Election results: 'We did it!' - Opportunity very likely to enter Parliament

Opportunity party leader Quilae Wong has told supporters her party is set to make history by entering Parliament."S**t, we did it!" a jubilant Wong shouted. "I'm just trying really hard not to swear, to be honest."With close to 50 percent of the vote counted, Opportunity has been comfortably above 5 percent in the polls, making it almost certain they will make it into Parliament with between six and seven MPs, and quite possibly holding the balance of power.As of 9.30pm, it's sitting at about 5.5 percent in the party vote."It is looking very likely that after a decade the Opportunity party is going to make history tonight," Wong said."You guys have voted for unity over division. You have voted to change New Zealand politics for good."Follow the latest from Election Night with RNZ's live coverage here: Election 2026 live blogWong took over as the leader of Opportunity - formerly The Opportunities Party or TOP - last year. The party was founded by economist Gareth Morgan in 2016 but has never made it into Parliament."To some of you watching, it might seem that have just arrived, that this is an overnight success. But to many in this room, this result has been a long time coming."Wong thanked Morgan, the party's previous leaders, current candidates and volunteers for their hard work.The party's sudden rise has made global news with coverage in the BBC, New York Times and elsewhere.Opportunity has been polling at as much as 8 percent in some polls, but has yet to rise above 6 percent in the party vote tonight.National leader Christopher Luxon has repeatedly ruled out working with Opportunity in any coalition, but the final numbers, once special votes come in, may well determine whether or not Opportunity takes New Zealand First's place as the "kingmaker" in the next government.Former National MP and Minister Chris Finlayson said Luxon was "dumb" to rule out Opportunity so early."His early denunciation was dumb.. and he will be on the phone to them as soon as he can".Finlayson told the RNZ Election special it would not be bad for Opportunity to be in the mix and send the the current three-way coalition "all the way to hell".