Fuel, Fish and Fairness – The Opportunity Party
The Opportunities Party is outlining its policy vision across energy, fisheries and democratic reform, arguing that long-term resilience and fairness must guide decisions as New Zealand faces rising fuel costs and political uncertainty.
Energy policy: moving beyond fossil fuel dependence
We’ve seen this movie before. When oil prices spike, everyday living costs spike too.
This time it’s not a short-term blip – but a symptom of the breakdown of the rules-based order and the stability it offered.
And yet, as prices rise before our eyes, the Government is planning to invest in an LNG import terminal. Locking us further into global fossil fuel markets.
Resilience matters more than ever. So we are calling on this government to u-turn on the LNG proposal and focus on building a secure energy system, based on renewable energy and electrification.
Our energy policy is clear. A long-term strategy to lower electricity prices for households and businesses – no matter what happens in the Strait of Hormuz.
Read our Abundant Energy policy
Fisheries reform and ocean sustainability
Kiwis had a win this week. National announced a u-turn on commercial fishers catching and profiting from undersized fish, as part of the Fisheries Amendment Bill.
Kudos to the Nats. Now improve the bill further by ensuring public access to bycatch footage and fair processes to challenge the Minister’s decisions in court.
All of this comes just weeks after their on-again, off-again decision to allow commercial fishing in High Protection Areas. Opportunity would make a much better partner on fisheries management with our Healthy Oceans policy. Just sayin’.
Read our Healthy Oceans policy
Restoring trust in democracy and decision-making
Which brings me to the bigger question. How are these decisions actually being made?
Our Minister for Fisheries is making decisions that work for short term commercial interests, instead of everyday fishers and the long-term health of our oceans.
Our Minister for Energy is proposing to invest in volatile foreign fossil fuel against his own Ministry’s advice.
Is it any wonder that Kiwis are losing trust in politicians?
The role of government is to make good decisions for the long-term interests of the country.
Anti-lobbying and political reform proposals
That’s why we’re putting policies on the table to immediately strengthen democracy and enable more trust in our institutions, like:
- Strengthening anti-lobbying laws and limiting politicians from becoming lobbyists.
- Dramatically limiting the use of urgency to rush legislation through Parliament
- Giving citizens a greater voice through mechanisms like citizens’ assemblies
Read our Clean-Up Politics policy
Election 2026 and TOP’s growing momentum
Despite these challenging times, I am hopeful.
The Opportunity Party has never been in such a strong position at this point in an election year.
Make no mistake. We have momentum. Our member numbers, average polling and media coverage are all up.
That tells me there is a real appetite out there for more pragmatic, future-focused politics.
If you stand with us on fuel, fish and fairness – stand with us as a member too, and donate what you can.
Ngā mihi,
Q
When crises collide — energy, environment and trust — the policies we choose today will define the resilience of tomorrow.
