Opportunity’s Wong meets Luxon and Hipkins - what we know so far
New Zealand's Opportunity party leader Qiulae Wong has held meetings with both National leader Christopher Luxon and Labour leader Chris Hipkins. The party holds seven seats and may become a kingmaker depending on the final special vote count.
Why it matters
The outcome of these negotiations will determine the formation of the next New Zealand government, highlighting the influence of smaller parties in coalition politics.
Opportunity will talk with National first but will turn to Labour if <a href="https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/11/08/coalition-talks-kiwis-warned-of-fairly-frustrating-time-ahead/">negotiations</a> stall, leader Qiulae Wong says, after meeting Christopher Luxon and Chris Hipkins for the first time. Wong met National leader Christopher Luxon for an hour last night and Labour leader Chris Hipkins for an hour today. The meetings come as parties wait for the release of the special vote count on November 27. On provisional results, National, ACT and NZ First hold 67 seats, a one-seat majority. Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori hold 56. Opportunity has seven. Special votes are still to be counted. They usually lean left, and the count is expected to take about three weeks. If the coalition loses its majority, Opportunity’s seven MPs <a href="https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/11/08/a-knifeedge-result-3-possible-outcomes-what-comes-next-after-nzs-election/">could decide who governs</a>. Wong said Opportunity would honour its commitment to speak first with whichever party won the most seats.
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