# Election 2026: Left-leaning crowd warms to Opportunity during political panel in Wānaka

> Left-leaning audience at Wānaka summit warmly responds to Opportunity's climate-focused policies and political collaboration ideas.
- Title: Election 2026: Left-leaning crowd warms to Opportunity during…
- Summary: Left-leaning audience at Wānaka summit warmly responds to Opportunity's climate-focused policies and political collaboration ideas. Opportunity candidate…
- Keywords: election 2026, wānaka, opportunity, climate resilience, political panel, left-leaning crowd, political collaboration, fast-track housing, public service, green party, labour, act
- Source: NZ Herald — https://nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/election-2026-left-leaning-crowd-warms-to-opportunity-during-political-panel-in-wanaka/premium/5B4OPL3LAVASNAFGEK2K4IGVLU
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: election 2026, wānaka, opportunity, climate resilience, political panel, left-leaning crowd, political collaboration, fast-track housing, public service, green party, labour, act
## Wānaka political panel
Left-leaning audience at Wānaka summit questioned climate and ecosystem resilience policies from multiple parties.
## Panelists
Act leader David Seymour, National MP Miles Anderson, Labour MP Damien O'Connor, NZ First candidate Michael Laws, and Green Party MP Scott Willis joined Opportunity candidate Kayla Kingdon-Bebb.
## Kingdon-Bebb's appeal
Opportunity candidate Kayla Kingdon-Bebb gained cheers for her focus on political collaboration and climate-focused policies like a 10-year health plan.
## Climate concerns
Kingdon-Bebb criticized National for dismantling climate policies and suggested a 'centrist environment-focused party' with a future generations commissioner.
## Political collaboration
Labour MP Damien O'Connor noted challenges in political collaboration, citing cancelled ferries and refusal to sign National's 17 Roads of National Significance.
## Seymour's stance
Act leader David Seymour argued governments should roll back rejected policies and warned of China as an alternative without elections.
## Anderson's view
National MP Miles Anderson said political divisions were manageable despite media focus on what was being axed.
## Mining debate
Green Party MP Scott Willis criticized fast-track mining projects, while NZ First candidate Michael Laws defended extractive mining with environmental protections.
## Health concerns
Labour MP Damien O'Connor warned about private healthcare expansion and health law reforms potentially causing more deaths.
## Tax and education
Green Party MP Scott Willis proposed wealth tax revenue for education, hospitals, jobs, and climate adaptation.
## Environmental focus
NZ First candidate Michael Laws emphasized farmers as key environmental stewards and opposed carbon offsetting overseas.
## Seymour's response
Act leader David Seymour defended mining as beneficial and claimed government efficiency improvements in health and education.
## O'Connor's warning
Labour MP Damien O'Connor linked fast-track projects to political donations and warned of increased litigation under new RMA laws.
## Local issues
Audience raised concerns about local infrastructure, housing, healthcare, and dementia services in Central Otago.
## Panel dynamics
The panel highlighted tensions between political collaboration and policy implementation amid climate and infrastructure debates.
## What next
Opportunity's climate-focused policies and emphasis on political collaboration may gain traction with left-leaning voters ahead of the election.
## Key takeaway

Opportunity candidate Kayla Kingdon-Bebb gains support from left-leaning voters at a Wānaka political panel discussing climate resilience and infrastructure.