Smith was raised by a single mother.
“I know how hard my family was working to get ahead and how that didn’t translate into security,” he said.
“That’s why I’m standing for Opportunity. It’s a party that wants fairer rules so hard work can actually pay off.”
Smith said The Opportunity Party’s policies, including a land value tax and a “Citizen’s Income” (or form of universal basic income), would help to address housing affordability and cost-of-living pressures in Gisborne.
“The way we’ve structured it, which is a half per cent land value tax on rural property and 1.75% on the rest of the property, funnels enough tax revenue that it pays for the Citizen’s Income.”
The Citizen’s Income policy proposes that almost all adults would receive up to $370 a week, or about $19,400 a year.
“So you’re going from land values to spendable income,” he said.
He emphasised the importance of building consensus in politics and encouraging collaboration.
“If the Government kind of keeps trending in the way they’re going, they get out this election, someone else comes in, a lot of this is just going to be replaced, so there’s no enduring consensus.
“I think having a party that genuinely sees not necessarily the parties, but the people that vote for the parties, as worthy of consulting and getting on board, so we can have that consensus. I think it’s really important.”
East Cape candidates announced to date:
Incumbent MP Dana Kirkpatrick (National), Jo Luxton (Labour), Jordan Walker (Green) and Cail Smith (Opportunity).
