ELECTION 2026: What is the Opportunity Party promising — and what makes it different?

The Opportunity Party, formerly known as TOP, is emerging as one of the parties to watch heading into the 2026 General Election.

Led by Qiulae Wong, the party is pitching itself as an alternative to the traditional left-versus-right divide, describing its politics as "blue-green", combining economic reform and business growth with environmental protection and social policies.

But what exactly is it promising?

$370-a-week Citizen's Income

One of Opportunity's biggest policies is a Citizen's Income of up to $370 per week for eligible adults.

It would replace much of the existing benefit system and provide people with a basic level of income whether they are working, studying, caring for family or looking for work.

The party argues this would simplify welfare and remove barriers that can discourage beneficiaries from taking on additional work.

1.75% Land Value Tax

This is probably its most controversial policy.

Opportunity wants an annual 1.75% tax on land value, excluding the value of buildings.

The party says New Zealand taxes people who work and earn too heavily while allowing too much wealth to accumulate through property.

Revenue from the land tax would help fund its Citizen's Income and wider tax changes.

Compulsory KiwiSaver

Opportunity wants to make KiwiSaver compulsory, eventually increasing contributions to 6% from employees and 6% from employers.

It argues this would help New Zealanders build stronger retirement savings while creating a much larger pool of New Zealand capital that could be invested back into businesses and infrastructure.

More investment into business, less into property

A major theme running through Opportunity's economic policies is changing where New Zealanders put their money.

The party argues too much investment has gone into buying and selling property rather than businesses, technology, infrastructure and innovation.

Its policies are designed to make productive business investment more attractive while reducing incentives for property speculation.

Business growth AND the environment

This is where Opportunity believes it differs from both the traditional left and right.

It supports stronger environmental and climate policies but also wants New Zealand to become more productive, innovative and business-friendly.

Rather than choosing between economic growth and environmental protection, it argues New Zealand should pursue both.

That's why it calls itself blue-green.

A different approach to crime

Opportunity's "Smart on Crime" policy places greater emphasis on rehabilitation and reducing reoffending.

It supports treating drug possession primarily as a health issue and proposes decriminalising drug possession — but not drug dealing or supply.

It also wants greater investment in rehabilitation, probation, drug courts and mental-health courts.

Changing how politics works

Opportunity also wants Citizens' Assemblies — randomly selected groups of ordinary New Zealanders who would hear evidence and make recommendations on major long-term issues.

It argues this could help stop governments repeatedly introducing policies that are then reversed when the Government changes.

The party also wants stronger transparency around political donations and lobbying and an independent Anti-Corruption Commission.

So what makes Opportunity different?

Opportunity doesn't fit comfortably into either the traditional left or right.

It supports business, innovation and economic growth, but also a Citizen's Income, land tax, stronger environmental policies and significant political reform.

That puts it somewhere between several existing parties rather than directly alongside one.

Its pitch to voters is essentially this:

New Zealand doesn't simply need a different Government — it needs to change some of the systems that successive National and Labour governments have been operating.

Whether voters agree with those solutions is another question.

But with Opportunity now appearing around — and in some polls above — the crucial 5% threshold, its policies are likely to receive considerably more attention as New Zealand moves closer to Election Day.