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Opportunity Party cost breakdown

The Opportunity Party has announced $201 billion in new spending over the next four years — comfortably the largest total of any party. This is equivalent to $97,005 per household. The vast majority of this is driven by the party's flagship Citizen's Income (Universal Basic Income) policy.

Social spending
TOP's Citizen's Income would cost $69.6 billion a year at face value. Netted against $37.8 billion in annual savings from abolishing existing welfare benefits and $3.8 billion in welfare administration savings, but adding back $15.6 billion a year in supplementary welfare payments the party says would still be needed, the net annual cost comes to $43.6 billion — or $174.5 billion over four years.

Beyond the UBI, TOP's social spending includes $1.5 billion to reinstate the 2025 smokefree legislation, costed using Treasury's advice on the resulting revenue impact; $380 million to forgive overseas student loans and $320 million to restore polytechnic funding, both taken at the party's own word; $31.2 million to support offsite builders who take on apprentices, based on doubling the existing $500-a-month apprentice boost for around 1,300 offsite construction learners; and $14.7 million to grow the number of te reo Māori teachers, based on Budget 2025's per-teacher funding rate. Total social spending commitments (including the UBI) come to $176.8 billion over four years.

Economic development
TOP's economic development commitments total $23.3 billion. By far the largest single item is an estimated $15.9 billion to refund GST collected on construction activity back to local councils, based on IRD data. The party has also committed $2.4 billion for a tax credit for technology adoption, $700 million to expand contestable research funds, $500 million to restore the core science budget and $400 million for early- and mid-career researchers — part of a broader $4.3 billion innovation, science and technology package that also includes a $120 million widened R&D tax credit, $106 million to double incubator funding and $80 million for polytechnic PRO bulk funding.

On transport, TOP would spend $1.3 billion making all public transport free, based on NZTA fare revenue data, and $500 million to electrify the bus fleet. The party would also spend $484 million on energy initiatives — including $400 million for small-scale generation projects — plus $320 million to expand the Warm Homes programme, $216 million on business and trade support (including a $136 million tax deduction for impact and community investment), $108 million to boost the infrastructure agency Te Waihanga, and $100 million on competition measures including an $80 million Commerce Commission uplift. All of these figures are taken at the party's own word unless otherwise noted. TOP's proposed $60 billion infrastructure fund and $2 billion in small-scale generation capex have not been included in this total, as they are intended to be funded through capital rather than operating expenditure.

Environment & arts
TOP has committed $750 million to environment and conservation policies: $100 million for ocean conservation, taken at the party's own word, and $650 million to support sectors reducing emissions and adapting to climate change, based on the level of GIDI funding provided by the previous Government.

Government services and administration
TOP's government services commitments total $217.6 million. The largest is $160 million for a new Anti-Corruption Body, followed by a $40 million boost to the Electoral Commission and $8 million for an Independent Policy Costing Unit, all taken at the party's own word. The party has also committed $8 million to establish citizen assemblies, based on the cost of similar assemblies in Scotland (adjusted for currency and population), and $1.6 million for a Parliamentary Commissioner for Citizen Vote, based on 30% of the salary of the existing Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment. TOP's proposed lobbyist register has not been costed, as the party has not indicated it would carry a material fiscal cost.

(t) policies where we've taken parties' costings at face value.

(o) uncosted policies that we have had to cost ourselves. 

(d) policies where we have disputed parties' own costings.

  Annual ($m) Four-Year cost ($m) 2027-2031 Cost per household ($)
Economic Development      
Councils ratepayer assist (t) 6 24 12
Capacity scheme (t) 5 20 10
Support EDB collab (t) 10 40 19
Small scale gen projects (t) 100 400 193
Expand Warm Homes (t) 80 320 154
Electrification buses (t) 125 500 241
Make all public transport free (d) 325 1,298 626
Enhance Te Waihanga (t) 27 108 52
$60b infrastructure fund (CAPEX) *Non-specified timeframe*   -- --
Restore core science budget (t) 125 500 241
Tax credit for tech adoption (t) 600 2,400 1,158
Fund early/mid career research (t) 100 400 193
Expand funds to contestable funds (t) 175 700 338
Polytech PRO bulk funding (t) 20 80 39
Double funds for incubators (t) 27 106 51
Commerce Commission uplift (t) 20 80 39
Consumer Advocacy Fund (t) 5 20 10
Expand FinCap to SME (t) 20 80 39
Widened R&D tax credit (t) 30 120 58
Tax deduct for impact comp invest (t) 34 136 66
Refund GST collected during construction to Councils (o)   15,944 7,695
  Total 23,276 11,234
       
Environment & Arts      
Oceans conservation policies (t)   100 48
Support sectors to reduce emissions and adapt (o) - 650 314
Total   750 362
       
Government Services/Administration      
Anti-Corruption Body (t) 40 160 77
Electoral Commission boost (t) 10 40 19
Independent Policy Costing Unit (t) 2 8 4
Lobbyist Register (t)   - -
Citizen Assemblies (o) 2.0 8 4
Parliament Commissioner for Citizen Vote (o) 0.4 1.6 1
Total Total 217.6 105.02
       
Social Spending      
Support growth in number of te reo teachers (o)   14.7 7
Overseas student loan forgive (t) 95 380 183
Restore Polytech funding (t) 80 320 154
Reinstate smokefree 2025 legislation (o) - 1,513 730
Support offsite builders who take on apprentices (o) 8 31.2 15
Citizen's Income (UBI) (t) 69,648 278,592 134,456
Abolish welfare benefits (t) -37,814 -151256 -73,000
Administration savings (t) -3,825 -15,300 -7,384
Supplementary Welfare (t) 15,614 62,456 30,143
  Total 176,751 85,304
  Grand total  200,995 97,005

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