5 min read Nov 7, 2026 09:02 PM IST First published on: Nov 7, 2026 at 09:02 PM IST

The Opportunity Party leader Qiulae Wong reacts as she addresses party faithful in Auckland, New Zealand, Saturday, November 7, 2026. (AP)

At 38, Qiulae Wong is a relative newcomer to electoral politics. But following New Zealand’s closely contested general election, the leader of the Opportunity Party could find herself playing a crucial role in deciding who governs the country.

With more than 95 per cent of the votes counted on Saturday, Wong’s centrist party had crossed the 5 per cent threshold required to enter Parliament, securing an apparent seven seats.…