55th Parliament, Wong said it was too early to tell.

Wong said her party’s five bottom lines are “a minimum non-negotiable for us to be part of the coalition,” and said the party would not budge on them if needed to help form a coalition on the right.

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Asked whether she would be willing to send the country back to the polls for another election if there was a hung Parliament or a government could not be formed due to parties not being able to find agreement on the bottom lines, Wong said the policies were all “very reasonable”.

“I think it’s on all parties to come to an agreement, it’s not just on us, we obviously do not want to go back to the polls, I don’t think anyone in New Zealand really wants to go through another whole election. And so we’ve been very clear about how we are approaching these negotiations and I think those five bottom lines are very reasonable for other parties to agree to.”

Opportunity Party leader Qiulae Wong speaks to media on the steps of Parliament, flanked by the party's incoming MPs, (left to right) Kayla Kingdon-Bebb, Jessica Hammond, Eden Skipper, Daniel Eb (deputy leader), Sarah Lucas, and Jodie Kuntzsch. Photo / Mark Mitchell

She said it is “prudent to wait” before the final results are declared before starting any negotiations, but said the party would then be working as hard as it can to form a government if required.

“I think all New Zealanders would love a government by Christmas,” she said.

“It’s not just up to us, but we’ll be working as quickly as we can.”

Asked further about the prospect of being in a coalition with the right, Wong said it is “no secret that we disagree with some of the decisions of the last few years, particularly on environmental issues.”

“So if they want to work with us as part of the next government, then we need to see much more progress on oceans and environment in general.”

Ethan Manera is a Wellington-based journalist covering Wellington issues, local politics and business in the capital. He can be emailed at ethan.manera@nzme.co.nz.