Opportunity Party announces candidate list for 2026 election

Opportunity Party leader Qiulae Wong

The Opportunity Party has revealed its candidate list for the upcoming 2026 election.

Opportunity Party leader Qiulae Wong said 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 the National and Labour parties.

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 Albert

2. Daniel Eb | Kaipara ki Mahurangi

3. Jessica Hammond | Wellington North

4. Kayla Kingdon-Bebb | Wellington Bays

5. Eden Skipper | Christchurch Central

6. Jodie Kuntzsch | Nelson

7. Sarah Lucas | New Plymouth

8. David Bainbridge-Zafar | Dunedin

9. Holly Knill | North Shore

10. Pāpā Wharewera | Waiariki

11. Bianca Beebe | Southland

12. Romeo Tevaga | Upper Harbour

13. Ben Wylie-van Eerd | Hutt South

14. Rachel Ward | Tukituki

15. Naomi Pocock | Hamilton East

16. Helen Tait | Waitaki

17. Cody Marsh | Northcote

18. Adam Macrae-Martin | Otāhuhu

19. Mark Roach | Waitākere

20. Robert Mason | Kenepuru

21. Luke Ross | Remutaka

22. Michael Carter | Tauranga

23. Derrick Paul | Maungakiekie

24. Matt Shepherd | Wairarapa

25. Ben Lane | Māngere

26. Chee Khiang (CK) Sng | Kāpiti

27. Finn Liley | Rotorua

28. Evan French | Glendene

29. Jamie Attenborough | Mt Roskill

30. Matthew Harris | Rangitata

31. Sacha Haskell | Tāmaki

32. Netra Ghimire | Palmerston North

33. Cail Smith | East Cape

34. Sam Plummer | Taupō

35. Blair Smith | Hamilton West

36. Johan Chang | Auckland Central

37. Almo Wong | Henderson

38. Adrian Mee | Selwyn

39. Paul Jackson | Epsom

40. Kevin Huang | Pakuranga

SHARE ME

More Stories