Opportunity Party leader Qiulae Wong is adamant nothing is going to rain on her party’s parade.

 

Ms Wong was in Dunedin on Tuesday as part of a final whistle-stop tour around the country intended to ensure her party crosses the MMP threshold of 5% of the party vote and makes it in to Parliament for the first time.

Dave Tucker, of Dunedin, and Opportunity Party leader Qiulae Wong shelter from the rain to discuss politics in the Octagon on Tuesday. Photo: Peter McIntosh

Not even a sudden hailstorm, which broke just as the party faithful attempted to stage a rally in the Octagon, could dampen Ms Wong’s spirits as the final sprint towards polling day on November 7 begins.

“Many of the things that Dunedin cares about — science, innovation, nature — are things that Opportunity cares about and advocates for, and it’s great to see momentum  building up here.’’

As well as Ms Wong visiting several local businesses, Opportunity also staged a sold-out rally in a Dunedin restaurant on Tuesday night.      

Opportunity has consistently polled above 5% in most voter intention surveys for several weeks now.

 

However, in the latest poll, the 1News-Verian poll released on Tuesday, Opportunity had dropped 1 point to 6%.

However, Ms Wong told the Otago Daily Times she remained very confident Opportunity would have reason to celebrate on election night.

“I think that all the people who have voted for us in the past, combined with all the ones who have always wanted to support us but have been worried about the wasted vote, as well as so many people who have just come across Opportunity and who have always felt politically homeless, I think that all of those groups combined get us well over the 5%.

“At this point it’s a matter of how far over and how many MPs we will be taking into Parliament.’’