National rules out working with Opportunity Party
New Zealand's National Party leader Christopher Luxon has formally ruled out any governing coalition with the Opportunity Party. Luxon cited fundamental policy disagreements, specifically regarding the Opportunity Party's proposed universal basic income and land tax policies.
Why it matters
This decision clarifies the potential governing landscape for New Zealand's upcoming election, signaling a firm ideological boundary for the National Party.
National has ruled out working with the Opportunity Party, with leader Christopher Luxon saying National would not do business with a party that wants to raise taxes.
Opportunity's leader says New Zealanders are tired of that way of thinking, and suspected Luxon would change his tune if National needed Opportunity come November.
Opportunity was on 4.7 percent in the latest RNZ-Reid Research poll, just shy of the 5 percent needed to enter Parliament.
The party has been open to working with both National and Labour , should either need its support to form a government after the election.
Opportunity's flagship policies include establishing a universal basic income of up to $370 a week, and a 1.75 percent annual tax on the value or urban land and 0.5 percent on rural land.
At his weekly post-Cabinet media conference, Luxon was asked whether National could work with Opportunity.
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