National and Labour are tied on 28% in the latest 1News Verian poll, while Leaders Chris Hipkins and Christopher Luxon are level on 20% as preferred prime minister.
Opportunity was up to 8%, putting it on track for 10 MPs and potentially making it the kingmaker. ACT and NZ First were both on 10%, the Greens were on 15% and the Maori Party on 0.4%.
The poll surveyed 1,007 eligible voters between 8 and 12 October, with a 3.1 percentage point margin of error.
As polls suggested Opportunity could hold the balance of power, a little-known political connection has emerged: leader Qiulae Wong’s mother, Margaret Malcolm, was a senior adviser to former minister and National MP Judith Collins.
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