Everything the parties have put forward

ACT would set up a one-stop process so a business opening one or more supermarkets could get its resource consents, liquor licences and other approvals in one place, which ACT says would take "months, not years". Alcohol licence applications would be dealt with earlier. Food labelled for the UK, EU or US could be sold without relabelling, which ACT says would let overseas chains enter without special product runs for Australasia. ACT has not published a cost or start date. It opposes forced break-ups of Foodstuffs or Woolworths and has indicated it would block them in a re-elected coalition. The biggest tradeoff: it relies on a new chain choosing to enter, and a faster consenting route the government announced in 2025 had no supermarket applications by July 2026.

As at 17 Oct 2026 · Full entry with sources · All seven parties' answers

The Greens would require Woolworths and Foodstuffs to sell at least 120 stores and distribution centre capacity into public ownership, forming KiwiMart, a publicly owned chain with a mandate to keep prices down. The Commerce Commission would choose the stores based on local market share and set compensation. The party estimates the cost at about $2.8 billion: $1.3 billion to buy the stores and two distribution centres and $1.5 billion to set up the business. It would also ban excessive supermarket prices, require supermarkets to disclose their margins, and give the Commerce Commission more funding, higher fines and power to issue binding directions. No start date or funding source has been published. The biggest tradeoff: taxpayers would carry the commercial risk of running a supermarket chain.

As at 14 Oct 2026 · Full entry with sources · All seven parties' answers

Labour would require Woolworths and Foodstuffs to run their wholesale businesses separately from their supermarkets, as Foodstuffs Wholesale and Woolworths Wholesale, with pricing firewalled between them. Labour says smaller grocers would get guaranteed wholesale supply on fair terms, Four Square owners would be released from contract rules that stop them cutting prices or going independent, and "junk fees" on suppliers would be banned. A separate law would ban "price gouging" by large firms with market power in groceries and other essentials, with refunds to consumers. Labour aims to pass the legal framework within 100 days; 1News reports the split would follow a Commerce Commission review. No cost has been published. The biggest tradeoff: separating wholesale from retail could lose some of the efficiencies of running them together.

As at 17 Oct 2026 · Full entry with sources · All seven parties' answers

Labour would change the law to limit how many branded uniform items schools can require, let families buy cheaper alternatives and track uniform prices. It would bring back fresh, locally made school lunches, prepared in school kitchens, by iwi and hapū partners or by local caterers. It would also work to restore cancelled rural school bus routes, and the page includes Labour's weekly public transport fare cap and a three-year fuel tax freeze.

• Party claimThe party says the new uniform rules would be in place, and school lunches would return, from Term 1 2028.
• Party claimThe party says lunches would be funded at $5 per meal, and $6.50 for students in Years 9 to 13.
• Party claimThe party says the weekly fare cap would start on 1 July 2027, at $20 in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch and $10 elsewhere.
• Party claimThe party says fuel tax would be frozen for three years.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · New Zealand Labour Party

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Labour would require the major banks to give smaller competitors fair access to payment systems and banking information, create simpler licences for businesses such as digital wallets and payment services, and add a new digital banking licence. It would deliver secure, around-the-clock real-time payments for fintech firms, let customers use government-verified ID when joining a new provider, and make car and life insurance terms clearer and more standard. Kiwibank would stay fully New Zealand-owned.

• Party claimThe party says real-time payments for fintech firms would be delivered by 2030.
• Party claimThe party says Kiwibank would remain 100% New Zealand-owned.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · New Zealand Labour Party

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Labour would pass a law setting tests for when prices charged by large companies with market power become unfair, covering groceries, energy, fuel, telecommunications, banking and insurance. Prices well above the cost of supply, or above what the same goods cost in a competitive market, could lead to penalties and orders to repay customers. The Commerce Commission could investigate and take companies to court, and groups for consumers, growers or suppliers could complain to it.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · New Zealand Labour Party

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Labour would require airlines to include every fee in the fares they show and to say when personal data is used to set a price. Big airlines would have to refund passengers automatically when they cancel or significantly change a flight, pay compensation for badly delayed bags, publish delay and cancellation figures, and give the Commerce Commission data on fares, costs and profits. All airlines would get fair access to airport facilities, airports would be stopped from overcharging for parking and food, and Labour would work with airlines, airports and local leaders to keep essential regional routes running.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · New Zealand Labour Party

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Labour would have the Commerce Commission report each week on what fuel companies charge and what drivers pay at the pump, and fuel companies that keep prices unfairly high could be made to repay drivers under its price gouging policy. It would strengthen supply rules for small independent petrol stations and ask NZTA to look at spare land for unmanned stations or EV chargers. A right to repair law, starting with cars, would make car makers give local mechanics the information, software and tools they need. Car buyers would get clearer costs, a ban on secret finance commissions and time to cancel add-on insurance.

• Party claimThe party says car buyers would get 14 days to cancel add-on insurance without penalty.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · New Zealand Labour Party

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Labour would pass a Fair Go Law, a set of consumer rules on hidden charges, insurance that gives little cover and contracts that are hard to leave. It would ban junk insurance and secret commissions, including those that let car dealers raise a loan's interest rate, and stop shops pushing insurance and extended warranties at the checkout. Phone, internet, subscription and gym customers could cancel online as easily as they signed up, and ticket prices would have to include all unavoidable fees.

• Party claimThe party says car buyers would get 14 days to cancel car-yard insurance without penalty.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · New Zealand Labour Party

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Labour would set a weekly limit on bus and train fares across the country, and on some ferries in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. Once a passenger has spent the limit in a week, the rest of that week's trips would be free, using the card or payment method they already have. Interregional and scenic trains and other ferries would not be covered. The cap would be in place by 1 July 2027.

• Party claimThe party says the weekly cap would be $20 in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch and $10 everywhere else in New Zealand.
• Party claimThe party says the cap would be in place by 1 July 2027.
• Party claimThe party says commuters would save around $25 a week on average, or over $1,200 a year, with savings varying by region and how often people travel.
• Party claimThe party says the cap would be paid for with a small contribution from an existing fund; the page does not name the fund or give a cost.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · New Zealand Labour Party

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National would amend the Grocery Industry Competition Act within 100 days, then give the Commerce Commission six months to test whether separating PAK'nSAVE from New World and Four Square would leave shoppers better off. If the Commission says yes, National would legislate the split, creating three national chains alongside Woolworths; if not, it would not go ahead. Owner-operators would keep their stores and brands. A cost-benefit analysis for MBIE, which National's page refers to, estimates prices about 3.5% lower in the first year and a $2.9 billion net benefit over 20 years. The government it leads announced a faster consenting route for new supermarkets in 2025. ACT, its current partner, says it would block the split. The biggest tradeoff: the modelled benefit disappears if supply costs rise by more than about 2%.

As at 17 Oct 2026 · Full entry with sources · All seven parties' answers

NZ First would pass a law splitting Foodstuffs into two nationwide co-operatives by brand: one for New World and Four Square, and one for PAK'nSAVE, both competing with Woolworths. It would raise Commerce Commission penalties for serious breaches to Australian levels (up to $10 million, three times the gain, or 10% of turnover), speed up investigations, give the Grocery Commissioner power to make binding decisions and impose penalties, and allow industry rules under the Commerce Act, including on shelf access for producers. Its policy page does not make the split depend on a Commerce Commission test. NZ First has not published a cost, timeline or details of how the split would work. The biggest tradeoff: the same split was modelled for MBIE as beneficial only if supply costs rise by less than about 2%.

As at 14 Oct 2026 · Full entry with sources · All seven parties' answers

Opportunity would give the Commerce Commission more independence, $20 million a year in extra funding, and the legal power to break up duopolies and other uncompetitive markets through the High Court, modelled on EU and UK law. The power would apply across the economy, including supermarkets, banking and electricity, rather than naming a specific split. A $5 million a year consumer advocacy fund would also be set up. Opportunity has made empowering the Commission one of its coalition bottom lines, and says its changes would save families $12 to $31 a week across supermarkets, banks and other sectors. The biggest tradeoff: any split would depend on a Commission investigation and court case, so it is unclear which firms would be affected or when.

As at 17 Oct 2026 · Full entry with sources · All seven parties' answers

Te Pāti Māori would provide $100 million in seed funding for Māori collectives to set up supermarket chains, and give them access to Crown or council land in commercially viable locations. It would protect whānau selling homegrown, homekill and roadside kai, and work with councils to free up land for growing food. These sit in a $3.1 billion kai sovereignty package, most of which ($2.8 billion) is an income tax kai credit for people earning $60,000 or less. The party's tax plan, which introduced the kai credit, proposes new taxes including a wealth tax and a stamp duty. It has not said how the supermarket funding would be allocated or when. The biggest tradeoff: new chains may struggle to reach the scale of the existing groups.

As at 14 Oct 2026 · Full entry with sources · All seven parties' answers

Te Pāti Māori would lift incomes so people can live with dignity. It would strengthen welfare so whānau are not, in its words, "punished for being poor". It would back practical help with living costs, including making transport more affordable.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · Te Pāti Māori

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Te Pāti Māori would protect Māori food systems, including seed sovereignty, rejecting genetically engineered (GE) foods and upholding WAI262. It would invest in community food systems and regenerative Māori farming. It would support Māori-owned supermarkets and protect local kai (food) sellers to break what it calls corporate control, and increase access to land for growing food.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · Te Pāti Māori

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ACT's fiscal plan, released on 11 October 2026, makes no change to income tax rates or thresholds. The plan sets aside $264 million in 2027/28, rising to $303 million in 2030/31, for "additional targeted tax relief to be announced". Its design has not been announced; Seymour has linked it to housing costs. Its other tax changes, such as removing tax on KiwiSaver investment earnings, are not changes to income tax rates. Seymour says cutting taxes by borrowing is "immoral" and wants a surplus first. He does not favour raising thresholds for inflation, and would rather use extra revenue later to reduce the top rates and flatten the rate structure. The biggest tradeoff: an earlier surplus and less debt, but rising wages keep moving more income into higher rates.

As at 16 Oct 2026 · Full entry with sources · All seven parties' answers

The Greens would make the first $10,000 of income tax-free and replace the five current rates with seven: 0%, then 10% to 33.5% in steps, and 45% on income over $160,000. The party says 96% of people would get a tax cut: about $27 a week more at $40,000 and $10 at $90,000, and $66 a week less at $200,000. The party costs the income tax changes at about $2.3 billion in 2027/28, rising to about $2.7 billion in 2030/31, funded by taxes on net wealth over $10 million, inheritances over $1 million, large companies and banks. It says the whole package raises a net $5.15 billion in 2027/28; no independent costing has been found. No start date is given. The biggest tradeoff: most people pay less income tax, but top earners pay up to 45% and the cuts rely on new taxes.

As at 16 Oct 2026 · Full entry with sources · All seven parties' answers

The Greens would uphold Te Tiriti across the public service and fund Māori organisations, iwi, hapū and marae to run community and environmental projects in their areas. They would fund public services adequately, keep public services and state-owned enterprises in public hands, and reform public finance rules to support long-term resilience and wellbeing. They would also restore the Children's Commissioner's monitoring role, set standard pay, career paths and training across the public sector with equal pay for equivalent roles, and give the community sector secure, full funding.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand

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Labour's published policies include no change to income tax rates or thresholds, so income tax would stay on today's table. Its fiscal plan, released on 4 October 2026, relies on revenue measures that are not income tax changes. Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds says tax cuts "need to be allowed as the fiscal and economic environment allows for it", and that "there are always pros and cons around tax cuts or changes to thresholds". Labour says surplus comes first, which it has pledged to keep forecast for 2028/29, and tax relief would be considered when the fiscal environment allows. It has not said whether it would index thresholds. The biggest tradeoff: stable rates and lower debt, but rising wages keep moving more income into higher rates.

As at 16 Oct 2026 · Full entry with sources · All seven parties' answers

Labour would bring in a tax on the profit made when someone sells a residential investment property or a commercial property. Only gains made after 1 July 2027 would be taxed, and only when the property is sold. The family home, lifestyle blocks, farms, shares, businesses, KiwiSaver, inheritances, gifts and personal items would be exempt. Labour says all the money raised would go to health, starting with three free doctor's visits a year.

• Party claimThe party says the tax rate would be 28%, the same as the company tax rate.
• Party claimThe party says only gains made after 1 July 2027 would be taxed.
• Party claimThe party says nine in 10 New Zealanders would not pay the tax.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · New Zealand Labour Party

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Labour's fiscal plan sets out how it says it would pay for its election promises within the Budget allowances already set. It would return the books to an operating surplus in 2028/29, bring net debt down towards 20% of GDP over time, and keep new spending within $2.4 billion per Budget. It would add $15.5 billion for health, reverse half of the extra cuts planned for the next Budget and all of those planned for later Budgets, and freeze fuel tax for three years. Labour says Hall Chadwick, a firm it commissioned, reviewed the costings.

• Party claimThe party says the books would return to an operating surplus (OBEGAL) in 2028/29.
• Party claimThe party says net debt would fall towards 20% of GDP over time.
• Party claimThe party says new operating spending would stay within $2.4 billion per Budget, and its commitments would use $4.1 billion of $12 billion in future capital allowances.
• Party claimThe party says health would get $15.5 billion of extra funding over the forecast period.
• Party claimThe party says it would freeze fuel tax for three years.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · New Zealand Labour Party

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National's fiscal plan, released on 12 October 2026, makes no change to income tax rates or thresholds, so income tax would stay on today's table. Willis said in September that National would campaign on adjusting settings for bracket creep; the plan has no such change. Finance Minister Nicola Willis says "now is not the time to cut taxes" and the priority is to "get on top of the debt first". She says the plan shows "a pathway to potential tax relief for working New Zealanders" once the books are back in surplus, forecast for 2028/29. No size or date is set. National also pledges no new taxes. The biggest tradeoff: stable rates and lower debt, but rising wages keep moving more income into higher rates.

As at 16 Oct 2026 · Full entry with sources · All seven parties' answers

National would follow three budget rules: return to surplus and stay there long enough to bring debt down, keep debt below 40% of GDP over time, and shrink core government spending towards 30% of GDP. It would pay for more frontline spending by cutting or moving lower-priority spending rather than bringing in new taxes. It would keep investing in roads, hospitals, schools and defence.

• Party claimThe party says the budget would return to surplus in 2028/29.
• Party claimThe party says government debt would fall towards 40 per cent of GDP and stay below it over time.
• Party claimThe party says core Crown spending would fall towards 30 per cent of GDP.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · New Zealand National Party

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National's fiscal plan says it would not bring in new taxes and would keep paying for health, schools, law and order, roads, defence and other frontline services. It would move money away from lower-priority spending so that total government spending falls towards 30% of the economy (GDP). It would return the budget to surplus in 2028/29 and keep government debt heading down towards, and then below, 40% of GDP.

• Party claimThe party says the budget would return to surplus in 2028/29 and stay in surplus.
• Party claimThe party says government spending would fall towards 30 per cent of GDP.
• Party claimThe party says government debt would fall towards 40 per cent of GDP and stay below it over time.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · New Zealand National Party

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National promises that it would not bring in any new taxes if it is re-elected at the election on 7 November 2026. The page does not list which taxes the promise covers, or say whether existing tax rates would change. National says keeping taxes low lets people keep more of what they earn.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · New Zealand National Party

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At a Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand tax panel in September 2026, NZ First MP David Wilson outlined a proposal to make the first $14,000 of income tax-free and adjust income tax brackets for inflation. KPMG's election tracker records it as making the lowest tax bracket tax-free "no later than 1 April 2027". The policy is not on NZ First's own policy page. NZ First has not published rates above the tax-free amount, a cost, a funding source or how often brackets would be adjusted (its 2023 policy said every three years), and no independent costing has been found. The biggest tradeoff: people earning over $14,000 would pay less income tax, but government revenue would fall, and the rates above it and the funding are unpublished.

As at 16 Oct 2026 · Full entry with sources · All seven parties' answers

NZ First would lower the company tax rate for small and medium businesses, those with turnover under $30 million. The party says the cut would leave businesses more money to invest, grow and hire, and make them rely less on bank loans.

• Party claimThe party says the company tax rate would fall from 28% to 20% for companies with turnover under $30 million.
• Party claimThe party says the initial annual fiscal cost would be approximately $1 billion, more than offset over the medium term by more companies, jobs, growth and spending.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · New Zealand First

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Opportunity's Tax Reset would replace the five current rates with three: 28% on income up to $50,000, 34% up to $200,000 and 39% above that. Most citizens and residents aged 18 and over would also get a tax-free Citizen's Income of $19,400 a year, the Jobseeker rate, replacing several main benefits, with top-ups for superannuitants, parents and others. The party says people earning under $60,000 would pay less tax than the payment they receive, and 70% of people would be better off. It would be funded by a land value tax of 1.75% on urban and 0.5% on rural land; the party's 2024 costing shows about $4 billion left over, and no independent costing has been found. It would be phased in over ten years, starting with young people. The biggest tradeoff: most adults get a tax-free income, but landowners, including homeowners, pay a new yearly land tax.

As at 16 Oct 2026 · Full entry with sources · All seven parties' answers

Opportunity's Tax Reset would give almost all adults a weekly payment called the Citizen's Income, replacing most benefits, with top-ups for superannuitants, parents and others. It would be paid for by a yearly tax on the value of land only, with exemptions or deferrals possible for people who are land rich but cash poor, such as farmers and retirees. There would be three income tax rates, and employee and employer KiwiSaver contribution rates would rise over time. The changes would be phased in over 10 years, with the payment starting with young people.

• Party claimThe party says almost all adults would get up to $370 a week ($19,400 a year).
• Party claimThe party says the land value tax would be 1.75% a year, reduced to 0.5% for rural land.
• Party claimThe party says the income tax rates would be 28%, 34% and 39%, and KiwiSaver contribution rates would rise to 6%.
• Party claimThe party says incomes would rise for 70% of New Zealanders and 20% would see no change.
• Party claimThe party says the Citizen's Income would lift at least 50,000 families out of poverty, and the land value tax would bring house prices down by a projected 10 to 15%.
• Party claimThe party says the package is fully funded, with around $4 billion a year left over for other investments.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · The Opportunity Party

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Te Pāti Māori would make the first $30,000 of income tax-free, then 15%, 33% and 39%, with new rates of 42% from $180,001 and 48% over $300,000. The party says 97% of people would pay less income tax and 4.2 million would gain about $4,000 a year on average. It also proposes an income tax kai credit for people earning $60,000 or less, described as worth up to eight weeks of kai a year; a co-leader put it at around $1,000. The party forecasts the rate changes cost $13.4 billion; Deloitte reports Treasury's calculator puts the yearly cost at over $14 billion. Funding comes from a wealth tax on net assets over $2 million, a 33% company rate and other taxes. No start date is given. The biggest tradeoff: most people pay less income tax, but top earners pay up to 48% and the cuts rely on new taxes.

As at 16 Oct 2026 · Full entry with sources · All seven parties' answers

Te Pāti Māori would make sure the wealthiest people pay what it calls "their fair share" of tax. It would use that money to pay for housing, health, education and support for whānau.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · Te Pāti Māori

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ACT would remove tax on qualifying investment earnings inside KiwiSaver funds, and in other superannuation schemes, so returns compound untaxed. Members who get employer contributions would lose the annual government contribution, now worth up to $260.72 a year. ACT says it would add rules to stop the change being used to shelter large existing portfolios, but has not published them. It does not propose compulsion or higher contribution rates. ACT's policy document puts the net cost at $2.40 billion over four years from 2027/28, after $2.59 billion saved on the government contribution; its later fiscal plan says $2.77 billion. No start date is stated. The biggest tradeoff: fund returns would compound untaxed, but members with employer contributions would lose the government top-up and the Crown would give up tax revenue.

As at 16 Oct 2026 · Full entry with sources · All seven parties' answers

ACT would raise the qualifying age for NZ Super by three months a year until it reaches 67 in 2035. People who have spent a substantial part of their career in physically demanding jobs could get "compassionate early access"; Local Matters reports this would mean at least 20 years of such work and Super from 65. KiwiSaver could still be withdrawn at 65, and people already on Super would not be affected. ACT's fiscal plan counts savings of $1.89 billion in 2031, less $270 million for early access and benefits. ACT would also keep contributions to the NZ Super Fund suspended. It has not said which birth years would be affected first. The biggest tradeoff: projected Super spending is lower than currently forecast from 2028, but people who cannot keep working and do not qualify for early access would wait up to two years longer.

As at 16 Oct 2026 · Full entry with sources · All seven parties' answers

The Green Party supports keeping NZ Super universal at 65. Its 2023 policy promised to "maintain universal superannuation for all New Zealanders 65 years and older", with $16 a week more after tax; no 2026 Super policy page was found. Its Grey Power survey answers list making sure Super covers everyday costs as a priority. Co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick questions "the premise that superannuation is supposedly, in their argument, becoming more unaffordable", and says "We can afford to ensure that everybody retires with dignity, and that means that we have to fix the tax system." The party's 2026 tax plan proposes new taxes on high wealth and a higher rate for the largest companies and an income tax cut for most taxpayers. The biggest tradeoff: Super stays universal at 65, but its projected cost is unchanged, so its growth would be met from taxes, borrowing, other spending or payment changes.

As at 16 Oct 2026 · Full entry with sources · All seven parties' answers

From 1 July 2028 Labour would make employer KiwiSaver contributions compulsory, rising to 6% of pay by 2032, and employers would keep paying when a worker lowers or pauses their own contributions. Employer contributions would also extend to workers over 65 from that date. The default rate for workers would be 4%, and the minimum rate would be removed, so people could choose to pay less. Parents on paid parental leave would get a new KiwiSaver contribution, and new total remuneration contracts, which count the employer contribution as part of pay, would be banned. Labour gives no dollar cost; it says changes in employer superannuation contribution tax revenue would help fund the parental leave contributions and the government's own costs as an employer. The biggest tradeoff: employers would pay 6% for every worker, and workers could keep more take-home pay by paying less themselves, but would then retire with less.

As at 16 Oct 2026 · Full entry with sources · All seven parties' answers

Labour would keep the qualifying age for NZ Super at 65 and would not means test it. Chris Hipkins says Labour has been "very clear" Super will stay at 65, and finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds says "it all comes down to affordable choices". No Labour Super policy page was found as at 15 October 2026; its KiwiSaver policy would extend compulsory employer contributions to people working past 65 from 1 July 2028. Edmonds has agreed to cross-party talks on retirement after the election and says any change to the age would need "the strong mandate to do it". The biggest tradeoff: people keep certainty about when Super starts, but its projected cost is unchanged, so its growth would be met from taxes, borrowing, other spending or payment changes.

As at 16 Oct 2026 · Full entry with sources · All seven parties' answers

From 1 July 2028 National would make contributions to KiwiSaver, or an equivalent scheme, compulsory for all workers. Default employee and employer rates would rise by 0.5 percentage points a year to 6% each (12% combined) by 1 April 2032; self-employed people would pay 4% of income. From 1 July 2027 every newborn would be enrolled automatically with a $1,500 payment, which National calls the Baby Boost. From the same date parents on paid parental leave would get a government contribution at the default rate, and employers would have to contribute for workers over 65. Contributions could be suspended only under the hardship test. National costs the policy at $110.1 million in 2027/28, rising to $361.6 million in 2030/31, met from future Budget allowances. The biggest tradeoff: workers would build larger retirement savings, but would have less take-home pay now.

As at 17 Oct 2026 · Full entry with sources · All seven parties' answers

National's policy page says it would keep the NZ Super age at 65 until 2044, then lift it gradually to 67, and that the change would not affect anyone born before 1979. Super would stay linked to 66% of average after-tax incomes. National has not published a cost or a year for reaching 67. When it released its fiscal plan in October, Christopher Luxon said National is not running on changes this election and that a change "requires a political consensus, and we don't have that currently". Nicola Willis has agreed with Labour's Barbara Edmonds to cross-party talks on retirement, which she says should start within National's first 100 days. The biggest tradeoff: the long lead time gives people years to plan, but projected Super spending would not be lower than currently forecast until after 2044.

As at 17 Oct 2026 · Full entry with sources · All seven parties' answers

NZ First would make KiwiSaver enrolment compulsory at birth, with a one-off $1,000 Crown contribution for New Zealand citizens only; it calls this the KiwiSaver Generation. This sits alongside its earlier campaign policy of compulsory KiwiSaver for the wider workforce, with employee and employer contributions rising to 8% at first and eventually 10%. Winston Peters said in 2025 that savers and employers would receive tax cuts to cover the increases. NZ First has not published a cost, a timetable or how the tax cuts would work. In two NZ Herald scenarios, tax cuts fully offsetting the higher contributions would cost about $12 billion to $28 billion a year. Reports differ on whether the 8% and 10% are combined or apply to employees and employers each. The biggest tradeoff: higher contributions would build larger retirement savings, but the tax cuts meant to offset them would reduce government revenue.

As at 17 Oct 2026 · Full entry with sources · All seven parties' answers

NZ First opposes raising the Super age. Shane Jones says "under no circumstances whatsoever" will a government NZ First serves in get its support to change it, and the party says it does not support changes to Super's entitlement or eligibility. Its one proposed change is to who qualifies: from 2029 only New Zealand citizens would get NZ Super, with a grace period "within the next three years". Non-citizen residents can now qualify. NZ First says Super paid to people who became residents aged 50 or older costs over $1 billion a year. It has not published a saving from the citizenship rule or said how non-citizens already on Super would be treated. The biggest tradeoff: people keep certainty about age 65, but outside the citizenship rule Super's projected cost is unchanged, so its growth would be met from taxes, borrowing, other spending or payment changes.

As at 16 Oct 2026 · Full entry with sources · All seven parties' answers

Opportunity would create a new compulsory retirement savings scheme, which it calls KiwiSaver 2.0, separate from today's KiwiSaver. Employee and employer contributions would each rise to 6%, or 12% combined, phased in over about eight years. The full 12% would be exempt from income tax, and tax on fund earnings would be reduced until it ends after 20 years. Money in the new scheme could not be withdrawn for hardship or a first home, but banks could lend against balances to help first-home buyers. Existing KiwiSaver would stay as an optional extra. The party says the National Superannuation Fund would pay for the tax exemptions, and it has published no cost or start date. The biggest tradeoff: savings grow faster, but the government gives up tax revenue and savers lose access to the money before retirement.

As at 17 Oct 2026 · Full entry with sources · All seven parties' answers

Opportunity has not said whether the qualifying age should change. Its Tax Reset would replace NZ Super with the Citizens' Income, a payment to residents aged 18 and over that the party sets at $19,400 a year, plus a top-up the party says brings superannuitants to current NZ Super rates ($10,000 a year for a single person, $5,250 in total for a couple). The party says "No-one who relies on NZ Superannuation will receive less than they currently do". The package is funded mainly by a land value tax, which superannuitants could defer until their property is sold. The new payment would reach "successive age cohorts, starting with young people". The biggest tradeoff: the party says superannuitants would receive no less than now, but it has not said when over-65s would move to the new payment or how the income reduction would apply to them.

As at 16 Oct 2026 · Full entry with sources · All seven parties' answers

ACT argues against free GP visits and would invest an additional $400 million in general practice over four years, an ongoing $100 million a year on top of normal per-patient funding increases. It says the money would go to pay and retention, extra hours and rewards for extra appointments, and faster entry for overseas-trained doctors. Its release does not say whether GP fees or the $5 prescription charge would change. It argues that free visits would not help without enough doctors to provide the appointments. The biggest tradeoff: the plan funds GP pay, hours and recruitment, but its release does not say whether patient fees or the prescription charge would change, and it has no independent costing.

As at 19 Oct 2026 · Full entry with sources · All seven parties' answers

ACT would raise the share of the health budget spent on medicines by one percentage point each year until it matches Australia's in 2033, and set Pharmac's future funding increases in advance. It would pay for this from expected growth in the health budget, and says this needs no new tax and no cut to the rest of the health budget. On Māori health, ACT says treatment should be based on individual need, regardless of background. On the workforce, ACT would put an extra $400 million over four years into general practice to keep GPs, support extra hours and bring in doctors from overseas. The biggest tradeoff: ACT says a fixed path would give Pharmac a budget it can plan around without cutting other health spending, but it has not set out how the rest of each year's growth in the health budget would be shared.

As at 19 Oct 2026 · Full entry with sources · All seven parties' answers

ACT says it would put an extra $400 million into general practice over four years. The money is meant to keep doctors in New Zealand, bring in more from overseas, and give people more GP appointments. ACT says the funding will help practices offer competitive pay and keep experienced staff, and that better funding could help them offer extra hours and reward additional appointments. Separately, it would build on work to speed up registration for overseas-trained doctors, including reforming medical regulators. The release does not say when it would start.

• Party claimThe party says it would invest an additional $400 million in general practice over four years.
• Party claimThe party says this is an ongoing $100 million a year, on top of normal capitation increases.
• Party claimThe party says that in 2024/25 one in four adults and one in five children missed a GP visit because the wait was too long.
• Party claimThe party says 35% of GPs intend to retire within five years and 18% are considering moving overseas.
• Party claimThe party says GPs work 33.9 hours a week on average, down from 36.4 a decade ago, and that nearly one in ten works 19 hours or fewer.

Announced 18 Oct 2026 · ACT New Zealand

Compared on: Should GP visits or prescriptions be free? · What should change in medicines funding, the health workforce and Māori health services?

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ACT says everyone should get timely, high-quality healthcare based on their own need. It is campaigning to close the medicines gap with Australia, let pharmacies provide more everyday care, and strengthen the End of Life Choice law on assisted dying. ACT wants public, private and community providers to work together, with less waste and more accountability for how health money is spent.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · ACT New Zealand

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The Greens' 2026 manifesto commits to "work towards a publicly delivered, fully free provision of dental and primary care services", including clinics run by Māori for Māori, and to fund mobile health and dental vans for rural areas. It does not say how GP fees or the $5 prescription charge would change along the way. The party's 2025 alternative budget was more specific: a public Community Health Service providing free GP and nursing care, free prescriptions and free dental care, paid for with new taxes, including a wealth tax, and more borrowing. The 2026 manifesto also backs more funding for Pharmac. The biggest tradeoff: the plan aims at fully free primary and dental care for everyone, but gives no cost or timeline for it and does not tie it to a funding source.

As at 17 Oct 2026 · Full entry with sources · All seven parties' answers

The Greens would increase sustained funding for Pharmac so it can invest in new medicines and health care devices, with no amount stated. They say they would ensure "fair wages" for health workers, fund pay parity for primary care nurses and hauora providers, and set "safe staffing levels". Students on compulsory nursing and other placements would get $380 a week, plus $1,500 if they must move. The Greens would work with and fund kaupapa Māori approaches, and work with Iwi Māori Partnership Boards and Hauora Māori to simplify funding for providers. They also support Labour's graduate nurse job guarantee. The biggest tradeoff: the Greens say pay parity, safe staffing and paid placements would support health workers and keep students from dropping out of placements, but they have not said how much these would cost or when they would start.

As at 17 Oct 2026 · Full entry with sources · All seven parties' answers

The Greens would make public health care available to everyone, with more focus on prevention and on early screening, diagnosis and treatment of diseases such as kidney disease, cancers and diabetes. They would fund mobile health, mental health, testing and dental vans for rural areas, and work towards free, publicly delivered dental and primary care, including Māori-led community clinics. They would also give Pharmac more lasting funding to buy new medicines and devices, pay pharmacists fairly for medical advice, and set fair pay and safe staffing levels for health workers.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand

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The Greens would expand free mental health services to all communities, including youth services such as Piki, Mana Ake and Youth One Stop Shops, and dedicated support for parents after birth. They would carry out the recommendations of the Every Life Matters suicide prevention strategy and a kaupapa Māori response to suicide, with a focus on young people. They would fund community care so seclusion can be phased out completely, fund kaupapa Māori mental health and addiction programmes, and set clear referral paths between primary care and specialist mental health services.

• Party claimThe Greens say their suicide prevention work would focus particularly on people under 24.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand

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Labour would give everyone eligible for public health care a Medicard, a card and app loaded with three free visits a year to a doctor or nurse at their own practice. After-hours, immunisation and ACC visits are not covered. From 1 July 2027 it would also remove the $5 prescription charge that most people aged 14 to 64 now pay. Labour costs the package at about $553 million a year once running ($490 million for visits) and free prescriptions at $74.5 million a year, paid for by its proposed 28% tax on gains from selling investment and commercial property. From July 2028 a new Independent Pricing Authority would set how much practices are paid. The biggest tradeoff: everyone gets three free visits a year and free prescriptions, at about $628 million a year once running on Labour's own costings, funded from a new tax whose revenue Labour ring-fences for health.

As at 17 Oct 2026 · Full entry with sources · All seven parties' answers

Labour would offer a job in the health system to every eligible New Zealand-trained graduate nurse, which it puts at around 2,400 a year, through the existing hiring schemes. Roles would be at least 0.8 of a full-time position, and from 2027 they would be offered at graduation rather than staggered through the year. It would also double funding for graduate nursing roles in primary and community care, and puts the cost at $525 million, paid from health cost-pressure funding. Labour would not re-establish Te Aka Whai Ora; it would fund Māori health providers directly and build on Iwi Māori Partnership Boards. No 2026 Labour policy on Pharmac funding was found. The biggest tradeoff: Labour says a job offer for every eligible graduate would ease pressure on existing staff; National says paying for it from cost-pressure funding would leave less for other health services.

As at 17 Oct 2026 · Full entry with sources · All seven parties' answers

Labour would offer loans to doctors buying into owner-operated general practices, with priority for areas that have no GP or where practices have closed their books to new patients. Corporate-owned practices would not be eligible. The loans would be run through the existing Small Business Cashflow Loan Scheme and start from 1 July 2027. The same page lists other steps Labour says would free up GP appointments, such as phone triage and new technology.

• Party claimThe party says loans would cover up to 90% of the cost of buying into a practice, capped at $500,000, with one loan per doctor and up to 50 loans a year.
• Party claimThe party says loans would be interest-free for the first two years, then charged 3% a year, with 10 years in total to repay.
• Party claimThe party says the scheme would start from 1 July 2027.
• Party claimThe party says it would lend out $25 million a year if fully subscribed, and the forgone interest would cost the government less than $8 million a year.
• Party claimThe party says its wider plan would free up more than 4.5 million GP appointments a year.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · New Zealand Labour Party

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Labour would make cervical screening free for everyone aged 25 to 69. Eligibility would be loaded onto each person's Medicard, a health card Labour plans to use for free doctor's visits, and people could be screened at their doctor or at community screening events. This would be on top of the three free doctor's visits a year Labour has promised. It would start from 1 October 2027.

• Party claimThe party says free screening for people aged 25 to 69 would start from 1 October 2027.
• Party claimThe party says it would cost $21.6 million in the first full year, funded from existing health baselines.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · New Zealand Labour Party

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Labour would make every maternity scan that a GP, midwife or specialist refers a pregnant woman for free, everywhere in New Zealand. The entitlement would be loaded onto her Medicard, a health card Labour also plans to use for three free doctor's visits a year, so no forms or invoices would be needed. It would cover people eligible for publicly funded health care and start from July 2028.

• Party claimThe party says scans cost up to $90 each now and are already free only in Tairāwhiti, Nelson and the West Coast.
• Party claimThe party says free scans would start from July 2028 and cost $28.6 million a year, paid for by its capital gains tax.
• Party claimThe party says it would fund 24 paid trainee sonographer positions at Health New Zealand, costing less than $3 million a year from Health NZ baselines.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · New Zealand Labour Party

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National has no new election policy on GP or prescription costs; its approach comes from its record in government. In 2024 the National-led government reinstated the $5 prescription charge for people aged 14 and over, keeping prescriptions free for children under 14, people 65 and over and Community Services Card holders, with no charge after 20 items a year. In June 2026 a Health NZ package added $120.6 million in GP funding for 2026/27 and held fees to 1 July 2027, with exceptions; National says 86% of clinics accepted it. Its health election policy is more Pharmac funding, which does not change GP fees or prescription charges. The biggest tradeoff: charges stay targeted, with savings the government says go to frontline services and cancer medicines, but adults 14 to 64 without a card pay for visits and prescriptions, and fee settings after July 2027 are unstated.

As at 17 Oct 2026 · Full entry with sources · All seven parties' answers

National would add a further $604 million to Pharmac's medicines budget, and says it would pay for this largely by cutting foreign aid outside the Pacific by 10%, with no new taxes. Its workforce and Māori health answers come from its record in government, not from 2026 policy. National says its ministers added 100 first-year medical school places between 2024 and 2026 and approved a new medical school at Waikato. The National-led government closed Te Aka Whai Ora in 2024, and Health Minister Simeon Brown says it is "focused on having one health system for all New Zealanders". The biggest tradeoff: a set sum would fund more medicines without a new tax, National says, but it depends on an aid cut that NZ First opposes and ACT supports, and the policy does not say over how many years it applies.

As at 17 Oct 2026 · Full entry with sources · All seven parties' answers

National would give Pharmac, the agency that buys medicines, a further $604 million for medicines, paid for by cutting foreign aid outside the Pacific. It would set a national target for clinical trials, help New Zealand make its own CAR-T cell therapy (a cancer treatment), and widen free cancer screening. It would also set up a Healthy Kiwis Programme to double the number of people given prescriptions for physical activity.

• Party claimThe party says it would add a further $604 million to Pharmac's medicines budget.
• Party claimThe party says it would lower the free bowel screening age to 50 and extend free breast screening to age 74, both by 2029.
• Party claimThe party says free cervical screening for all women aged 25 to 69 would start from March 2027.
• Party claimThe party says it would double the number of people receiving active prescriptions by 2030.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · New Zealand National Party

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NZ First's 2026 health plan, released on 20 September, would shift the focus of healthcare from treating illness to preventing it. On the workforce, it would support GPs by bringing health coaches into primary care, reduce administrative burden and restore professional autonomy in general practice, and find better ways to acknowledge nurses. It has no stated 2026 policy on Pharmac funding or Māori health services; earlier positions are noted below. The biggest tradeoff: NZ First says health coaches would add support for GPs, but the plan gives no numbers, cost or timetable for them.

As at 19 Oct 2026 · Full entry with sources · All seven parties' answers

NZ First's plan, which it calls "Make NZ Healthy", would put preventing illness at the centre of healthcare, with a focus on metabolic health. It would make informed consent a core part of care, promote nutrition from primary school to medical school, and hold an independent review of dietary guidelines. It would also cut paperwork for GPs, add health coaches in primary care, remove Medsafe and Pharmac barriers to nutrients recognised as safe, and fund research on vitamin C, vitamin D and nutrition for mental illness.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · New Zealand First

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Opportunity wants a cross-party 10-year health plan that raises health funding to 9% of GDP over a decade, from what it says is about 7.4% now. It says the new money would first go on people: keeping the clinicians already here, expanding training places, registering those trained overseas, and building out the wider practice team of nurses, pharmacists, paramedics and mental health workers. On Māori health, it would seek consensus on a durable structure, with stable multi-year commissioning for kaupapa Māori and iwi-led providers and devolution where it improves outcomes. It has no stated policy on Pharmac funding. The biggest tradeoff: Opportunity says a cross-party plan would keep funding steady across changes of government, but it depends on other parties agreeing, and it sets no staff numbers.

As at 17 Oct 2026 · Full entry with sources · All seven parties' answers

Opportunity would work across parties on a published, costed 10-year health plan, and push within it to raise health funding over a decade. A larger share of health funding would go to primary care providers such as GP clinics. The party would bring back the school lunch programme, pursue a pathway to a smokefree New Zealand, and add lobbying and donation rules for industries such as tobacco through its Clean Up Politics policy.

• Party claimThe party says it would push to raise health funding from the current 7.4% of GDP to 9% of GDP.
• Party claimThe party says tobacco, alcohol and unhealthy food account for a quarter of the healthy years New Zealanders lose to death and disability.
• Party claimThe party says New Zealand ranked second in the world for protecting health policy from tobacco industry interference in 2023 and 53rd in 2025.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · The Opportunity Party

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Te Pāti Māori's 2026 policy manifesto commits to "Invest in free primary healthcare for all whānau", along with free dental care, free medication delivery, marae-based clinics and mobile units, and more funding for Pharmac. It does not say how GP fees or the $5 prescription charge would change along the way. The manifesto also commits to re-establish Te Aka Whai Ora, the Māori Health Authority, and to transfer 25% of total health and ACC funding to Māori-led systems. In 2023 the party proposed free GP and dental care for whānau earning under $60,000. The biggest tradeoff: the plan aims at free primary and dental care for all whānau, but gives no cost or timeline for it and does not tie it to a funding source.

As at 17 Oct 2026 · Full entry with sources · All seven parties' answers

Te Pāti Māori would re-establish Te Aka Whai Ora, set up a Māori Health Commissioning Agency, and transfer 25% of total health and ACC funding to Māori-led systems. It would legislate a binding Te Tiriti o Waitangi clause and appoint a Te Tiriti Hauora Commissioner. It would invest $1 billion a year in workforce development and expand the Māori workforce and training. It would increase Pharmac funding, with no amount stated, and protect rongoā Māori. The biggest tradeoff: Te Pāti Māori says Māori authority over a quarter of health and ACC funding would address Māori health inequities, but the manifesto gives no cost, timetable or detail on how the transfer would work.

As at 17 Oct 2026 · Full entry with sources · All seven parties' answers

Te Pāti Māori would rebuild and strengthen health authority and solutions led by Māori. It would shift the health system toward prevention and whānau wellbeing, not just responding to crises, and make services accessible, culturally safe and accountable to Māori.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · Te Pāti Māori

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ACT would end loss ring-fencing, the rule that stops landlords using rental losses to cut tax on their other income. Losses from the day the change takes effect could be offset; ACT says this would ease pressure on rents. It puts the cost at $264 million in year one, rising to $303 million in year four, inside a fiscal plan with "no new taxes". ACT would also "Exclude purely spiritual and religious effects from consenting" and "Ban compulsory religious observances in consent conditions". The biggest tradeoff: ACT says ending ring-fencing would ease pressure on rents, but it reduces government revenue and ACT has not estimated extra homes or lower rents; the consent change would stop consents requiring karakia, which ACT says developers must pay for, and would remove spiritual effects as a ground for decisions.

As at 18 Oct 2026 · Full entry with sources · All seven parties' answers

ACT says people should be free to build on their own property unless they cause material harm to other people or the environment. It says councils need practical ways to pay for growth, and people who add to demand for infrastructure should pay a fair share. ACT would give innovators a clear route through outdated regulation and require temporary workers to contribute to infrastructure from their first day in New Zealand.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · ACT New Zealand

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The Greens would build "tens of thousands" of public homes, fund councils, community housing providers and papakāinga on Māori land, and require councils to enable enough new housing, including in existing urban areas. Rent rises would be capped at 2% a year, with a new tenancy's rent tied to the previous rent, no-cause terminations would end, and rentals would need an independently certified warrant of fitness. Landlords could no longer deduct mortgage interest, investment homes sold within 10 years would be taxed, and property would count toward a 2.5% tax on net wealth over $10 million. The biggest tradeoff: the party says renters would get capped rents and more public homes, while landlords with mortgages would pay more tax; ACT says rent caps would mean fewer rentals, and the party has published no cost for the public homes.

As at 18 Oct 2026 · Full entry with sources · All seven parties' answers

Labour would give Kāinga Ora $2.9 billion over four years for state houses, and says Kāinga Ora and community housing providers would deliver at least 6,000 more social housing places. It would raise the Crown guarantee on community housing bonds to $950 million, which it says would cut providers' borrowing costs. It would keep social housing rents at 25% instead of the Government's planned rise to 30%. Labour says it opposed the return of no-cause terminations and "pledged to fix it", but has published no details. The biggest tradeoff: Labour says the state houses would be paid from future Budget allowances, but has not said how keeping rents at 25% would be funded; a 28% capital gains tax on investment and commercial property gains after 1 July 2027 would fund health; Labour says the tax would have little effect on rents, and National says it would reduce rental supply.

As at 18 Oct 2026 · Full entry with sources · All seven parties' answers

National's 2026 housing policy would raise the First Home Loan income cap, which lets buyers borrow with a 5% deposit through Kāinga Ora, to $300,000 for all applicants. It has promised no new taxes. From its record, its ministers passed RMA replacement laws, set council growth targets, allowed consent-free granny flats and plan development levies. Kāinga Ora's building was cut to about 1,500 new homes a year; ministers credit its turnaround plan and cost control with a $9.5 billion cut in forecast peak debt. A contestable fund replaced a ring-fenced Māori fund. Ministers restored landlords' interest deductions and no-cause terminations, and will raise social rents to 30% of income. The biggest tradeoff: more buyers on higher incomes could use 5% deposits, which National puts at $4–6 million and says helps people who can afford a mortgage but not a 20% deposit; critics say it adds demand without adding homes.

As at 18 Oct 2026 · Full entry with sources · All seven parties' answers

National would require councils to keep yearly rates increases within a target range of 2% to 4%, through its Rates Capping Bill, which has passed its first reading in Parliament. An independent regulator would check that councils follow the rules, decide on exemptions and advise on future ranges. Councils could get exemptions in special cases, such as recovering from a natural disaster or showing prudent financial management, and would get help with the change.

• Party claimThe party says rates increases would be kept within a target range of 2 to 4 per cent a year.
• Party claimThe party says the law would be put in place in 2029.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · New Zealand National Party

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NZ First would change fast-track law so housing developments are approved only after the roads, pipes, water, wastewater and other services they need are approved. Developers would have to show the infrastructure exists, is funded and can be delivered; councils would advise on network capacity; new expert panels for housing could decline projects; listed projects that have not applied by the end of 2028 would lose priority access; and the Minister for Housing would make housing referral decisions. NZ First has not published a cost, a start date or who would pay for infrastructure that is missing. The biggest tradeoff: NZ First says making funded infrastructure a condition of approval would protect existing communities from unfunded growth costs; National's Chris Bishop says the requirement is already in law, and Waatea's Matthew Tukaki warns of possible barriers for Māori housing developments.

As at 18 Oct 2026 · Full entry with sources · All seven parties' answers

Opportunity would replace what it says are over 1,000 planning zones with 10 national ones, pre-approve prefabricated systems, and change the Unit Titles Act to allow co-housing and papakāinga. Councils would get back GST on new builds meeting standards such as Homestar 6+ for infrastructure and community housing; councils, community housing providers, iwi and builders would get Crown development finance; Kāinga Ora would build to regional needs; and rental standards would rise. Its wider Tax Reset would tax urban land, homes included, at 1.75% a year to help fund a $19,400 Citizen's Income; the party projects property prices would fall 10 to 15%. The housing measures are not costed. The biggest tradeoff: the party says a land tax would lower prices, and that the Citizen's Income would leave most homeowning households better off; critics say owners, homeowners included, would bear a fall in land value and a yearly bill.

As at 18 Oct 2026 · Full entry with sources · All seven parties' answers

Te Pāti Māori would increase public housing investment, fund iwi and Māori housing providers, build 2,000 homes on papakāinga (whānau housing on Māori land) and make building on Māori land easier. For renters it lists "universal rent control" and "repealing no cause evictions". Its tax plan adds a 5% stamp duty on residential sales (first-home buyers of homes under $1 million exempt), a 2% vacant-house tax and a 33% land-banking tax, with revenue going to housing and other services. No cost or start date for the housing measures was found. The biggest tradeoff: the party says half of new social homes would go to whānau Māori, who it says make up half the waitlist, and that its property taxes would help fund housing; housing writer Rosie Gallen says the allocation does not itself add homes, and Deloitte, citing Inland Revenue, says stamp duties raise modest, volatile revenue and discourage moving.

As at 18 Oct 2026 · Full entry with sources · All seven parties' answers

The Greens would pass a law so children's views are central in decisions that matter to them, use the Child Impact Assessment Tool consistently, and write more of the Rights of the Child into law. They would increase the Best Start payment and turn it into a universal child benefit for every child under three. They would fund training for people who work with children, improve access to diagnosis and support for disabled children, and change the Oranga Tamariki Act to protect tamariki Māori and give whānau a part in decisions.

• Party claimThe Greens say the Best Start payment would be extended to every child under three.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand

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The Greens would work to close gender and ethnic pay gaps by reversing the Government's pay equity changes, restarting pay equity claims, and requiring pay transparency and pay gap reporting. They would increase the Best Start payment and turn it into a universal child benefit for every child under three, and fund one-stop support services for whānau from pregnancy to parenthood. They would also speed up diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis, make coercive control a crime, change the legal definition of consent, and lengthen paid parental leave, with set-aside leave for partners.

• Party claimThe Greens say the Best Start payment would be extended to every child under three.
• Party claimThe Greens say paid parental leave for the primary caregiver would rise to 15 months.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand

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The Greens would reform the Social Security Act, have Work and Income place more trust in the people it supports, raise benefits to liveable rates, work out benefits for each person rather than each couple, and end benefit sanctions. They would extend ACC to cover illness and disability whatever the cause, raise Working for Families payments and extend them to families who are out of work, and replace hardship loans with grants. They would add a tax-free threshold, cut income tax for low and middle earners, raise the top tax rate, and bring in a tax on net wealth over $10 million.

• Party claimThe Greens say they would introduce a tax of 2.5% on net wealth over $10 million.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand

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The Greens would change employment law so new workers join a union automatically, with the choice to opt out later. They would widen the right to strike, protect workers from unwanted contact outside working hours, raise the minimum wage at least in line with inflation every year, and pay the living wage in all publicly funded jobs. They would also lengthen paid parental leave, strengthen the test for whether gig workers are contractors, and undo the Government's pay equity changes.

• Party claimThe Greens say the minimum wage would rise every year by at least the rate of inflation.
• Party claimThe Greens say paid parental leave for the primary caregiver would rise to 15 months.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand

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Labour would bring back pay equity legislation within its first 100 days, so that claims already under way would not have to start again. Care and support workers would get an immediate pay rise from 1 January 2027. Later pay equity settlements would be negotiated and paid for in future Budgets as agreements are reached.

• Party claimThe party says pay equity legislation would be restored within its first 100 days in office.
• Party claimThe party says an estimated 65,000 care and support workers would get a $4 an hour pay rise from 1 January 2027, around $160 a week or $8,320 a year for an average full-time worker.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · New Zealand Labour Party

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National would give more intensive help finding work to jobseekers who have been on a benefit for over a year, and more money for programmes that help young people into work. People who have been on Jobseeker for two of the last three years would move to a lower payment rate, with a smaller cut for families with children. National would also start random drug testing of jobseekers, double the stand-down for people who keep leaving jobs without good reason, and require five years' residence before people can get a main benefit.

• Party claimThe party says 30,000 work-ready jobseekers who have been on a benefit for more than a year would get more intensive support.
• Party claimThe party says the lower rate after two years on Jobseeker would start from 1 April 2028; the page does not give the rate.
• Party claimThe party says drug testing would start with 10,000 tests in the first year.
• Party claimThe party says the stand-down for repeatedly leaving work would be 26 weeks, up from 13 weeks.
• Party claimThe party says the residence requirement for main benefits would rise from two years to five years from 1 April 2028.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · New Zealand National Party

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National would lengthen paid parental leave from 26 to 30 weeks in three steps between 2027 and 2029, as a first step towards 40 weeks. Parents could take their leave at the same time or in overlapping blocks. Workers on parental leave would keep earning annual leave and be paid it in full, and the government would pay KiwiSaver contributions on their parental leave pay.

• Party claimThe party says paid parental leave would rise to 27 weeks from 1 July 2027, 28 weeks from 1 July 2028 and 30 weeks from 1 July 2029.
• Party claimThe party says its long-term goal is 40 weeks of paid parental leave.
• Party claimThe party says full holiday pay and KiwiSaver contributions for parents on leave would start from 1 July 2027.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · New Zealand National Party

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NZ First would keep the temporary $50 a week boost to the in-work tax credit, a Working for Families payment for working parents, and add another $70 a week. It would also raise the minimum wage by at least inflation every year of the next term of government.

• Party claimThe party says the in-work tax credit would rise to $120 a week, made up of the current $50 temporary boost made permanent plus an extra $70.
• Party claimThe party says this would cost an estimated $500 to $600 million a year.
• Party claimThe party says the minimum wage would rise by at least inflation in every year of the next term of government.
• Party claimThe party says it was responsible for yearly minimum wage increases in three governments, in 2005, 2017 and 2023.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · New Zealand First

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NZ First would pay the Kiwi Kids Grant, $5,000 a year for each of a family's first three children during their first three years. Every eligible family would get it whatever their income, it would not be taxed, and it would be paid monthly through IRD on top of existing support, with the option of taking a first child's first year as a lump sum. At least one parent would have to be a New Zealand citizen.

• Party claimThe party says the grant would pay $5,000 a year for each of a family's first three children for their first three years.
• Party claimThe party says the grant would cost an estimated $400 million by the third year, once the full cycle is established.
• Party claimThe party says births to citizens fell from 52,506 in 2006 to 36,351 in 2025, and the birth rate is 1.53 births per person against a replacement rate of 2.1.
• Party claimThe party says births to non-citizens rose from 8,001 in 2006 to 14,380 last year, from 13% to 28% of all births.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · New Zealand First

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Te Pāti Māori would end what it calls "the pipeline that removes Māori children from their people". It would restore the authority of whānau (families) and invest in care led by whānau. It would also make the state accountable for harm caused when children are uplifted (taken into state care) and placed with carers.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · Te Pāti Māori

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ACT says children should first learn to turn up and to read, write and do maths, and parents should see their child's progress and have another option when a school is not working. It backs clear standards, honest reporting and more freedom for schools that get results, and says it brought back charter schools, which get public funding to try different approaches. Its first commitments for 2026 deal with the cost of compulsory school uniforms and rural school buses that pass children while they have empty seats.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · ACT New Zealand

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The Greens would pay students a weekly amount while they do compulsory placements in courses such as nursing, teaching and social work. The payment would go through StudyLink and sit on top of any student loan living costs, Student Allowance or other support. Students who must relocate for a placement would also get a $1,500 relocation payment. The release does not give a start date.

• Party claimThe Greens say the weekly payment would be $380, paid on top of any student loan living costs, Student Allowance or other support, for the length of compulsory placements.
• Party claimThe Greens say students who must relocate for a placement would get a $1,500 relocation payment covering some of their costs.
• Party claimThe Greens say the indicative cost, based on the best publicly available information, is $74.67m in 2027/28, $77.51m in 2028/29, $78.78m in 2029/30 and $80.43m in 2030/31.

Announced 16 Oct 2026 · Scoop (Green Party press release) · Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand

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The Green Party says it would abolish the training wage, which lets employers pay some apprentices less than the adult minimum wage. It would give each apprenticeship a $2,000 grant for tools, uniforms and course materials. Employers whose apprentices finish their qualifications would get a $2,000 payment, and more money would go to Māori and Pasifika-led training. The Herald story does not say when it would start.

• Party claimThe party says it would abolish the training wage and provide a $2,000 equipment grant for each apprenticeship, to cover tools, uniforms and course materials.
• Party claimThe party says employers whose apprentices complete their qualifications would receive $2,000.
• Party claimThe party says an extra $30 million a year would go to Māori and Pasifika-led training, including pastoral support, job matching and first-job assistance.
• Party claimThe party says the package would cost $117.35 million a year, and that Infometrics verified the figures.

Announced 16 Oct 2026 · Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand · NZ Herald · RNZ

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The Greens would make early childhood education free, provide it as a public good like schooling, and stop for-profit corporate operators. They would reset the Government's curriculum and assessment changes, widen who can get learning support, and expand Ka Ora, Ka Ako as a first step towards a locally made lunch for every school student. They would also work towards a Māori Education Authority for Māori-medium and Kaupapa Māori education, and support fair pay and staffing for teachers.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand

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The Greens would pay all students, including postgraduates, a universal student income, and pay at least the living wage on courses with work placements. They would overhaul tertiary funding, give polytechnics enough funding and strong local control, expand free apprenticeships, cut student loan repayments, and work towards fees-free study and writing off student debt. They would also require tertiary institutions to uphold Te Tiriti o Waitangi, fully fund Whare Wānanga, and make student union membership the default again.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand

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Labour would extend Apprenticeship Boost, which pays employers who take on apprentices, from one year to two years. New apprentices would get a grant towards tools, kit, uniforms and course materials, five more trades would become eligible, and a mentoring pilot would support apprentices and employers. The grant, new trades and pilot would start on 1 July 2027, and the longer employer payments on 1 July 2028.

• Party claimThe party says employers would get $500 a month for two years instead of one.
• Party claimThe party says new apprentices would get a $1,000 toolbox grant.
• Party claimThe party says five trades would be added to the scheme: road construction, water and sanitary engineering, personal services, sales and marketing, and sports and recreation.
• Party claimThe party says the grant, new trades and mentoring pilot would start on 1 July 2027, and two-year employer payments on 1 July 2028.
• Party claimThe party says the cost would average $56.5 million a year over four years, rising from $21 million in 2027/28 to $71.5 million in 2030/31.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · New Zealand Labour Party

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Labour would take 10% off the student loan balances of eligible New Zealand-based borrowers who are up to date with their loan obligations. People who have finished study would get the cut on 1 April 2027. Current and future students would get it after living in New Zealand for three years after their study ends, and any balance of $2,000 or less left then would be written off. People who studied under Fees Free would not be eligible.

• Party claimThe party says borrowers who have finished study would get the 10% cut on 1 April 2027.
• Party claimThe party says current and future students would qualify after three years in New Zealand after study, with balances of $2,000 or less written off, and the first would qualify in 2031.
• Party claimThe party says the policy would cost nearly $40 million a year once fully running from 2031, based on the fair value of the loans.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · New Zealand Labour Party

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Labour would set up a contestable grant fund for Māori providers, such as marae and iwi trusts, to design and run training that links skills and recognised qualifications to jobs with local employers. Training would include mentoring and practical help so people finish it and keep work. It would be open to Māori of all ages and would start as soon as possible after Budget 2027.

• Party claimThe party says the programme would start as soon as possible after Budget 2027 and cost $21 million a year, paid for through reprioritisation and existing baselines.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · New Zealand Labour Party

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National would check every child before they start school, set clearer milestones in early childhood education and report them to parents, and expand early intervention support. It would ban screens and personal devices in early childhood education, set tight screen limits in Years 1 to 3, and require students to stay at school until they finish Year 11 or turn 16, whichever is later. It would replace NCEA with new qualifications and add learning support coordinators and teacher-aide hours.

• Party claimThe party says NCEA would be replaced with new qualifications from 2028.
• Party claimThe party says all schools with Year 1 to 8 students would have a Learning Support Coordinator from 2028.
• Party claimThe party says teacher-aide support would build to two million extra hours every year from 2028.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · New Zealand National Party

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National's "Back Pocket Boost for Graduates" would cut the share of income that borrowers living in New Zealand must pay towards their student loan, from 12% to 10%, from 1 April 2027. Borrowers living overseas would pay more interest, and those who leave New Zealand for good would have to clear their loan before taking money out of KiwiSaver. Arrest warrants could be sought for serious, ongoing failure to repay, without having to prove the borrower knowingly refused to pay.

• Party claimThe party says the repayment rate would fall from 12 per cent to 10 per cent from 1 April 2027.
• Party claimThe party says a borrower earning $75,000 a year would keep about $39 more a fortnight, or around $1,000 a year.
• Party claimThe party says a borrower earning $80,000 would keep about $43 more a fortnight (around $1,100 a year), and one earning $100,000 about $58 more (around $1,500 a year).
• Party claimThe party says interest on overseas-based borrowers' balances would rise by 1 percentage point, to 6.6 per cent.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · New Zealand National Party

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Opportunity would work across Parliament on a long-term education plan, built with educators, learners and families and grounded in Te Tiriti o Waitangi, with an independent council rather than politicians setting the curriculum and assessment. Within the plan it would push for action on teacher workload, pay and workforce planning, fund ongoing training for teachers and restore the Independent Teaching Council. It would also push for higher staff, space and education standards in early childhood education, more te reo Māori learning and upgraded polytechs.

• Party claimThe party says the education plan would run for 10 years and be agreed across parties.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · The Opportunity Party

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Te Pāti Māori would build education authority and solutions led by Māori, and embed mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge) properly across learning. It would remove barriers that keep whānau out of education and training, and support Māori governance and decision-making in education.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · Te Pāti Māori

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ACT would repeal the Zero Carbon Act and its 2050 net zero target, and tie New Zealand's emissions cap to a trade-weighted average of its major trading partners. It would remove the minimum price at Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auctions and refund all net auction revenue to households; ACT says the ETS costs an average household about $478 a year. It would close the Climate Change Commission, saving what ACT puts at $14 to 15 million a year, and move its monitoring to a ministry. It opposes new climate taxes, including a tax on agricultural emissions. It would renegotiate the Paris commitment and says New Zealand "should be prepared to leave" if that fails. The biggest tradeoff: no auction floor and auction revenue returned to households, but trade risk if New Zealand leaves Paris and, if the carbon price falls, less price pressure on emitters to cut emissions.

As at 17 Oct 2026 · Full entry with sources · All seven parties' answers

ACT opposes solar subsidies; energy spokesperson Simon Court says "if solar stacks up, Kiwis are going to invest without handouts". Its election policy would let households sell the power they generate to a different company from the one they buy from, or to local businesses and community schemes, with metering, network charges and consumer protections. It would allow households to export more power where the network has room, make lines companies explain and justify restrictions, and require them to test major upgrades against options such as batteries. ACT has not published a cost or start date. The biggest tradeoff: ACT proposes no public spending on household solar, so households would still pay the upfront cost themselves; it has not said who would bear network costs from more exports.

As at 17 Oct 2026 · Full entry with sources · All seven parties' answers

ACT's electricity policy, released on 18 September 2026, would keep whole the companies that both generate and sell power; energy spokesperson Simon Court says breaking them apart would "shatter the confidence of anyone seeking to invest in growing capacity". It would strengthen enforcement where companies misuse market power. Private investors could build, own and operate new transmission lines connected to the National Grid, paid for through voluntary agreements with the generators and customers who use them. Customers could hire competing accredited contractors for connection work, and lines companies would have to test major upgrades against options such as batteries before charging consumers. ACT has not said whether it supports building the LNG terminal, or published a cost or start date. The biggest tradeoff: the plan keeps the gentailers' combined structure and opens lines work to competing providers, but how its market power enforcement would work is not yet detailed.

As at 17 Oct 2026 · Full entry with sources · All seven parties' answers

ACT says it would lift the on-the-spot fine for illegally dumping rubbish and punish people who use land as their own tip. Repeat offenders would pay more, and courts could give higher penalties for the worst cases. ACT says the current fine is too low to put people off. The release does not say when the change would start.

• Party claimThe party says it would raise the infringement fee for illegal rubbish dumping from $400 to $1,000.
• Party claimThe party says repeat offenders would face fines of $2,000, and courts could impose higher penalties for the most serious offences.
• Party claimThe party says thousands of tonnes of illegally dumped waste are collected each year, with clean-up costs running into the millions.

Announced 16 Oct 2026 · ACT New Zealand

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ACT would set national standards for everyday farm work, such as crop rotation, water storage, small-scale solar, drain maintenance and culverts. The aim is to cut red tape, so routine jobs no longer need costly consent processes under the Resource Management Act. ACT would also set a national method for freshwater limits and remove Te Mana o te Wai. ACT says National now backs the plan, and it has not given a start date.

• Party claimThe party says routine farm work can face consent processes that cost "tens of thousands of dollars".
• Party claimThe party says it first announced the national standards about two weeks before 16 October 2026, at the Rural Issues debate in Hamilton.

Announced 16 Oct 2026 · ACT New Zealand

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ACT would put hunters in charge of managing game animals within firm conservation limits, treating them as partners in conservation, while the Department of Conservation keeps its wider role. It would back volunteers, improve access to public land and protect lawful hunting from dangerous interference. Where hunters and community groups can do the work, ACT would give them the authority and funding to do it.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · ACT New Zealand

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The Greens would strengthen the Zero Carbon Act so the government Budget process must be consistent with limiting warming to 1.5°C, gross emissions reduction targets (before forests are counted) and international commitments. The Climate Change Commission would set the number of units in the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). Free units for industry would be phased out and forestry offsets removed, with ETS money going to a fund to cut industrial emissions. Farm emissions would be priced to meet the methane targets, with support for farmers. The Greens would meet the Paris pledges at home and, if needed, through projects overseas, and show the pledge's cost in the government's accounts. No costs or start dates are given. The biggest tradeoff: a cap on gross emissions with farming priced, but new costs for farmers and for industries that lose free units.

As at 17 Oct 2026 · Full entry with sources · All seven parties' answers

The Greens would set up a loan scheme, owned 20% by central government and 80% by councils and the Local Government Funding Agency, offering homeowners loans over 15 to 30 years for solar, batteries and other electrification. The government would pay the interest. Loans would be tied to the property and repaid through a levy; some owners could defer repayment until they sell. Renters would get a right to plug-in solar, and solar would go on more than half of public homes within four years. The party costs the loans at about $429 million over four years and says its wider energy package would be paid for by its proposed wealth tax and other tax changes. The biggest tradeoff: borrowers pay no interest, but the government pays it over loans of 15 to 30 years, beyond the four years costed.

As at 17 Oct 2026 · Full entry with sources · All seven parties' answers

The Greens would set up Kiwipower, a publicly owned Crown entity that would invest in new renewable backup ("firming") power such as geothermal, batteries and pumped hydro. It would also contract firming, including a required share from the big power companies, for independent generators, retailers and energy users. The Greens cost Kiwipower at $980 million over four years, to be paid for, they say, by their proposed Super Rich Tax. They would cancel the LNG terminal, create a single energy regulator and a Ministry for Energy, and put public wellbeing outcomes into energy law. A Green MP's member's bill, not the manifesto, would require large generator-retailers to run generation and retail as separate companies. No start date is given. The biggest tradeoff: independent retailers could buy backup power from Kiwipower, but how much firming it would buy, at what price, and on what timetable are not published.

As at 17 Oct 2026 · Full entry with sources · All seven parties' answers

The Greens would make sure climate adaptation planning affirms tino rangatiratanga (Māori self-determination), with a Māori Climate Resilience Fund. They would widen the Natural Hazards Commission to cover climate-related weather events and to manage community-led adaptation and moving away from risky places. They would favour long-term, nature-based solutions over short-term engineering, set up a fund for central and local government adaptation work, and work with Pacific neighbours on adaptation.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand

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The Greens would reform conservation and wildlife laws to give effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi, support Indigenous-led care of the land, and focus the system on stopping and reversing nature loss. They would ban new mining on conservation land, including stewardship land, and put more money into Jobs for Nature (Mahi mō te Taiao), which pays for nature work and creates regional jobs. They would legally protect all remaining natural wetlands, fund the action plan for the national biodiversity strategy, and raise public conservation funding, including support for Predator Free 2050.

• Party claimThe Greens say they would work towards protecting 30% of land and oceans.
• Party claimThe Greens say they would restore at least 30% of degraded wetland area.
• Party claimThe Greens say more Jobs for Nature funding would create thousands of regional jobs.
• Party claimThe Greens say they would support the Predator Free 2050 goal.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand

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The Greens would change the law so the power system puts public wellbeing ahead of profits, and set up a renewable energy infrastructure agency to secure supply and lower prices. They would make it easier for households, marae and suitable public buildings to have solar panels and batteries, and support community energy planning. They would ban new fossil fuel extraction, end fossil fuel subsidies, cancel the liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal, and create a single energy regulator and a Ministry for Energy.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand

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The Greens would set evidence-based limits for the health of ecosystems and make tangata whenua shared decision-makers in the new resource management system. They would repeal the Fast-track Approvals Act and cancel fast-track consents for new coal, gold and seabed mining. They would bring back a standalone Ministry for the Environment, give the Environmental Protection Authority more resources, update air quality standards, and work towards wiping out wilding pines, Caulerpa and yellow-legged hornets.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand

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The Greens would give farmers more support, such as low-interest loans and grants, to move to more sustainable production. They would use New Zealand-grown natural fibres such as wool in schools and public buildings, ban the animal feed palm kernel expeller, and put strong controls on clear-felling of plantation forests. They would also set up a National Soil Strategy and a voluntary biodiversity credits scheme as an alternative to the Emissions Trading Scheme for landowners to earn money.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand

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The Greens would set evidence-based national minimum standards for freshwater health, including a lower limit for nitrate in drinking water, and bring back Te Mana o Te Wai, a rule that puts the health of water first in decisions. They would end public funding for big new irrigation and dam projects, tighten rules on wastewater so lakes, rivers and beaches stay swimmable, and fund the drinking water regulator to monitor and enforce the protection of drinking water sources. They would also phase out synthetic nitrogen fertiliser and act to reduce stocking rates catchment by catchment.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand

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The Greens would protect at least 30% of New Zealand's ocean territory by 2030 by reforming marine protected area laws, including tikanga-led tools. They would phase out damaging fishing methods, starting with a ban on bottom trawling on seamounts, ban set netting, dredging and seabed mining, and put cameras on the whole fishing fleet to cut bycatch of protected species. They would also review the Quota Management System and move towards managing fisheries as whole ecosystems.

• Party claimThe Greens say they would protect at least 30% of New Zealand's ocean territory by 2030.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand

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The Greens would make product stewardship compulsory, start a drink container return scheme, phase out problem products, and bring in a full right to repair. They would spend waste levy money on cutting waste, raise the levy, charge one rate across all landfills, and put a moratorium on waste-to-energy plants. They would also set binding waste reduction targets through reform of the Waste Minimisation Act and favour local, mana whenua and community-led resource recovery.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand

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Labour says it is "fully committed" to the Paris Agreement and would put New Zealand "on course" to meet its targets. It says it would "urgently review" the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), which it says is "broken" because the carbon price is too low. Labour says the review would favour "genuine emissions reductions" over offsets, reconsider forestry's place in the scheme, write rules to stop whole farms being converted to forestry, and make sure the ETS supports the Paris targets. New forestry registrations would be paused during the review. Labour would not price farm emissions by default; Chris Hipkins has said pricing is "not ruled out for all time". No cost or timetable is given. The biggest tradeoff: an ETS geared to direct cuts with no default farm price, but the effect on household and business costs depends on a carbon price Labour has not set.

As at 17 Oct 2026 · Full entry with sources · All seven parties' answers

Labour's SolarSaver would offer two government-backed loans: one through lines companies at no more than the regulated cost of capital (about 6.5%, Megan Woods says), repaid on the power bill, and one through a council scheme repaid through rates, which Labour says was designed to offer rates below bank floating rates; no rate has been published. Labour says repayments would be set below expected bill savings. Low- and middle-income homeowners and renters could get a subsidy of up to $3,000. Renters could use plug-in panels after a rule change. There would also be a $30 million community battery fund and free EECA advice. Labour costs the package at $160 million over four years, from the government's Gas Security Fund. The biggest tradeoff: the subsidy lowers upfront costs for some households, but it uses money set aside for gas field investment, and who qualifies is unpublished.

As at 17 Oct 2026 · Full entry with sources · All seven parties' answers

Labour would not go ahead with the Government's LNG import terminal if it takes office before a contract is signed; it has not said what it would do if one is signed. Chris Hipkins says Labour would invest in New Zealand renewable power instead. Labour's "Banning Price Gouging" law would cover large companies with market power, including in energy: prices well above the cost of supply, or well above what a competitive market would charge, could bring penalties and orders to repay customers, with the Commerce Commission investigating. Hipkins has said he is "leaving the door open" to fundamental changes to the electricity market, but Labour has not proposed splitting the gentailers. No costs or dates are published. The biggest tradeoff: no long-term commitment to imported gas, but Labour has not said which renewable projects it would back, at what cost, or what would cover dry years.

As at 17 Oct 2026 · Full entry with sources · All seven parties' answers

National would keep New Zealand in the Paris Agreement, which Christopher Luxon has made a bottom line in coalition talks. It would keep the 2050 net zero target and the methane target it set in 2025 (a 14 to 24% cut below 2017 levels by 2050, reviewed in 2040). Farm emissions would not be priced; National relies on technology and says over $400 million is being invested with industry. Luxon says the government will "do everything we can" on the 2030 pledge but is not "sending billions of dollars offshore" for credits. National has not said it would change the Climate Change Commission; in 2025 the government said the Commission would no longer have to evaluate emissions reduction plans. The biggest tradeoff: no new cost on farmers and no stated plan to buy overseas credits, but government estimates put the 2030 methane cut at 7.9%, short of the 10% target.

As at 17 Oct 2026 · Full entry with sources · All seven parties' answers

National's Home Energy Fund would be a lending platform owned by central government and the councils that choose to join. It would pay an approved installer upfront, and the homeowner would repay the loan over ten years through their rates, or when they sell; a National spokesperson put the rate at about 2% below floating. Loans would cover solar, batteries and other electrification, for ratepayers with at least 20% equity in their home. The Crown would put in $7 million for a 20% share; councils and the Local Government Funding Agency would provide the rest. Its planning reforms would also let owners install rooftop solar without a consent. No start date has been given. The biggest tradeoff: ratepayers with enough equity could spread the cost over ten years, but renters, owners with less equity and those in councils that do not join would miss out.

As at 17 Oct 2026 · Full entry with sources · All seven parties' answers

National's nine-point plan, Electrify NZ 2.0, would let developers and large users build and own transmission lines, let customers choose accredited contractors for connections, and require large generators to take part in regular auctions of a standard backup power contract for dry years. It would review the law that regulates lines charges and make affordability a core objective of the Electricity Authority. Christopher Luxon says splitting the gentailers "would drive a lot of uncertainty". From its record in government, National's ministers started LNG procurement and backed new generation by the Crown-majority power companies. National has not published a cost or dates for these points. The biggest tradeoff: the plan keeps the gentailers whole and adds backup power auctions and private transmission, which National says would increase competition, but it gives no estimate of bill savings, and who pays for the LNG terminal is not settled.

As at 17 Oct 2026 · Full entry with sources · All seven parties' answers

National says that if it is re-elected, shops could sell plug-in solar panels off the shelf within the first six months of its term. The party says this would let renters and apartment dwellers make their own power. It says government agencies are working on safety rules, together with Australia. The release also describes National's Home Energy Fund, which would pay upfront for rooftop solar and other upgrades that homeowners repay through their rates.

• Party claimThe party says shops could sell plug-in solar panels off the shelf within the first six months of a re-elected National Government.
• Party claimThe party says rooftop solar can save the average household "$1,000 or more a year" on power.
• Party claimThe party says solar connections are up 47 per cent since National took office.
• Party claimThe party says renewable generation built in the past three years exceeds that of the previous eight years, and that eight renewable energy projects have been approved.
• Party claimThe party says its Home Energy Fund would cover the upfront cost of rooftop solar, batteries, insulation and heat pumps, repaid by homeowners through rates at a low interest rate.

Announced 15 Oct 2026 · New Zealand National Party

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National would create a new marine reserve near Waiheke Island, make the Goat Island/Te Hāwere-a-Maki reserve bigger, and ban commercial fishing in the Hauraki Gulf's High Protection Areas. It would rule out a recreational fishing licence, stop the commercial sale of marlin and give recreational fishers a say in reforms. It would also protect more of New Zealand's Exclusive Economic Zone, keep the ban on taking shellfish from rockpools, and raise penalties for going over catch limits.

• Party claimThe party says it would set up a $20 million Fish Tech Innovation Fund.
• Party claimThe party says protected areas in the Exclusive Economic Zone would rise from 32% to 50% by 2040.
• Party claimThe party says it would increase the number of Honorary Fisheries Officers to 200.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · New Zealand National Party

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National would set up a wild animal management framework and recognise in law introduced species with recreational, economic, environmental or cultural value, so they are not treated as pests just because they were introduced. The Game Animal Council would manage valued game animals, Fish & Game would be modernised, and the 1993 Tahr Control Plan would be replaced with one made with tahr hunters. National would also open more suitable Crown land to hunting and fishing, and make it simpler to export hunting trophies.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · New Zealand National Party

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NZ First would take New Zealand out of the Paris Agreement "altogether". It argues that New Zealand produces about 0.17% of global emissions, that four countries produce about 60% of the world's carbon dioxide, and that money spent meeting Paris pledges would be better spent on the environment at home. It says that if New Zealand honours its Paris obligations, "up to $22 billion" of taxpayers' money could go offshore. NZ First has also said it would review the Climate Change Commission. Its policy does not say what would happen to the Zero Carbon Act targets, the Emissions Trading Scheme or farm emissions, and gives no start date. The biggest tradeoff: no overseas credit costs or Paris obligations, but trade risk under the EU agreement's Paris clause.

As at 17 Oct 2026 · Full entry with sources · All seven parties' answers

NZ First's main electricity policy would split the large power companies into separate generators and retailers. Within it, the party says "if you generate power at home like solar, you should be able to sell it back to the grid at the same price you pay for it". It has not said how that price would be set. NZ First has not proposed loans or subsidies for household solar. Associate Energy Minister Shane Jones gives the party's reason: "we're not keen on individual houses, because we fear middle class capture"; he prefers solar on marae, council buildings and large commercial roofs. No cost or start date has been published. The biggest tradeoff: solar owners would be paid more for exports, but with no design published it is unclear who would pay the difference.

As at 17 Oct 2026 · Full entry with sources · All seven parties' answers

NZ First would split the four large power companies into separate generators and retailers. Winston Peters said they should become separate legal entities, and "We're not into wholesale nationalisation". It would replace the current wholesale system, in which the highest-priced offer needed sets the price for all, so that companies "cannot hold back supply just to drive prices higher"; it would also guarantee long-term, fixed-price contracts for new power stations, whose power would be used first. Shane Jones says the split would be the first item in any coalition negotiations. NZ First has not published a cost, a timetable or how shareholders would be compensated, and has not stated a position on the LNG terminal. The biggest tradeoff: the split separates making power from selling it, but who would guarantee the fixed-price contracts and what the split would cost are not set out.

As at 17 Oct 2026 · Full entry with sources · All seven parties' answers

NZ First would spend $1 billion over a term of government on a national survey of what lies under the land and seabed. It would map possible oil, gas, geothermal and carbon dioxide storage sites in one national dataset, and set rules for developing them. Explorers would carry the risk of proving fields, and as production grew the government would charge a royalty of more than 50% on everything extracted. The party says the money would go to ending gas shortfalls, lowering fuel costs, exports, a sovereign fund on the Norwegian model and regional industry.

• Party claimThe party says the initial investment would be $1 billion over the term of government.
• Party claimThe party says first results would come within twelve months, the highest-ranked basins would be surveyed with wells identified within 24 months, and New Zealand could have a path to supplying its own energy, and exporting it, within six years.
• Party claimThe party says analysis shows the odds of a major commercial discovery are "well above ninety percent".
• Party claimThe party says it would place a royalty "well above 50%" on all extractions as production matures.
• Party claimThe party says New Zealand has ten prospective basins.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · New Zealand First

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Opportunity makes recommitting to the Paris Agreement and protecting the Climate Change Commission's role one of its five bottom lines for any coalition. It would "restore the integrity" of the Paris pledge and follow the Commission's advice on meeting the 2050 targets. It proposes a cap-and-trade scheme for farm methane and nitrous oxide, and changes to Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) pricing and forestry rules; news reports say it would also give the Commission power over ETS price controls and budgets. It would set up a $5 billion Climate Resilience Fund and a $1 billion fund, backed by ETS revenue, to move industry off coal and gas. No start dates are given. The biggest tradeoff: a cap on farm methane and nitrous oxide and new climate funds, but new costs for farmers and emitters.

As at 17 Oct 2026 · Full entry with sources · All seven parties' answers

Opportunity would set up a national Ratepayer Assistance Scheme run by local government, offering loans the party describes as low-interest for home electrification, tied to each rateable property. The party says the debt, borrowed through the Local Government Funding Agency, would sit off council and government books. It would also double the Warmer Kiwi Homes programme to about $200 million a year and extend it to solar and electric appliances for low-income households, and co-invest in community-owned generation and storage of up to 15 MW. The party puts the cost of running the loans at about $6 million a year, paid, with the rest of its energy plan, from Crown power company dividends of about $500 million a year. Loan rates, terms and a start date are not published. The biggest tradeoff: the plan uses existing dividends, but that money would no longer be available for other government spending.

As at 17 Oct 2026 · Full entry with sources · All seven parties' answers

Opportunity would seek cross-party agreement to a 25-year energy strategy and 30 gigawatts of generation capacity by 2050. A Capacity Investment Scheme, modelled on Australia's, would tender long-term government contracts guaranteeing minimum revenue for new renewables and storage in their second decade, with revenue above a ceiling price shared with the government. It would merge five energy agencies into one regulator and a Ministry of Energy, group the 29 lines companies into six to eight, change their revenue rules, and ease consents for new generation. It opposes splitting the gentailers and the LNG terminal. Running costs would come from about $500 million a year of Crown power company dividends, which the party says would need replacing, such as by a land value tax. No start dates are given. The biggest tradeoff: guaranteed revenue for new generators, but the Crown carries the cost if power prices fall sharply.

As at 17 Oct 2026 · Full entry with sources · All seven parties' answers

Opportunity's Abundant Energy policy would seek cross-party agreement on how much electricity New Zealand should be able to generate by 2050, and set up a scheme to bring in investment in new generation. It would merge the five energy regulators into one and bring the energy distributors under fewer managers. Households could get low-interest loans to switch to electric through the Ratepayer Assistance Scheme, and the party would fund community energy projects, insulate homes and electrify public transport.

• Party claimThe party says New Zealand spends over $20 billion a year buying fossil fuels.
• Party claimThe party says a household that goes electric at home would be $3,200 a year better off.
• Party claimThe party says it would seek cross-party agreement to a 30GW total capacity target for 2050.
• Party claimThe party says it would consolidate management of the 29 energy distributors into no more than 8.
• Party claimThe party says running costs would come from dividends on the Government's stake in power companies, currently around $500 million a year, and that other revenue, such as a land value tax, would be needed to replace that money in the Crown's accounts.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · The Opportunity Party

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Opportunity would offer low-interest loans and tax breaks to help homes, businesses and transport fleets switch to electricity, restore climate reporting rules for companies, and help farmers cut methane and nitrous oxide through cap-and-trade systems, biodiversity markets and new technology. It would set up a national insurance support framework to manage the retreat of coastal and flood-prone communities, and require clear climate-risk information on new homes, mortgages and insurance. It would change carbon pricing and forestry settings in the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), and follow the Climate Change Commission's advice on meeting the 2050 targets.

• Party claimThe party says it would create a $5 billion Climate Resilience Fund, including $500 million for nature-based solutions.
• Party claimThe party says it would create a $1 billion fund, backed by ETS revenue, to move industry off coal and gas.
• Party claimThe party says New Zealand ranked 44th out of 67 countries for climate and environmental protections in 2026.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · The Opportunity Party

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Opportunity would increase conservation funding, help landowners protect Significant Natural Areas through biodiversity credit markets, and create a national native forestry strategy. It would reinstate Te Mana o te Wai, which puts the health of waterways first in freshwater policy, enforce more strongly against polluters and use cap-and-trade systems for nitrate and phosphate pollution. It would build rainwater harvesting into the Building Code, bring in a national container deposit scheme, and limit ministers' power to override environmental checks on fast-track projects.

• Party claimThe party says it would set up a $500 million Nature-based Solutions Fund for councils, iwi, hapū and communities.
• Party claimThe party says half of New Zealand's waterways are unswimmable and nearly 4,000 native species face extinction.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · The Opportunity Party

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Opportunity would manage fisheries for whole ecosystems rather than single species, raise the level fish stocks must be kept at, put cameras on commercial fishing boats and phase out bottom trawling. It would reform the Marine Reserves Act, work with coastal communities on marine protection and oppose all seabed mining. It would also expand sustainable aquaculture, tourism and marine biotechnology, support iwi- and hapū-led projects, and bring back an oceans secretariat.

• Party claimThe party says 30% of New Zealand's ocean territory would be protected as marine reserve by 2035.
• Party claimThe party says the policy would restore more than 10,000 hectares of coastal habitat.
• Party claimThe party says the policy would bring in $500 million a year in extra blue economy revenue from sustainable practices.
• Party claimThe party says the short-term cost to government would be no more than $100 million a year.
• Party claimThe party says it would raise sustainability baselines for fish stocks from 40% to 50% of virgin biomass.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · The Opportunity Party

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Te Pāti Māori's 2026 policy manifesto would set up a $1 billion Energy Sovereignty Fund offering grants, concessional finance, guarantees, equity and co-investment, investing in reducing household energy costs, marae and papakāinga resilience, Māori-owned renewable generation, and community batteries and microgrids. It would support access to solar and batteries through "long-term, low-cost and zero-interest finance" and the Ratepayer Assistance Scheme, a council loan model, and would set a "fair-value framework" so households are "properly paid" for power they send back to the grid. Its climate section adds a $1 billion Pūngao Auaha Fund to put solar and insulation on marae, kura, papakāinga and housing. It has not published who would provide the finance, how export payments would be set, a funding source or a start date. The biggest tradeoff: communities would take ownership stakes in energy, but how much of the money would reach individual households is not known.

As at 17 Oct 2026 · Full entry with sources · All seven parties' answers

Te Pāti Māori would set up a $1 billion Energy Sovereignty Fund to build Māori and community-owned energy assets, offering grants, concessional finance, guarantees, equity and co-investment to hapū, iwi, marae, Māori landowners and communities. It would develop a long-term National Energy Plan and give regulators stronger powers to act against excessive pricing and profits. It opposes the LNG terminal, saying "the answer is not to plant a gas terminal on our coastline", and would direct the state-owned power companies to treat dry-year risk as a public obligation. It sets "a pathway to Energy Sovereignty by 2035" but has not said how the fund would be paid for, and its releases do not define "excessive". It has not stated a position on splitting the gentailers. The biggest tradeoff: hapū, iwi and communities would own new generation, but the fund's source of money and timetable are not published.

As at 17 Oct 2026 · Full entry with sources · All seven parties' answers

Te Pāti Māori would protect whenua (land) and moana (sea) from extractive industries, including by banning seabed mining. It would invest in climate resilience for the communities most at risk. It would also back regenerative and sustainable approaches in line with Māori values.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · Te Pāti Māori

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Te Pāti Māori would set up a $1 billion fund for energy sovereignty and a national plan for energy independence. It would build a Māori energy workforce and industry, build energy capability in rural areas, and regulate the energy system in the public interest.

• Party claimThe party says it would establish a $1 billion Energy Sovereignty Fund.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · Te Pāti Māori

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Te Pāti Māori would assert Māori rights and authority over freshwater. It would stop decisions being made without Māori consent, and make sure resources are protected and benefits are shared fairly.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · Te Pāti Māori

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ACT would bring in three strikes for burglary: a third burglary conviction would mean at least three years in prison, with no parole, home detention or early release. It would let residents convicted of offences carrying 10 years or more be deported however long they have lived here. It would fund a target of 100,000 more rural police patrol hours a year, and let licensed security officers detain some people until police arrive. In government, Karen Chhour led the youth military-style academy law, and Nicole McKee the Arms Act that bars gang members from firearms licences. The biggest tradeoff: ACT says repeat burglars could not offend while in prison, but it puts the cost at up to $200 million, for up to 952 more prisoners.

As at 18 Oct 2026 · Full entry with sources · All seven parties' answers

ACT says stopping crime is the government's first job. It wants stronger penalties for serious and repeat offenders, more protections for victims, and new tools for communities to stand up for themselves. ACT says it wants to be "both tough and smart on crime", choosing the measures that work best.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · ACT New Zealand

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The Greens would let judges decide sentences by abolishing mandatory minimum sentences, life sentences, preventive detention, three strikes and limits on sentence discounts and on home detention. They would fund rehabilitation for anyone convicted of an offence, make tikanga-based and restorative options available to anyone who wants them, expand the Te Ao Mārama court model to all courts, and improve support after release, including housing. They would end military-style academies, raise the age of criminal responsibility to an unstated age, require police to wear body cameras and strengthen the Independent Police Conduct Authority. No 2026 Green statement on the gang laws or police numbers was found. The biggest tradeoff: the Greens say tackling the causes of crime would make communities safer, but their 2026 manifesto gives no cost; the only figure found, the 2025 alternative budget's $770 million from averting prisoner number increases, was not independently costed.

As at 18 Oct 2026 · Full entry with sources · All seven parties' answers

The Greens would replace the Misuse of Drugs Act with a law that treats drug use as a health issue and allows regulated access to cannabis for personal use. They would spend more on harm reduction and addiction support, license psychedelic treatment, pass Good Samaritan laws so people can seek help for an overdose without fear of punishment, and fund more naloxone and supervised consumption spaces. They would also fund help to quit smoking and vaping, replace the 2025 drug-driving law with an approach based on impairment from any cause, and phase out alcohol advertising and sponsorship.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand

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The Greens would fund rehabilitation for anyone convicted of an offence, offer tikanga-based and restorative options such as Te Pae Oranga, expand the Te Ao Mārama court model to all courts, and make specialist courts available to everyone who wants them. They would end military-style academies, raise the age of criminal responsibility, require body cameras for frontline police, and give the Independent Police Conduct Authority more power. They would also scrap mandatory minimum sentences, life sentences, preventive detention and three strikes, and carry out the Royal Commission recommendations on the Christchurch mosque attacks and on abuse in care.

• Party claimThe Greens say they would increase the Steps to Freedom Grant to cover at least 30 years of inflation.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand

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The Greens would fund the action plan for Te Aorerekura, the national strategy to eliminate family and sexual violence, and fund kaupapa Māori and community-led responses designed by the groups most affected. They would make coercive control a crime, change the legal definition of consent so it must be free and can be withdrawn at any time, and remove the reluctant consent defence. They would also restore relationship and sexuality teaching guidelines in all schools, and fund more counselling for victims, whānau and others involved in the justice system.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand

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Labour has not released a law and order policy; its policy page and fiscal plan have none, so this entry draws on statements by its spokespeople. Children's spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime said Labour would scrap the military-style academy law if it won the election. Justice spokesperson Camilla Belich said she "would be very surprised" if Labour kept supporting three strikes, but did not commit to repealing it, and said Labour would not repeal everything the government has done. Corrections spokesperson Tracey McLellan said prisons "are a necessary measure for corrections", and Chris Hipkins ruled out supporting their abolition. The biggest tradeoff: Labour says most participants in the first academy pilot reoffended, but it has not said what it would offer serious young offenders instead.

As at 18 Oct 2026 · Full entry with sources · All seven parties' answers

National would stop judges treating good character as a reason for a lighter sentence for any sexual offence, and would create a crime, with up to 10 years in prison, for people present when a child aged 12 or under is killed who do not tell police what they know. It would set up a police team on Auckland's public transport (1News reports 50 officers). In government, its ministers capped sentence discounts in 2025, brought in the gang patch ban in 2024 and funded more prison places as the prison population grew; National has not said it would change these. It would also require consent to sex to be actively given, which is not compared here. The biggest tradeoff: National says "The consequences for the victim remain, regardless of the former reputation of the perpetrator", but it gives no cost or start date for its new sentencing proposals.

As at 18 Oct 2026 · Full entry with sources · All seven parties' answers

National would change the law so that consent to sex must be actively given: a "yes" in words or actions, not just the absence of a "no". Silence would not count as consent, and consent given once would not last forever. Prosecutors would still have to prove beyond reasonable doubt that there was no consent and that the accused did not reasonably believe there was.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · New Zealand National Party

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National would reset Fire and Emergency New Zealand, making it directly accountable to the Minister for Emergency Management and Recovery, cutting bureaucracy and putting a turnaround plan in place. It would require the organisation to insure volunteer firefighters for mental injuries from callouts and for injuries that build up over time. It would deliver the fire engines firefighters need, plan long-term fleet replacement and bring back live fire training, all within existing budgets.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · New Zealand National Party

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National says a re-elected National Government would make it a crime to stay silent and not tell police what you know when a child is murdered. The offence would go in the Crimes Act and carry up to 10 years in prison. It would be an exception to the general right to silence, for exceptional circumstances involving a child's death. The release gives no start date.

• Party claimThe party says the offence would carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
• Party claimThe party says the offence would apply to a person present at a location where a child aged 12 years and under was killed, in cases where it is clear that one or more adults were present (the release elsewhere says "under 12").
• Party claimThe party says it would make the offence under the Crimes Act, for not disclosing information to the police, and would work with legal experts to create an exception to the right to silence only in exceptional circumstances involving a child's death.

Announced 18 Oct 2026 · New Zealand National Party

Compared on: What should change in sentencing, prisons, youth offending, gang laws and policing?

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NZ First's 2026 immigration policy would make non-citizens liable for deportation for any offence that can carry a prison sentence, and deport automatically those found guilty of offences including violent or sexual crimes, fraud, money laundering and migrant exploitation. In June 2026 Newswire reported that NZ First wanted mandatory minimum prison sentences for coward punches. No other 2026 NZ First policy on sentencing, prisons, youth offending, gangs or police was found. It says it demanded the coward-punch laws and tougher penalties for assaulting first responders in its coalition agreement, and Winston Peters says the coalition will shortly complete its commitment to 500 more frontline police; these are decisions of the National-led government, so they are background here. The biggest tradeoff: NZ First would widen deportation liability for offending by non-citizens, but it has not said how many people it would affect or what it would cost.

As at 18 Oct 2026 · Full entry with sources · All seven parties' answers

NZ First would ban the sale and use of fireworks by the public across New Zealand. Its bill would stop the retail sale, making and importing of fireworks for public use, while still allowing approved public displays. The party says the bill is already drafted.

• Party claimThe party says the bill would be tabled in Parliament within the first hundred days of the next government.
• Party claimThe party says the taxpayer "should not be spending millions" on the harm fireworks cause, including ACC and emergency call-out costs.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · New Zealand First

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Opportunity's Smart on Crime plan would offer voluntary help to children and whānau from a child's first report of concern to Oranga Tamariki, and expand specialist courts such as the Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Court, Te Ao Mārama and the Young Adult List. It would widen the Te Pae Oranga programme for low-level adult offenders, fund more restorative justice, and give people leaving prison trade training, case management and mentoring. It would move funding away from the government's military-style academies. No 2026 Opportunity policy on sentencing law, gangs or police numbers was found. The biggest tradeoff: Opportunity says early help would prevent offending before it starts, but it gives no cost, saying only that it would redirect academy funding and part of the growth in Corrections spending.

As at 18 Oct 2026 · Full entry with sources · All seven parties' answers

Opportunity would offer voluntary help to children and whānau as soon as risk signs appear, starting with a child's first Report of Concern to Oranga Tamariki, and expand specialist courts and programmes such as the Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Court. It would regulate recreational cannabis use. It would expand restorative justice, finish rolling out specialist sexual violence courts and review victims' rights in sexual violence cases. People leaving prison would get more trade training, case management for housing and jobs, and mentoring.

• Party claimThe party says more than half of people leaving prison are reconvicted within two years.
• Party claimThe party says pilots of specialist sexual violence courts cut the time to trial by around a third.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · The Opportunity Party

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Te Pāti Māori would abolish prisons by 2040, replacing them with community-based, restorative and tikanga-led alternatives, and says it would not abolish them in the 2026 term. It would set up an independent Māori Justice Authority funded from existing justice budgets, including half of the Corrections, Police and Courts budgets. It would repeal three strikes, the gang laws, the 2025 sentencing changes and the Bail Amendment Act, and restore funding for cultural reports at sentencing. It would close the military-style academies (the manifesto's bootcamps) immediately and youth justice residences by 2030, and raise the age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 16. All police would wear body cameras, and a Māori-grounded body would replace the Independent Police Conduct Authority. The biggest tradeoff: Te Pāti Māori says this would address the causes of offending, but it gives no cost, and no dates for the Māori Justice Authority or the repeals.

As at 18 Oct 2026 · Full entry with sources · All seven parties' answers

Te Pāti Māori would build justice authority and community solutions led by Māori. It would reform laws that, in its words, "criminalise poverty and survival". It would move away from "mass imprisonment" toward what it calls long-term transformation.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · Te Pāti Māori

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ACT would limit the Waitangi Tribunal to historical claims lodged by 1 September 2008, end its inquiries into current policy, and close it once those claims are heard. It sets no deadline but links finishing settlements to 2040. It would add three principles to the Constitution Act: Parliament is sovereign, the rule of law is fundamental, and all are equal before the law. Tikanga could influence court decisions only where Parliament has expressly allowed it; ACT says courts should use it in cases such as disputes between iwi. Cabinet would have to state which Treaty interests a bill engages, and clauses ACT calls "vague" would go. Brooke van Velden says ACT supports abolishing the Māori seats by Act of Parliament. No cost is published. The biggest tradeoff: ACT says Parliament, not a tribunal, would have the final say, but no specialist body would hear Māori claims about current Crown actions.

As at 17 Oct 2026 · Full entry with sources · All seven parties' answers

ACT says rights should not depend on ancestry, politics or group membership, and backs "one person, one vote and one law for all". It would put equal rights in the Constitution Act, protect lawful speech from professional regulators, spend human rights funding on resolving real cases, and make central government small enough for ministers to be held accountable.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · ACT New Zealand

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The Greens would amend the Treaty of Waitangi Act so the te reo Māori text, Te Tiriti, is the authoritative text, read alongside He Whakaputanga, the 1835 Declaration. They would fund the Waitangi Tribunal more and let it make binding recommendations to return Crown and private land to iwi, hapū and whānau, and explore a right of first refusal when private land is sold. They would remove "full and final" wording from the Crown's settlement policy guide, and iwi and hapū would take part in government decisions as partners. The Greens would entrench the Māori seats, let Māori switch rolls at any time, let councils keep Māori wards without polls, and fund a national conversation on constitutional change. No costs or start dates are published. The biggest tradeoff: firmer and more lasting Māori rights in law, but less room for future Parliaments and some private landowners to decide.

As at 17 Oct 2026 · Full entry with sources · All seven parties' answers

The Greens would fund a national conversation on changing the constitution, treating He Whakaputanga and Te Tiriti o Waitangi as founding documents and using the Matike Mai Aotearoa approach for community discussions. They would lower the voting age to 16, let everyone in custody vote, and allow people to enrol up to election day. They would entrench the Māori seats in Parliament, limit political donations to registered voters with a cap, increase public funding of campaigns, and set up a lobbyist register and code of conduct.

• Party claimThe Greens say they would lower the voting age to 16.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand

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The Greens would hand the running of local elections to the Electoral Commission, let 16-year-olds vote in them, and require the single transferable vote system. They would make councils' role as a Te Tiriti partner clear in law and restore councils' ability to keep Māori wards. They would reject the proposed rates cap, give councils new ways to raise money such as a bed levy and congestion charging, hand councils more responsibilities with funding, and make more use of citizens' assemblies.

• Party claimThe Greens say 16-year-olds would be able to vote in local elections.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand

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The Greens would devolve power and resources to tangata whenua so whānau, hapū and iwi make their own decisions, and invest in reducing the inequities Māori face in most social and economic outcomes. They would set up a Marae Resilience Fund for Māori to lead projects for their people, including emergency preparedness. They would end perpetual leases on Māori land, change the Public Works Act so Māori land and land near marae, urupā and wāhi tapu cannot be taken, and expand the learning and use of te reo Māori.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand

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The Greens would amend the Treaty of Waitangi Act to recognise Te Tiriti as the authoritative text, alongside He Whakaputanga, and use Te Tiriti-based decision-making across government so iwi and hapū take part as partners rather than advisors. They would change the Treaty settlements process, including removing "full and final settlement" clauses, ending the "large natural grouping" approach and recognising hapū rangatiratanga. They would give the Waitangi Tribunal more resources and the power to make binding recommendations to return Crown and private land to iwi, hapū and whānau, and help return land outside settlements, including exploring a right of first refusal when private land is sold.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand

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Labour says it would "restore commitments to Te Tiriti o Waitangi in schools", after the government removed school boards' duty to give effect to Te Tiriti. It would vote against the government's bill to narrow or remove Treaty clauses in about 18 laws, and Chris Hipkins says a Labour government would not progress it. Hipkins would keep the Waitangi Tribunal and says a Te Tiriti commission could not overrule Cabinet; Willie Jackson says Labour would not support binding Tribunal recommendations or entrenching Te Tiriti. Labour's policy page has no Te Tiriti policy, and Labour has published no position on the Māori seats or Māori wards; MP Kieran McAnulty said in February 2026 that "it is Māori that should decide" on the seats. No cost is stated. The biggest tradeoff: existing Treaty clauses kept and schools commitments restored, with Parliament keeping the final say, but no binding Tribunal powers.

As at 17 Oct 2026 · Full entry with sources · All seven parties' answers

National has no Te Tiriti policy on its election policy page. Its ministers agreed in February 2026 to set a standard no higher than "take into account" for Treaty principles in 10 laws and remove Treaty clauses from seven, a review promised to NZ First in their coalition agreement. Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says the bill will not pass before the election and the government will continue with it. A government review of the Waitangi Tribunal is unreleased. In government National brought in local polls on Māori wards; Luxon said in October 2025 that local communities should decide, and no 2026 position was found. No National position on the Māori seats was found. No cost is stated. The biggest tradeoff: a single Treaty standard across laws, but weaker Treaty duties in some laws.

As at 16 Oct 2026 · Full entry with sources · All seven parties' answers

NZ First would introduce a law within 100 days of the election to abolish the Waitangi Tribunal and replace it with a Treaty of Waitangi Completion Commission, which would finalise claims made before 2008 and then close. Contemporary claims and Crown–Māori relations would move to the Ministry of Māori Development. It would hold a referendum on the future of the seven Māori seats after the election; it has not said when, whether the result would be binding, or what the question would be. A member's bill would abolish Auckland Council's Independent Māori Statutory Board and return its functions to the council. NZ First started the government's Treaty clause review. No costs are published. The biggest tradeoff: NZ First's aim is one set of electoral, Treaty and council arrangements for everyone, but the Tribunal and the board would close, and the Māori seats could go if a binding referendum chose that.

As at 17 Oct 2026 · Full entry with sources · All seven parties' answers

NZ First would change electoral law so that only New Zealand citizens can vote. The page says permanent residents and some visa holders can now vote in general elections, local council elections and referendums. Under the policy they could still live in New Zealand permanently, but could not vote.

• Party claimThe party says permanent residents can now vote after two years living in New Zealand, and some holders of visas with no expiry date after one year.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · New Zealand First

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NZ First would pass a law to abolish the Waitangi Tribunal and replace it with a Treaty of Waitangi Completion Commission, which would finish claims from before 2008 and then close. Māori land reform and better running of the Māori Land Court would be a major priority. The Ministry of Māori Development would be told to get more economic results from Māori-owned land, marine farming and forestry, and would take on work on carrying out Treaty settlements, newer claims and Crown–Māori relations.

• Party claimThe party says it would introduce the law within the first 100 days after the next election.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · New Zealand First

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The Opportunity Party would review recent changes to Treaty provisions in law, amending them where needed, and make Treaty analysis a visible part of lawmaking. It would support a national constitutional conversation about Te Tiriti's long-term place, using deliberative processes from its Citizens' Voice policy, with Māori taking part as a Treaty partner. It would honour existing settlements, complete outstanding historical ones, and match Māori decision-making to each issue, from consultation to independent decisions, with accountability for results. It opposed the Treaty Principles Bill. It does not list Te Tiriti among its bottom lines; leader Qiulae Wong says ideas that jeopardise it would give grounds to walk away from coalition talks. It has not stated positions on the Waitangi Tribunal, the Māori seats or Māori wards, or published costs. The biggest tradeoff: a Māori-partnered deliberative process and a law-by-law review, but no commitment on contested questions.

As at 17 Oct 2026 · Full entry with sources · All seven parties' answers

Opportunity would set up Citizens' Assemblies: randomly chosen groups of New Zealanders, paid for their time, who hear from experts and affected people on major issues such as housing, infrastructure, superannuation and health care, then set a policy direction. A new Parliamentary Commissioner for Citizens' Voice would call assemblies on issues where politics is stuck and report on how the Government responds. Recommendations would go to Parliament for a debate in which the Government explains its response. Māori would take part in every assembly, with dedicated engagement with iwi and Māori organisations.

• Party claimThe party says each assembly would bring together around 100 citizens, as many as there are MPs.
• Party claimThe party says assemblies would usually run part-time over several months, and complex issues could take 6 to 12 months.
• Party claimThe party says several full-scale assemblies a year would likely cost around $10 to $15 million.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · The Opportunity Party

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Opportunity would make Ministers wait before moving into lobbying, set up a public register showing who lobbies whom and on what, and bring in a code of conduct for lobbyists with fines and deregistration for misconduct. It would cap political donations, ban donations from companies and trusts so only registered New Zealand voters could donate, and lower the level at which donations must be disclosed. It would also set up an independent anti-corruption body, ban inaccurate and misleading election advertisements, strengthen the Official Information Act, protect whistleblowers and create an independent unit to cost party policies.

• Party claimThe party says it would introduce a one-year cooling-off period between Ministers and lobbyists.
• Party claimThe party says donations would be capped at $30,000 per party, per donor, per election, the figure recommended by the Independent Electoral Review.
• Party claimThe party says donations over $1,000 would have to be included in annual statements.
• Party claimThe party says the policy would cost about $52 million a year, including $40 million for the anti-corruption body, $10 million more for the Electoral Commission and $2 million for a policy costing unit in election years.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · The Opportunity Party

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Opportunity would honour existing Treaty settlements, complete outstanding historical settlements, and restore the customary marine title settings that applied before the 2025 changes. It would make Treaty analysis a stronger part of lawmaking, support a national conversation on the long-term place of Te Tiriti in New Zealand's constitution, and make sure Māori take part as a Treaty partner in any process directly concerning the Treaty relationship. It would work with Māori asset owners, lenders and investors to improve access to capital, support giving Māori organisations more control over decisions and services in their communities where that leads to better results, and give longer-term funding to organisations with a strong track record.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · The Opportunity Party

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Te Pāti Māori would pass laws binding the Crown to its Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations, which it says would stop future governments easily undoing them, and calls this a coalition bottom line. Waitangi Tribunal recommendations would bind the Crown, with courts enforcing them where needed. An independent Te Tiriti Commission could investigate ministers and agencies and issue orders to stop or suspend a decision, which the government could challenge in the High Court; it could not strike down laws. Every new bill would need a Te Tiriti impact statement. The party would restore a national plan for the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples within 100 days, and spend $220 million over four years on a Matike Mai Fund for constitutional talks with Māori, aiming at 2040. The biggest tradeoff: firmer protection of Māori rights, but limits on what elected governments can decide.

As at 17 Oct 2026 · Full entry with sources · All seven parties' answers

Te Pāti Māori would commit to constitutional change based on Te Tiriti o Waitangi. It would strengthen Māori political authority and governance structures. It would also progress "land back" and rangatiratanga (Māori authority) commitments under Te Tiriti.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · Te Pāti Māori

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The Greens would create ways for migrants who have settled here long-term, including people whose visas have expired, to get residence. They would scrap the health requirements that can stop migrants and refugees with health conditions or disabilities getting visas, let migrant workers change employers, and remove the rule making some workers leave between visas. They would clear the refugee family reunification backlog, restore birthright citizenship, raise the refugee quota step by step, and build a Te Tiriti-based immigration system with more decisions made by hapū and iwi.

• Party claimThe Greens say they would raise the refugee quota to 5,000 by 2029.
• Party claimThe Greens say they would remove the 12-month stand-down period that requires some migrant workers to leave between visas.

On its policy page, read 17 Oct 2026 · Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand