NZ election eve poll watch: right’s lead slipping with Opportunity still the wild card
With a day till the election, final polls show a left shift but the right still in front – with the Opportunity Party’s fate still a decisive factor.
As the final polls reveal, New Zealand's right-wing parties are maintaining their political advantage on the eve of the general election, though support for the left-leaning parties is gradually shifting. In the Verian poll, a sample of 1,006, the right-wing coalition led by National by 2.3 points, while other left-wing parties such as Labour, the Greens, and Te Pāti Māori trailed behind.
The right-wing parties also led by 5.3 points in the Curia poll and by 2.5 points in the Freshwater poll. The Opportunity Party, a centrist option, polled 6.2%, 5.8%, and 5.1% respectively in the Verian, Curia, and Freshwater polls. The party holds a slight edge over the 5% threshold required to enter parliament in all three polls, but its margin is razor-thin in the Freshwater poll.
If Opportunity fails to secure a seat, the right-wing parties would likely secure a majority of seats. However, if Opportunity manages to enter parliament, it will hold the crucial balance of power. The uncertainty surrounding the outcome is further compounded by the possibility of overhangs on both sides and Te Pāti Māori's decision to focus exclusively on Māori electorate seats.
As election night approaches, the political landscape in New Zealand remains fluid and unpredictable.
Written by urgent.news from The Conversation AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
