Opportunity Party Emerges Kingmaker as Polls Put It in Deciding Position

Opportunity Party now holds the decisive edge in two recent surveys, meaning its support could tip the next government either way. The party’s standing was highlighted after the 1News‑Verian collaboration poll and the separate Anacta poll showed it as the swing vote. National’s campaign chief Simeon Brown later stressed that his party would not form an alliance with Opportunity, reacting to National leader Christopher Luxon’s comment in Greymouth that he could work with “whoever” was needed after the November 7 poll. Act leader David Seymour replied that he would consider teaming up with Opportunity if it kept Labour and the Greens out of power. Labour campaign chair Kieran McAnulty said his side would rather join forces with the Greens and Opportunity than with Te Pāti Māori, noting Labour’s aim to remove Te Pāti Māori from all Māori electorates. In a TVNZ debate, Opportunity head Qiulae Wong drew a clear line between her party and the Greens, telling Greens co‑leader Chlöe Swarbrick, “Think of the many serious issues in the past three years that might have been avoided if the Greens had partnered with National.” Wong’s remarks aimed to show that despite left‑leaning policies, Opportunity would not automatically side with the left bloc and could help Labour and the Greens argue that a vote for her party might still lead to a National‑led government. She also hinted that Luxon would answer her call on November 8 if his party needed her support, adding that any refusal would likely see him replaced by a colleague. ## Context