Opportunity leader defends rule letting two board members veto coalition deal

Opportunity Party leader Qiulae Wong has defended a provision in the party's constitution, its governing rules, that would allow two board members to veto a future governing arrangement negotiated by the party's caucus, meaning its elected MPs. Wong told RNZ that it is "perfectly acceptable" for the party's rules to allow this.

The party's board has seven members, so two of them make up about 25 percent of the board. Wong said the board is elected by party members and makes decisions in the best interests of the membership.

The party had already changed its board veto rules in August. At that time, The Post reported that Opportunity was scrapping a policy that would give the board veto power over caucus decisions, following queries from the paper. ACT leader David Seymour has said the party removed a rule in August that gave 75 percent of the board power to veto a caucus decision.

Alan Wilderland, a member of Opportunity's board, has donated more than $220,000 to the party. He told the New Zealand Herald that working with the left might be easier.

Wong maintained that Opportunity could work equally well with Labour and National.

National leader Christopher Luxon and New Zealand First leader Winston Peters have both ruled out any arrangement with Opportunity.

Wong told RNZ that the party plans to fully review its constitution again next year.