In either case, Wong optimistically sees a polling trend that’s suggestive of momentum since she became leader. With Winston Peters ruling out working with Chris Hipkins, Opportunity can paint itself as the only genuine kingmaker. So why does Wong think she’s the person to write Opportunity into the history books? A Horizon poll in 2017 suggested about 4% of the vote could come from combining National-leaning Green voters and Green-leaning National voters. “Likewise for National, I think we’d be a much stronger coalition partner than Act and NZ First,” Wong says.

Source: New Zealand Herald February 21, 2026 03:38 UTC