Poll puts Opportunity party in Parliament territory as candidate eyes Pacific voters

Opportunity party Pacific candidate Romeo Tevaga says the party’s latest polling boost shows voters are looking beyond the established political options.

The former public servant, who is contesting the Upper Harbour seat in the general election this November, says the Opportunity party should not be considered a wasted vote after Roy Morgan’s May 2026 poll put it at 6 per cent.

Under MMP, a party can enter Parliament by winning at least 5 per cent of the nationwide party vote, or by winning an electorate seat,

Speaking with William Terite on Pacific Mornings, Tevaga says the Opportunity party message is getting through as people “are sick and tired" of the established parties and the current political eco-system.

“They’re seeing hope, they are seeing something different, something bold with a new party like ours. I think it really is doing away with the narrative that we’re a wasted vote.”

The Opportunity party was founded in 2016 by economist and businessman Gareth Morgan, originally as The Opportunities Party.

Quilae Wong became leader of the Opportunity party in November 2025. Photo/Supplied.

The party has long pitched itself as a policy-focused alternative to the major parties, but has failed to enter Parliament at the last three elections. In 2023 it won just 2.2 per cent of the party votes.

The latest Roy Morgan poll shows the National-led bloc opening up a wider lead, with National, ACT and New Zealand First on 51.5 per cent, while Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori have dropped to 41.5 per cent.

But if Opportunity’s 6 per cent support were repeated at the November election, the pollster says it could translate to the party winning seven seats in Parliament.

Watch Romeo Tevaga's full interview below.

Tevaga, who is Samoan, with ties to the villages of Le’auva’a, Afega, Samusu, Samalaeʻulu and Malie, was born and raised on Auckland’s North Shore.

He says he joined Opportunity knowing he might be the only Pasifika candidate in the party.

“I think it’s really important to have representation across all the different parties,” he says. “For me, I believe that the Opportunity party has some really well-integrated policies that really reflect our values as Pasifika.”

Tevaga says his role is not only to bring Pasifika views into Opportunity’s policy discussions, but also to be available to Pacific communities who want to understand what the party stands for.

That could be a challenge in a community where voters have traditionally leaned left, particularly towards Labour, which currently has the largest Pacific caucus in Parliament.

Upper Harbour electorate boundaries. Photo/Parliamentary Service.

But Tevaga says he does not believe Pacific voters should be boxed into the old left-right political divide.

“I think we want to stay away from that whole political ideology,” he says. “In my personal opinion, it’s quite outdated, and I don’t think that’s how our Pasifika people operate anyway. It’s a very Eurocentric lens.”

He says Pacific voters are more interested in practical outcomes for families, communities and the country.

“I think what really matters is, first of all, what things do we need to propel our country forward? It’s making sure we look after our people and our environment.”

For Pacific communities, Tevaga says his party’s citizens’ income policy is one of the strongest examples, which would give adults aged 18 and over $370 a week, with no questions asked.

Watch Quilae Wong's full interview from November 2025 below.

Tevaga says that could make a major difference for Pacific households, especially those with several adults living under one roof.

“If you think about our Pasifika households, we live in multi-generational homes,” he says. “If you look at maybe having four adults, it’s over $1,000 in the pocket of the household, which goes towards rent, to groceries, to help develop our families.”

He says the policy reflects a Pacific value of making sure people do not go without.

Tevaga says he is looking forward to campaigning in Upper Harbour, an electorate that is currently held by National MP Cameron Brewer, who won the seat in 2023 by 11,192 votes over Labour’s Vanushi Walters.

He says it’s a growing and changing electorate, with new developments, high-density housing and emerging communities.

Current Upper Harbour MP Cameron Brewer of the National Party, left, with Lower Hutt Mayor Ken Laban. Photo/Facebook.

Tevaga says he comes to the race with “a heart to serve” and wants Pacific communities to see themselves represented beyond the major parties.

“Aotearoa and Pasifika are a big part of Aotearoa. We’re front and centre and we don’t shy away from it either.

“So that’s why you’ll have someone like me sitting here and trying it out, to make sure that we’re represented and we count,” Tevaga says