Election 2026: Opportunity makes history, on track to enter Parliament

Detailed summary

Opportunity appears to have made history and is likely to enter Parliament, having secured about 5.9% of the party vote in the election’s preliminary results. The final results ...

Opportunity appears to have made history and is likely to enter Parliament, having secured about 5.9% of the party vote in the election’s preliminary results.

The final results won’t be known until November 27, but if Opportunity remains above the 5% threshold, it will be the first new party in Parliament in the MMP era without a leader who had previously been in Parliament.

It caps a remarkable year for leader Qiulae Wong, who successfully applied to be leader a year ago (a position advertised on Seek), and has turned the party from one considered to have no hope into a history-maker.

She may also hold the balance of power, though that won’t be known for certain until the final results. The preliminary results suggest a tight race for the coalition, aided by an overhang, to hold a parliamentary majority without needing Opportunity.

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