Wikipedia

Qiulae Wong

Qiulae Wong (/kjuː.leɪ/; born 1988, also known by her initial 'Q') is a New Zealand businesswoman and politician who is the current leader of The Opportunity Party (TOP). She took over the position in November 2025 following the resignation of Raf Manji.

Qiulae Wong
Wong in 2026
5th Leader of The Opportunity Party
Incumbent
Assumed office
November 2025
DeputyDaniel Eb[1]
Preceded byRaf Manji
Personal details
BornMay 1988 (age 38)[2]
Fiji[3]
CitizenshipNew Zealand
PartyThe Opportunity Party
University of Auckland
OccupationPolitician, businesswoman
Websitewww.opportunity.org.nz

Wong aims to reach the 5% threshold required for the party to enter parliament in the next general election. Her platform emphasises climate transition, housing equity, and building a sustainable, high-wage economy.

Early life and education

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Qiulae Wong in 2018 from an interview with The Formary while working at Common Objective

Qiulae Wong was born in Fiji[3] in May 1988[2][better source needed] and moved to New Zealand as a child.[citation needed] Wong is of Chinese and European descent.[3] She grew up in the Auckland suburb of One Tree Hill[4][5] and wanted to be a fashion designer when she was young.[6]

She graduated from the University of Auckland with a double degree in law and politics.[7]

Early career

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After university, Wong worked in the human rights and ethical business sector, initially as a communications advisor for Be.Accessible, a social change campaign focused on disability inclusion.[5][4] and moved to London. 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.[5][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. While there, she led the process to have Hoxby become B Corp Certified.[11][5]

Following her return to New Zealand in 2020,[12] Wong and her partner settled in Auckland, where they transitioned their household to electric energy and heating.[13] Wong became the Country Director for B Lab 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.[5][4]

Wong has previously held governance and volunteering roles[4] as co-convenor of Kiwis in Climate[14] 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.[15][16]

Leader of The Opportunity Party (2025–present)

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Wong addressing media in 2025

TOP had been without a permanent leader since the 2023 departure of Raf Manji.[17][18] Wong was chosen from among several applicants to lead the party as its fifth-ever leader in the 2026 election.[12][17][19] Wong was chosen as party leader despite not having wide name recognition or prior experience in parliament, which is atypical in New Zealand politics.[20][21] When Wong became the leader she shortened the party's name to "Opportunity".[21][6][22]

2026 general election

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Wong announced that the party would contest the 2026 general election in November[23] with a more centrist platform.[24] including reducing house prices through a land value tax, and introducing a "Citizen's Voice," consisting of citizens' assemblies for certain major issues.[25] The party began increasing its communications to voters in preparation for the election in 2026,[24] with a variety of community and television appearances.[26]

Wong speaking at an event in 2025.

Wong has emphasised the need for the party to broaden its appeal to ordinary voters,[22] acknowledging past criticism that the party focused heavily on detailed policy at the expense of connecting with the electorate.[19][27] 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;[22] building New Zealand's 'next economy'; and prioritising environmental restoration as a foundation for long-term economic activity.[7]

TOP's platform under her leadership has a focus on economic growth and includes a major "tax reset" proposal.[citation needed] 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.[13] 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.[28][25] 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.[29][30]

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.[31] On 16 February, Wong confirmed she would contest the Mount Albert electorate.[32][33]

Personal life

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During the nine years she spent in London, she met her husband, Grant, who is originally from Palmerston North.[6] The couple married and started a family while living overseas. Wong has two daughters.[34] She had her first daughter, Marlia, in 2020 during the COVID-19 lockdown.[35] 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.[36] After returning to New Zealand in 2022, Wong gave birth to their second daughter, Cleo.[5] Wong and her family now reside in Auckland.[12] She credits her daughters as being her biggest inspirations.[34]

Citations

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References

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