Former National MP Jackie Blue is changing her political allegiances, saying the Government's handling of pay equity changes was her breaking point.
She's resigned her National Party membership and is joining the Opportunity party as a mentor to its new leader.
Blue was a member of an unofficial committee of former MPs, which last week condemned the law change cancelling dozens of pay equity claims from female dominated workforces.
“I realised how devastating it was for those 180,000 workers who were sold down the river.” (Source: 1News)
"This is not a decision I take lightly, but I can no longer remain aligned to the National Party," Blue said in a statement to media on Friday.
"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."
She added: "I will never forget or forgive what this Government has done to low-paid workers – mostly women."
She said workers were "belittled and mocked" during MPs' debate on pay pay equity changes.
"Some MPs refused to meet affected workers in their own electorates. Procedure was weaponised against the very people Parliament exists to protect."
More than 20 events were held across the country under the banner of the "Women's Day of Action for Pay Equity". (Source: 1News)
Blue told RNZ's Midday Report the Government's handling of the Act was an abuse of urgency power.
"The pay equity legislation they put through in May last year under urgency, with no impact statement, no select committee process, was an abuse of power and undemocratic," she said.
"It was appalling, hopes and dreams were dashed, people were hanging out for their pay equity claim to be settled, some were almost completed and they were cancelled, the rug was taken out underneath them.
"I knew from that point of time I could not carry on being a National Party member."
Blue said she had been a member of the National Party for 50 years, but couldn't support it any further.
"I just could not see any way through this. In 2020, National Party had supported unanimously the Pay Equity Amendment 2020 which was considered world-leading, and I was so proud of the National Party. They weren't the government at the time, but they supported it," she said.
"To turn around and bring this new act in which cancelled these pay equity claims, making it harder for new pay equity claims, with no select committee process, was appalling."
Fears the government's pay equity reset will leave many community-funded services out of pocket. (Source: 1News)
Blue will join Opportunity to mentor new leader Qiulae Wong.
She called Qiulae an "amazing woman".
"I first got to see her when she was on the Q+A programme with Jack Tame and I was so impressed with her, she's a natural communicator, warm, relatable, down to earth," she said.
"What I've seen, I'm so impressed, and the policies the Opportunity Party have, and more policy details to come, are looking at new approaches to very difficult issues that I haven't seen before."
She praised Wong for having the courage to enter "the nasty business of politics".
"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".
She joins former Labour MP Iain Lees-Galloway, who also advises Wong in his capacity as the party's general manager.
Blue is the former Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner.
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