National rules out Opportunity Party over tax policy while keeping NZ First despite xenophobic comments
Prime Minister Luxon rejected the Opportunity Party over its land tax proposal, yet continues supporting NZ First despite xenophobic remarks from senior figures.
Christopher Luxon ruled out working with the Opportunity Party, citing fundamental disagreement over its land tax and universal basic income proposal. Days later, Foreign Minister Winston Peters made xenophobic comments toward a Chinese-New Zealand MP in parliament, telling him to "go back to your own country." Other NZ First figures have also made derogatory comments about ethnic minorities. Luxon described Peters' remarks as inappropriate but indicated National remains open to coalition negotiations with NZ First.
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The things that are and aren’t compatible with National’s values
Wanting to tax land: absolutely not. Xenophobia? That we can work with. Christopher Luxon made what he described as a principled political decision on Monday, ruling out the Opportunity Party over what he deemed to be fundamental philosophical differences on…