Ex-National minister returns, but this time for NZ First

Former National Party minister Alfred Ngaro says his bid to return to Parliament with New Zealand First is pragmatic and realistic, three years after he formed his own party on conviction and failed to win a seat.

Ngaro, who served nine years as a National MP and became a minister in the last National government, discussed his political comeback on Q+A this morning.

He told the programme New Zealand First offered the "best opportunity" and reflected his values.

"It's a party that's proven itself to be influential, stands for the values that I stand for, sovereignty of a nation and its decisions, patriotism, love the people, and at the same time, common sense, social conservative values," he said.

Asked why he had chosen New Zealand First over National, Ngaro said bigger parties paid a price for trying to appeal to everyone.

"One of the things about a bigger party is that sometimes they use this phrase, 'We're a broad church'," he said. "When you try to be all things to all people, you tend to at times compromise on the big issues."

Interviewer Jack Tame pressed Ngaro on what had changed since 2023, when he launched his party, NewZeal.

Ngaro acknowledged the move was partly strategic, noting his party had only won 16,109 votes, or around 0.5%, well short of the threshold to enter Parliament.

"We had people giving us confidence, but not enough to get us over the threshold," he said.

Put to him directly that the switch was pragmatism. Ngaro replied, "realism too."

Challenged on what the point of forming a party on conviction only to give it up, Ngaro insisted his principles were intact.

"The convictions don't change, the values haven't changed," he said. "I feel very comfortable and confident that I can still retain those values with New Zealand First."

He said he had been given no promises about his placement on the party list.

Ngaro, who was the first New Zealander of Cook Islands descent to be elected to Parliament in 2011, served as minister for Pacific peoples and minister for the community and voluntary sector in the year of the Bill English National government.

He remained an MP until 2020.

For the full interview, watch the video above

Q+A with Jack Tame is made with the support of New Zealand On Air