Ciara is a first-generation Kiwi who was born in the UAE and moved to New Zealand at five years old with her Filipino mother and Irish father. Her parents decided to move to the beautiful town of One Tree Point in Whangārei for a better life. She had a fantastic childhood with freedom to play outside on farms and beaches - but from a young age, Ciara was acutely aware of the inequality that existed around her.
While studying Economics at the University of Otago, Ciara learnt about the many issues ingrained within New Zealand’s tax system that the main political parties either refused or were unable to solve. When she came across The Opportunities Party (TOP), she saw that they had solutions that would actually work - she knew she had to get involved. Ciara now lives in Auckland’s beautifully diverse Mt Albert suburb and works in account management and customer service for a shared office space provider in the CBD. She is running for TOP in her local Mt Albert electorate.
Ciara is deeply interested in how we bring about a better society for all Kiwis. She believes that we can create economic prosperity that benefits both local businesses and everyday people struggling to make ends meet. She wants New Zealand to be a country where future generations choose to stay instead of seeking better opportunities overseas. She wants to stoke the optimism that her parents had when they first arrived in this country.
TOP’s policies give Ciara hope that New Zealand can solve the housing and climate crises and reduce inequality in a way that creates economic growth.