New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has met the leader of the centrist Opportunity Party, Qiulae Wong, after initial results in last weekend's general election showed he may need her party's support to govern.

The two met for about an hour in Mr Luxon's office on Monday evening. "We had a very positive, very constructive conversation," Mr Luxon told reporters before National's caucus meeting on Tuesday, according to RNZ.

A razor-thin majority

Preliminary data from the New Zealand Electoral Commission showed Mr Luxon's incumbent three-party coalition could govern with a majority of just two seats. But that margin may disappear once overseas and other special votes, which make up about a seventh of the total and typically favour the left, are included in the final count on 27 November.

If that happens, Mr Luxon would need the support of Opportunity, which looks set to enter parliament for the first time, to pass legislation. The party won about 6% of the party vote, provisionally taking seven seats, and is the first new party not born of an existing MP to enter parliament since New Zealand's mixed-member proportional system began in 1996.

A sharp change of tone

Mr Luxon repeatedly ruled out working with Opportunity during the election campaign. He has softened that stance since the initial count, saying he intends to build a relationship with Ms Wong and find common ground. He pointed to National's 42 seats, saying it was the largest party in parliament "by some magnitude" and could form a government with its traditional partners, but acknowledged the prospect of a hung parliament once special votes are counted.

Ms Wong has said she would negotiate first with whichever party wins the most seats, and that a formal coalition or a more informal support arrangement were both options. She has said she would like to meet all party leaders in the coming weeks, but that negotiations should wait until after the final vote count.

What Opportunity wants

Opportunity's flagship policies centre on an overhaul of tax policy, including an annual universal basic income of NZ$19,400 (about $10,800) for most residents, funded by a 1.75% annual land tax. Ms Wong has said the party's nearly 150,000 supporters want a more pragmatic approach to politics.

Mr Luxon also faces a changed parliament within his own coalition: National lost key moderates, including Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Transport Minister Chris Bishop, who lost their seats. The final results on 27 November will decide whether Opportunity holds the balance of power.