Qiulae Wong
Qiulae Wong | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Wong in 2018 | |
| 5th Leader of The Opportunity Party | |
| Assumed office November 2025 | |
| Deputy | Daniel Eb[1] |
| Preceded by | Raf Manji |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 1988 (age 38)[2] Fiji[3] |
| Citizenship | New Zealand |
| Political party | The Opportunity Party |
| Alma mater | University of Auckland |
| Occupation | Political Leader |
| Website | www |
Qiulae "Q" Wong (/kjuː.leɪ/; born 1988)[2] is a New Zealand businesswoman and politician. Since November 2025, she has served as the leader of The Opportunity Party.[4]
Early life and education
Qiulae Wong was born in Fiji in 1988 and moved to New Zealand as a child.[2][3] She grew up in the Auckland suburb of One Tree Hill,[5] and later graduated from the University of Auckland with a double degree in Law and Politics.[6]
Early career
After university, Wong worked in human rights and ethical business, initially as a communications advisor for Be.Accessible, a social change campaign focused on disability inclusion.[7][5]
In London, she worked at the Ethical Fashion Forum and co-founded Common Objective, a sustainable technology platform designed to match fashion professionals with ethical suppliers.[7][8][9] The venture received investment and strategic support from industry figures including Vivienne Westwood, while other major luxury brands such as Stella McCartney engaged with the platform to demonstrate supply chain transparency.[8][9][10]
Wong led the Impact team at Hoxby, a human resources consultancy.[7] While there, she led the process to have Hoxby become B Corp Certified.[11]
Following her return to New Zealand in 2022, Wong and her partner settled in Auckland, where they transitioned their household to electric energy and heating.[12] Wong became the Country Director for B Corp in New Zealand, working with businesses such as Kiwibank, Sharesies, and Blunt Umbrellas to promote sustainable business certification.[11] She joined KPMG New Zealand, where she advised major corporations on sustainability and climate transition strategies.[7][5]
Wong has previously held governance and volunteering roles[5][7] as co-convenor of Kiwis in Climate[13] and as a Trustee of Wellbeing Economy Alliance Aotearoa. In November 2025, Wong resigned from her position on the board of the Wellbeing Economy Alliance Aotearoa and stepped down as co-convenor of the Kiwis in Climate network to assume the leadership of The Opportunity Party.[14][15]
Leader of The Opportunity Party
Wong was chosen from among several applicants to lead the party in the 2026 election. She became the party's fifth leader in its decade-long history.[16]
The party had been without a permanent leader since the 2023 departure of Raf Manji.[17] When Wong became the leader they rebranded, shortening their name from The Opportunities Party to The Opportunity Party.[18] The party was founded in 2016 by economist and philanthropist Gareth Morgan.[19]
2026 election campaign
Wong has emphasised the need for the party to broaden its appeal to ordinary voters, acknowledging past criticism that the party focused heavily on detailed policy at the expense of connecting with the electorate.[16] She has said the party must evolve its communication and outreach to better resonate with everyday New Zealanders.[20]
As part of this repositioning, Wong has described three broad areas of policy focus: combatting 'divisive politics', including through the use of citizens’ assemblies on complex issues; building New Zealand's 'next economy'; and prioritising environmental restoration as a foundation for long-term economic activity.[6]
Key elements of The Opportunity Party's platform under her leadership focus on economic growth and include a major "tax reset" proposal. She has advocated for policies such as a land value tax, a citizens' income for most adults, and a flat income tax to address housing affordability and wealth inequality.[21] These proposals are part of Wong's broader pitch that New Zealand needs fundamental changes to its tax system to support families and small businesses.[22]
Wong has advocated for significant energy market reforms and the electrification of households. She has called for a long-term national vision for renewable energy, citing Ireland as an example, and has suggested that New Zealand is at risk of losing its international reputation for being a leader in electrification.[12] She supports implementing a Ratepayer Assistance Scheme to provide low-interest loans for electric upgrades, arguing that transitioning away from gas is an "equity issue" for lower-income New Zealanders.[12]
The party announced it would contest the 2026 general election with a range of policies, including reducing house prices through a land value tax, and introducing a "Citizen's Voice," consisting of citizens' assemblies for certain major issues.[21]
On 13 February 2026, Wong announced that the party would campaign to replace all forms of welfare assistance, including superannuation, with a means-tested income support for citizens. Unlike universal basic income, people earning more than NZ$350,000 a year would not be eligible for it. The citizen's income policy would be funded by a land value tax, and savings from the benefits that would be replaced.[23] On 16 February, Wong confirmed she would contest the Mount Albert electorate.[24]
During the party's State of the Nation address in Auckland on 21 February, Wong announced that the Opportunity Party would campaign on promoting national unity, banning bottom trawling and investing in renewable energy. The address was attended by representatives from several environmentalist NGOs that had boycotted the annual National Party Blue Greens forum, including the Environmental Defence Society, World Wildlife Fund, Greenpeace Aotearoa New Zealand, Forest & Bird, Legasea, Ma Tatou, Pure Advantage, the Sustainable Business Network and the Aotearoa Circle.[25]
Personal life
While in London, she met her husband, Grant, who is originally from Palmerston North. The couple married and started a family while living overseas. Wong has two daughters. She had her first daughter, Malia, in 2020 during the COVID-19 lockdown.[26] Wong has said publicly that the birth of her first daughter prompted a desire to reconnect with family and ultimately her relocation back to New Zealand in 2022.[27] After returning to New Zealand in 2022, Wong gave birth to their second daughter, Cleo. Wong and her family now reside in Auckland.[28]
References
- ↑ "Daniel Eb enters politics as Opportunity 2IC". Farmers Weekly. Retrieved 22 April 2026.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Companies House services: Qiulae WONG QIULAE LTD (09267653)". Gov.uk. Companies House. Retrieved 5 April 2026.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Long, David (16 November 2025). "'150,000 votes, we're coming for you': New leader of Opportunity Party sets target for 2026 election". Stuff. Retrieved 14 February 2026.
- ↑ "Qiulae Wong named as new leader of Opportunity party". RNZ. 16 November 2025. Retrieved 14 February 2026.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 "The new leader of TOP, Qiulae Wong, tells John about her journey to the job and the party's plans for NZ". Newstalk ZB. 23 November 2025. Retrieved 14 February 2026.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Cheng, Derek. "'Shouting doesn't help': How Opportunity leader Qiulae Wong aims to make history". NZ Herald. Retrieved 2026-04-22.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 Christian Broadcasting Association. "Qiulae Wong — Real Life with John Cowan". Real Life with John Cowan. Retrieved 5 April 2026.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 "In Conversation with Common Objective". Pure London. 10 April 2019. Retrieved 5 April 2026.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 "The Ethical Fashion Group, the global network and resource centre for better practices in the industry, launches CO". Yarns and Fibers. 18 May 2018. Retrieved 5 April 2026.
- ↑ Spiers, Phillippa (23 September 2019). "Sustainability and fashion: The new luxury?". Withers. Retrieved 5 April 2026.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Heeringa, Vincent (17 March 2023). "A decade of B-Corp. Now what? Qiulae Wong, NZ manager of B Lab". Podcasts NZ. Retrieved 5 April 2026.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Casey, Mike (22 December 2025). "Political Power: Qiulae Wong, The Opportunity Party". Rewiring Aotearoa. Retrieved 5 April 2026.
- ↑ "About Kiwis in Climate". Kiwis in Climate. Retrieved 5 April 2026.
- ↑ Aotearoa Wellbeing Economy Alliance (19 November 2025). "Qiulae and Sophie stepping down to take up political roles". WEAll Aotearoa. Retrieved 5 April 2026.
- ↑ Kiwis in Climate (17 November 2025). "KiC Convenor steps up to a new opportunity". Kiwis in Climate. Retrieved 5 April 2026.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Matich, Troy (20 February 2026). "Opportunity Party names fifth leader in its decade existence to lead it to next election". Newstalk ZB. Archived from the original on 6 February 2026. Retrieved 19 February 2026. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Bedford, Imogene (15 August 2025). "The Opportunities Party advertises for new leader, eyes 2026 election". NZ Herald. Retrieved 22 April 2026.
- ↑ Hu, Justin (16 November 2025). "Opportunity: TOP rebrands as new leader chases 5% threshold". 1News. Retrieved 14 February 2026.
- ↑ Sachdeva, Sam (4 November 2016). "Philanthropist Gareth Morgan launches political party, compares himself to Donald Trump". Stuff. Retrieved 22 April 2026.
- ↑ Long, David (17 November 2025). "'Structural change': Qiulae Wong on TOP's new direction ahead of 2026". Newstalk ZB. Retrieved 5 April 2026.
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 "Platform". The Opportunity Party. Retrieved 14 February 2026.
- ↑ Leatinu'u, Aui'a Vaimaila (20 November 2025). "Opportunity Party's new leader pitches a major tax reset to support Pacific families". Pacific Media Network. Retrieved 14 February 2026.
- ↑ Edmunds, Susan (13 February 2026). "Ditch NZ Super entirely, minor party says". RNZ. Archived from the original on 13 February 2026. Retrieved 14 February 2026. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Schmidt, Veronica (16 February 2026). "Opportunity Party to double candidates this election, Qiulae Wong to stand in Mt Albert". The Spinoff. Archived from the original on 16 February 2026. Retrieved 22 February 2026. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ The Opportunity Party (21 February 2026). "'We Are The Next Generation Of Leaders' Says Qiulae Wong". Scoop. Archived from the original on 21 February 2026. Retrieved 22 February 2026. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Meet Q". The Opportunity Party. 2026. Retrieved 2026-04-05.
- ↑ Langbottom, Mark (2022). "#87 Coming home to my dream job, Qiulae Wong Head of B Lab Aotearoa New Zealand". Purposely Podcast (Podcast). Retrieved 5 April 2026.
- ↑ "About". The Opportunity Party. Retrieved 5 April 2026.
Category:Living people
Category:The Opportunities Party politicians
Category:Politicians from Auckland
Category:University of Auckland alumni
Category:Fijian emigrants to New Zealand
Category:New Zealand people of Chinese descent
Category:1980s births
Category:1988 births
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