From NZ Herald · · 2m
Opportunity leader Qiulae Wong might hold the balance of power in post-election negotiations
Opportunity Party leader Qiulae Wong outlines coalition bottom lines to influence post-election power dynamics.
In brief
Opportunity Party leader Qiulae Wong outlines coalition bottom lines to influence post-election power dynamics. Opportunity Party leader Qiulae Wong lists non-negotiables like phasing out bottom trawling and protecting Te Tiriti to potentially balance post-election negotiations. Originally reported by NZ Herald.
Opportunity Party's coalition bottom lines
Opportunity Party leader Qiulae Wong outlines conditions for entering a coalition with other parties.
“The party outlined conditions for entering a coalition”
Egregious list for coalition
Wong identifies legislation like gender definitions bill and Treaty Principles Bill as top of her 'egregious' list that the Greens might have prevented.
“Legislation like the gender definitions [Definitions of Woman and Man] bill, the Treaty Principles Bill that caused division, climate stuff that now has the Climate Change Commissioner saying we’re at risk of missing our emissions budget targets”
Climate and environmental concerns
Wong says climate action and environmental protection are critical to prevent missing emissions budget targets.
“climate stuff that now has the Climate Change Commissioner saying we’re at risk of missing our emissions budget targets”
Te Tiriti policy stance
Wong states that the Waitangi Tribunal and Climate Change Commission are non-negotiables for Te Tiriti implementation.
“We wouldn’t abolish the Waitangi Tribunal [which Act wants to do once all historical claims are settled] or the Climate Change Commission”
Bottom trawling policy
Opportunity Party wants to phase out bottom trawling, responsible for two-thirds of New Zealand’s commercial catch and 9000 jobs.
“phasing out bottom trawling, which is responsible for about two-thirds of New Zealand’s commercial catch and 9000 jobs”
Phasing out bottom trawling
Wong says phasing out bottom trawling requires immediate ban on sensitive in-shore areas and a clear phase-out plan.
“If we achieve the immediate ban on sensitive in-shore areas and have some kind of clear plan on how it will phase out over time”
Political donations cap
Opportunity Party supports a $30,000 political donations cap, the Electoral Commission's recommendation.
“Wong said her party’s policy says $30,000, 'which is the recommendation from the Electoral Commission'”
National's stance on Opportunity
National leader Christopher Luxon has ruled out working with Opportunity Party but Wong would call him first post-election.
“National leader Christopher Luxon has ruled out Opportunity, but Wong said she would still call him first if Opportunity made it into Parliament and National had won the most seats”
Act's policy platform
Act wants to abolish the Waitangi Tribunal and cut non-welfare spending to 2017 levels.
“Act also wants to abolish 'demographic' ministries and cut non-welfare and non-frontline spending back to 2017 levels”
Public service size
Wong says public service size should fluctuate with New Zealanders' needs, not fixed targets.
“We don’t have a specific view on the size of the public service, 'Each department needs to be the right size to deliver the outcomes that New Zealanders expect from it'”
Divisive rhetoric
Wong calls Winston Peters' 'diversity is weakness' comments 'dangerous rhetoric' during multi-party debate.
“Wong interjected, saying it was 'really dangerous rhetoric' when Peters defended diversity as weakness”
Potential coalition partners
Act leader David Seymour says he would work with Opportunity if it keeps Labour out of government.
“Act leader David Seymour said that he would rather work with Opportunity than see a Labour-led government”
Walking away from negotiations
Wong states that if key issues like climate action and Te Tiriti are at risk, she would walk away from negotiations.
“If we are having to negotiate and those things are at risk, then yeah, we will walk away”
Dead rat compromise
Wong says she would swallow dead rats if they don't undermine Te Tiriti or environmental goals.
“It depends what they are. We have to get around the table first. We’re not taking anything for granted”
Post-election power dynamics
Wong might hold the balance of power in post-election negotiations if Opportunity enters Parliament.
“Wong might hold the balance of power in post-election negotiations”
The takeaway
Opportunity Party leader Qiulae Wong lists non-negotiables like phasing out bottom trawling and protecting Te Tiriti to potentially balance post-election negotiations.
