'Very constructive conversation': Luxon holds hour-long meeting with Opportunity's Qiulae Wong

'Very constructive conversation': Luxon holds hour-long meeting with Opportunity's Qiulae Wong

National's leader Christopher Luxon spent an hour with Opportunity leader Qiulae Wong in his office last night, after repeatedly ruling out working with her party during the campaign."We had a very positive, very constructive conversation," Luxon told reporters before National's caucus meeting on Tuesday."It was a great opportunity to get to know her and to start to build a relationship together as well."He called the meeting "really lovely" and pointed to KiwiSaver as one area where the parties agreed.Asked whether he was open to a governing deal with Opportunity, Luxon pointed first to National's relationship with ACT and New Zealand First, but he also acknowledged the prospect of a hung Parliament on the final count."New Zealanders won't thank us for going back to an election and back to the polls again."Speaking outside parliament on Monday, Wong said she would like to meet with all party leaders over the next few weeks - but would leave any negotiations to after the final vote count.Wong stood by the party's five bottom lines which she said were "very reasonable".She said if other party leaders could not meet the bottom lines they would have to explain to the New Zealand public why they could not."Being in coalition means we would really need to be comfortable with the overall direction the government is going in, that's going to be how we determine what role we play.""Being on the crossbenches is entirely an option for us if that is not a possibility to meet the bottom lines," she said.She declined to say which ministerial portfolios she'd want Opportunity MPs to hold.However, Wong indicated climate change, environment, commerce and consumer affairs were areas where it had strong policy.On election day, the party secured six percent of the vote, provisionally winning seven seats.Opportunity could be Kingmaker after the final vote count - but until Saturday, Luxon had repeatedly ruled out working with the party.Luxon also said he'd spoken briefly with Winston Peters and David Seymour to congratulate them on their results, with formal negotiations to begin once the special votes were counted.Asked about Seymour's suggestion that the finance portfolio could be up for negotiation, Luxon responded curtly: "That'll be a National Party MP".

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