'It's a vote for Labour and the Greens' - National doesn't want to work with the Opportunity Party, Christopher Luxon says

National leader Christopher Luxon is ruling out working with the Opportunity Party, saying a vote for the party is a vote for Labour and the Greens.

"When you want to spend more, tax more, borrow more - we ain't doing business with you," Luxon said on Monday.

Part of Opportunity's platform is built on being able to be in the 'Kingmaker' position, saying it could work with both the left and right bloc.

Asked if he could coalesce with Opportunity following the November election, Luxon said; "I look at their policies, you've got a universal basic income that wants to make every New Zealander a beneficiary, you've got a land tax sitting there that actually is going to be massive."

"And you know what we've seen on the other side, what is it? Wealth tax. I've lost track. Capital gains tax."

Luxon said he made it clear at the beginning of this year that National could work with ACT and NZ First, and they would not be working with Labour, the Greens or Te Pāti Māori.

"We don't want to do business with parties who want to increase taxes," he said. 

"And when I look at TOP's policies as I see them today, and in a very cursory glance, it looks like they just want to increase taxes," Luxon said.

"We're a party of low tax. It wouldn't be surprising to any of you to say we don't think we want to do business with them. We wouldn't be working with them."

'Old-fashioned tribalism'

Opportunity Party leader Qiulae Wong called Luxon's stance "old-fashioned tribalism that we have to get beyond."

"Kiwis expect our political parties to leave ideology at the door, and work constructively together to make progress on the big issues," Wong said.

"We are ready and willing to work with parties across the political spectrum. We will maintain that position, and we're here to talk whenever National is ready."