Opportunity Party announces candidate list for 2026 election - EUROPE SAYS
The Opportunity Party has revealed its candidate list for the upcoming 2026 election. Opportunity Party leaderQiulae Wongsaid the candidates are a team who have “built businesses and organisations, shaped. . .
The Opportunity Party has revealed its candidate list for the upcoming 2026 election. Opportunity Party leaderQiulae Wongsaid the candidates are a team who have “built businesses and organisations, shaped public policy, worked alongside communities and led practical responses to some of New Zealand’s biggest challenges”. “We are standing because, like many New Zealanders, we expect better than the current political parties are delivering. ”The party said the list is led by six candidates with deep experience across business, public policy, agriculture, Māori development and environmental leadership. “Opportunity brings together leaders who understand the economy we need to build, the communities we need to strengthen, and the natural environment we need to restore. ”In recent polls, Opportunity has hovered just under the 5% threshold for entering Parliament, but has faced scrutiny in recent weeks on some of its policies from both theNationalandLabourparties. On Monday, National leader Christopher Luxon ruled out working with them after the election. Second on the party list is deputy leader Daniel Eb standing in Kaipara ki Mahurangi, who founded an open day farm initiative and has researched how New Zealand could redesign its domestic food system. The party said Eb has also worked to strengthen the connection between urban and rural New Zealand. Jessica Hammond, who is running for Wellington North, is third on the list. Her work in the public sector has included transport infrastructure, health and disability policy and Māori economic development. The party said Hammond had also represented Opportunity in every election it has contested. Fourth is Dr Kayla Kingdom-Bebb standing in Wellington Bays. She has previously served as chief executive of WWF New Zealand and a policy director at the Department of Conservation with expertise in Treaty of Waitangi law and natural resource management. Eden Skipper is fifth on the list, standing in Christchurch central. Skipper brings experience in Māori development, environmental restoration and research into alternative economic futures. Skipper is also a Ngāi Tahu leader who has worked across government, community organisations and academia. The morning’s headlines in 90 seconds, including snow closes roads, Spanish police overwhelmed by a crowd of migrants, and how a car ended up inside a bus. (Source: 1News)Opportunity’s full list for 2026 election:1. Qiulae Wong | Mt Albert2. Daniel Eb | Kaipara ki Mahurangi3. Jessica Hammond | Wellington North4. Kayla Kingdon-Bebb | Wellington Bays5. Eden Skipper | Christchurch Central6. Jodie Kuntzsch | Nelson7. Sarah Lucas | New Plymouth8. David Bainbridge-Zafar | Dunedin9. Holly Knill | North Shore10. Pāpā Wharewera | Waiariki11. Bianca Beebe | Southland12. Romeo Tevaga | Upper Harbour13. Ben Wylie-van Eerd | Hutt South14. Rachel Ward | Tukituki15. Naomi Pocock | Hamilton East16. Helen Tait | Waitaki17. Cody Marsh | Northcote18. Adam Macrae-Martin | Otāhuhu19. Mark Roach | Waitākere20. Robert Mason | Kenepuru21. Luke Ross | Remutaka22. Michael Carter | Tauranga23. Derrick Paul | Maungakiekie24. Matt Shepherd | Wairarapa25. Ben Lane | Māngere26. Chee Khiang (CK) Sng | Kāpiti27. Finn Liley | Rotorua28. Evan French | Glendene29. Jamie Attenborough | Mt Roskill30. Matthew Harris | Rangitata31. Sacha Haskell | Tāmaki32. Netra Ghimire | Palmerston North33. Cail Smith | East Cape34. Sam Plummer | Taupō35. Blair Smith | Hamilton West36. Johan Chang | Auckland Central37. Almo Wong | Henderson38. Adrian Mee | Selwyn39. Paul Jackson | Epsom40. Kevin Huang | Pakuranga