The outspoken critic of the Government’s pay
equity reforms will mentor party leader Qiulae
Wong.
Dr Jackie Blue MNZM – former
National Party MP and Equal Employment Opportunities
Commissioner – has resigned her National Party membership to
join the Opportunity Party as a member and mentor to leader
Qiulae Wong.
A member of the cross-party People’s
Select Committee on Pay Equity, Blue says the Government’s
handling of the Equal Pay Amendment Act 2025 was her
“breaking point”.
“This is not a decision I take
lightly, but I can no longer remain aligned to the National
Party” says Blue. “The Equal Pay Amendment Act 2025 was
a hatchet job on 180,000 workers and is representative of a
political system that lacks the courage and foresight New
Zealand urgently needs.”
“Opportunity is standing
on a platform for transformational action and fairness – two
things I have dedicated my career to progressing. That’s
why I’m proud to join them and support their 2026 election
campaign”.
Blue will mentor Qiulae Wong and credits
the new leader for having the courage to enter the “nasty
business of politics”.
“Qiulae knows what the job
means, and she walked in anyway” says Blue. “I’m
genuinely inspired by her courage and ability to connect
with people. She is exactly the kind of leader this country
needs more of and I look forward to supporting
her.”
Blue’s announcement follows the release of
the People’s Select Committee on Pay Equity’s report
into the controversial Equal Pay Amendment Act
2025.
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“I will never forget or forgive what this
Government has done to low-paid workers – mostly
women.”
“Workers were belittled and mocked in
debate. Some MPs refused to meet affected workers in their
own electorates. Procedure was weaponised against the very
people Parliament exists to protect.”
Qiulae Wong
welcomed Blue’s decision to join Opportunity, noting that
“Jackie has spent her career fighting for fairness – in
Parliament, as EEO Commissioner and now on the Pay Equity
Select Committee. She brings experience, integrity and a
deep commitment to the kind of New Zealand we stand for.
We’re honoured to have her.”
Blue’s membership
of the party follows the
boycott of the 2026 National Party Blue-Greens forum by
a group of conservation NGOs – all of whom attended the
Opportunity Party’s ‘Teal Hui’ event
instead.
Blue joins former Labour MP Iain
Lees-Galloway, who also mentors and advises Qiulae Wong in
his capacity as General Manager.
Background:
Dr Jackie Blue
Dr Jackie Blue MNZM served as
a National Party MP from 2005–2013, followed by five years
as Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner
(2013–2018). From May 2025 – February 2026 she served as
a member of the cross-party People’s Select Committee on
Pay Equity.
Background: People’s Select
Committee on Pay Equity
The People’s Select
Committee on Pay Equity was established by a group of 10
former women MPs from across the political spectrum to hear
submissions from individuals and groups who were not able to
be heard on the Equal Pay Amendment Bill 2025 as the Bill
was passed under urgency. This committee enabled adequate
scrutiny of the regulatory, economic and social impacts of
the Bill through consideration of evidence provided by those
directly affected and the public. The Committee released its
findings on 24 February 2026 and found that the
Bill:
- Cancelled 33 existing pay equity claims,
including some near settlement. - Raised the threshold
for defining predominantly female work (from ~60% to
70%). - Made review clauses in settlements
unenforceable and imposed a 10-year bar for repeat
claims. - Gave employers greater control over whether
claims proceed, narrowing comparator options. - Made
the process significantly harder for organisations and
workers to bring future claims.
About
Opportunity
Opportunity (formerly TOP / The
Opportunities Party) was founded in 2017 to address systemic
barriers to fairness in New Zealand through bold,
evidence-based policy. The party advocates for strengthening
democracy, fairer tax systems, affordable housing, climate
action and investing in future generations. For more
information, visit www.opportunity.org.nz.
