Key facts
- Party
- Labour Party website
- Leader
- Chris Hipkins (Leader)
- Founded
- 1916
- Seats before the 2026 election
- 34
- 2023 election
- 26.91% of the party vote, 34 seats
- Now
- In opposition in the Parliament elected in 2023.
Sources: [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][14][18]
About the party
Labour was founded in 1916 at a conference in Wellington of unions, the Social Democratic Party and local Labour committees. Chris Hipkins is its Leader. It won 34 seats at the 2023 election, held 34 when Parliament was dissolved on 1 October 2026, and is in opposition. It has led governments from 1935 to 1949, from 1957 to 1960, for one term from 1972, from 1984 to 1990, from 1999 to 2008 and from 2017 to 2023, with the Alliance, the Progressives, United Future, New Zealand First and the Greens as partners at different times. Its constitution lists nine principles, shown below in the party's own words.
History. The party says its roots lie in activism for workers' rights and democratic reform. It was formed on 7 July 1916 at a joint conference in Wellington of the United Federation of Labour, the Social Democratic Party and local Labour Representation Committees, and the party says the aim was to stand against the Government's plan to impose conscription. Earlier organisations it traces itself to include the Political Labour League, which won a seat in 1908. The Electoral Commission's register gives its registration date as 17 February 1995, and its constitution gives its legal name as the New Zealand Labour Party Incorporated.
In government. Labour has led governments under Michael Joseph Savage from 1935 to 1949 (Peter Fraser was Prime Minister from 1940), under Walter Nash from 1957 to 1960, for one term from 1972 under Norman Kirk, under David Lange from 1984 to 1990, and under Helen Clark from 1999 to 2008. The 1999 government was a coalition with the Alliance. After the 2002 election it was a coalition with the Progressive Coalition Party with a confidence and supply agreement with United Future, and after the 2005 election it had a coalition agreement with the Progressive Party, confidence and supply agreements with New Zealand First and United Future, and a co-operation agreement with the Greens. In October 2017 Labour returned to government under Jacinda Ardern in coalition with New Zealand First, with a confidence and supply arrangement with the Greens. After the 2020 election it governed alone, with a co-operation agreement with the Greens, and Chris Hipkins was Prime Minister from 25 January to 27 November 2023.
In Parliament. At the 2023 election Labour won 26.91% of the party vote and 34 seats, 17 electorate and 17 list, and moved into opposition when National, ACT and New Zealand First formed a government. Six list MPs resigned during the term and the Electoral Commission announced a replacement from Labour's list each time: Rino Tirikatene (replaced by Tracey McLellan, announced 30 January 2024), Kelvin Davis (Shanan Halbert, 8 February 2024), Grant Robertson (Glen Bennett, 25 March 2024), David Parker (Vanushi Walters, 12 May 2025), Adrian Rurawhe (Georgie Dansey, 9 February 2026) and Peeni Henare (Daniel Rosewarne, 16 March 2026). That left it with 34 seats when Parliament was dissolved on 1 October 2026.
Leadership. Chris Hipkins is Leader of the Labour Party and MP for Remutaka. He became Leader and Prime Minister in January 2023 as the sole nominee after Jacinda Ardern announced on 19 January 2023 that she would step down; she had led the party since 2017. The party's constitution provides for a caucus vote to endorse the leadership and an electoral college for leadership elections.
What it says it stands for
In the party's own words and order. Where the party gives an item no heading, the heading is a short neutral topic name added by this site. From: Constitution and Rules 2025, clause 1.2: Principles.
- Authority from the people
- Natural resources for all
- Equal access
- Co-operation in economic relations
- Dignity and work
- People and property
- Te Tiriti o Waitangi
- Peace and social justice
- Same basic human rights
Authority from the people
Political authority comes from the people by democratic means, including universal suffrage and free elections with a secret ballot.
“All political authority comes from the people by democratic means, including universal suffrage, regular and free elections with a secret ballot”
[3]Natural resources for all
The natural resources of New Zealand, in particular non-renewable ones, belong to all the people and should be managed for the benefit of all, including future generations.
“The natural resources of New Zealand belong to all the people and these resources, and in particular non-renewable resources, should be managed for the benefit of all, including future generations”
[3]Equal access
All people should have equal access to all social, economic, cultural, political and legal spheres regardless of wealth or social position, and continue to take part in democracy.
“All people shall have equal access to all social, economic, cultural, political and legal spheres, regardless of wealth or social position, and to continuing participation in the democratic process”
[3]Co-operation in economic relations
Co-operation rather than competition should be the main governing factor in economic relations, so that there is more wealth and a just distribution of it.
“Co-operation, rather than competition, should be the main governing factor in economic relations, in order that a greater amount, and a just distribution, of wealth can be ensured”
[3]Dignity and work
All people are entitled to "dignity, self-respect and the opportunity to work".
“All people are entitled to dignity, self-respect and the opportunity to work”
[3]People and property
People may own wealth or property for their own use, but where interests conflict people are more important than property, and the state must ensure a just distribution of wealth.
“All people, either individually or in groups, may own wealth or property for their own use, but in any conflict of interest people are always more important than property and the state must ensure a just distribution of wealth”
[3]Te Tiriti o Waitangi
Te Tiriti o Waitangi/the Treaty of Waitangi is the founding document of New Zealand and should be honoured in the Party, government, society and the whānau.
“Te Tiriti o Waitangi/The Treaty of Waitangi is the founding document of New Zealand, and the Treaty should be honoured in the Party, government, society and the whanau”
[3]Peace and social justice
Peace and social justice should be promoted throughout the world by international cooperation and mutual respect.
“Peace and social justice should be promoted throughout the world by international cooperation and mutual respect”
[3]Same basic human rights
The same basic human rights, protected by the State, apply to all people regardless of race, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, religion, political belief or disability.
“The same basic human rights, protected by the State, apply to all people, regardless of race, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, religious faith, political belief or disability”
[3]
Bottom lines for coalition talks
What the party has publicly said it must get, or won't accept, to form or support a government after the 2026 election. Every party's bottom lines
Won't vote for taxes partners want if Labour has said it won't support them.
“If we've said that we won't support them, we won't support them. … That's the bottom line in terms of what we will support. Absolutely.”
Introduce a capital gains tax.
But a capital gains tax would be a bottom line for Labour in any coalition negotiations, he said.
Its other policies
Policies on its own policy page (read 17 Oct 2026) or in its releases that no issue page compares yet, each on the same short card. Some parties list single policies and others list broad areas, so the number of cards says nothing about how much a party has planned. Every party's policies
Cost of living
Labour would limit branded school uniforms and bring back school lunches
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.
Labour would create a digital banking licence and open up payment systems
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.
Labour would make price gouging on essentials illegal for large companies
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.
Labour would require airlines to show full fares and refund cancellations automatically
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.
Labour would order weekly fuel price reports and a car right-to-repair law
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.
Labour would ban hidden fees and make cancelling contracts easier
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.
Labour would cap weekly public transport fares at $20 in main centres
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.
Tax and public finances
Labour would tax profits from selling investment and commercial property at 28%
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.
Labour would return the budget to surplus in 2028/29
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.
Health
Labour would lend doctors up to $500,000 to buy into practices
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.
Labour would make cervical screening free for people aged 25 to 69
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.
Labour would make referred maternity scans free through the Medicard
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.
Families, work and welfare
Labour would restore pay equity law and raise care workers' pay
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.
Education and skills
Labour would extend Apprenticeship Boost payments and add a $1,000 toolbox grant
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.
Labour would cut eligible student loan balances by 10%
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.
Labour would fund Māori providers to run training that leads to jobs
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.
Economy, business and infrastructure
Labour would bring back Progressive Procurement for Māori businesses
Labour says it would bring back its Progressive Procurement policy, which helps Māori businesses win government contracts. It would start with a target that 5% of government procurement contracts go to Māori businesses. Labour says this would create more lasting jobs for Māori and raise whānau incomes. The release does not give a start date or a cost.
- Party claimThe party says it would aim for an initial target of 5% of government procurement contracts going to Māori businesses.
- Party claimThe party says about $900 million worth of contracts could be awarded to Māori businesses under this target.
- Party claimThe party says Māori unemployment is 10.8% under the current government.
Labour would create an Office of AI and an online safety regulator
Labour would create an Office of AI inside the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, using existing resources, to coordinate AI policy and set standards, and an online safety regulator. The page names AI scams, deepfakes and threats to children as growing concerns. It would ban non-consensual deepfake pornography, require a human to be accountable for public service decisions about people's access to services, and set rules for how AI can use creators' work. Data centres would have to secure their own renewable energy and pay their own connection costs.
Labour would set up a New Zealand Future Fund to invest locally
Labour would create a fund to invest in New Zealand infrastructure and businesses, kept separate from the NZ Super Fund. It would start with some existing Crown-owned assets and an initial capital contribution, and the Guardians of the Super Fund would run it, with the Minister of Finance setting broad goals but not choosing investments. The assets it starts with could not be sold under law.
- Party claimThe party's fiscal plan sets aside $200 million in capital for the New Zealand Future Fund.
Labour would require large businesses to pay small suppliers within 15 days
Labour would make large businesses pay small suppliers within 15 days on smaller invoices and publish how quickly they pay, with penalties for late payment that small businesses report to MBIE; the rule would also apply to government. Businesses with revenue under $10 million could write off assets costing up to $10,000 in the year they buy them. Businesses would not have to register for GST until their revenue reaches $80,000. Labour says the package would replace the current Investment Boost scheme.
- Party claimThe party says large businesses would have to pay invoices of $25,000 or less within 15 days, with the law introduced within its first 100 days.
- Party claimThe party says the asset write-off threshold would rise from $1,000 to $10,000 from 1 July 2027, for around 500,000 businesses.
- Party claimThe party says the GST registration threshold would rise from $60,000 to $80,000 from 1 July 2028, so around 35,000 of the smallest businesses would no longer have to register.
- Party claimThe party says the package would cost $1.56 billion over four years.
Labour would target 15% of government contracts for small businesses
Labour would set a target for New Zealand small businesses and start-ups to win 15% of government contracts, and would split large contracts into smaller jobs where it makes sense. Government agencies would share information where the law allows, starting with the New Zealand Business Number, so owners do not have to give the same details many times. Inland Revenue would review provisional tax and filing deadlines, and ministers would have to consider the effect on small businesses before new rules are approved.
- Party claimThe party says its target is for 15% of government contracts to go to New Zealand small businesses and start-ups.
Labour would fund school and hospital repairs and more social housing
Labour would fund repairs and upgrades at more than 2,000 state and integrated schools, such as classrooms, heating, plumbing and playgrounds. It would direct Health New Zealand to finish its existing hospital repair projects and then fund more repairs, have Kāinga Ora build social housing again, and give community housing providers steady funding with a government guarantee to lower their borrowing costs. Labour says work would begin within a year of taking office, with school work starting in 12 to 24 months.
- Party claimThe party says it would spend about $450 million on schools: about $400 million in capital for state schools and about $50 million in operating funding for integrated schools.
- Party claimThe party says it would put $200 million in capital into hospital repair programmes.
- Party claimThe party says Kāinga Ora would get $2.9 billion in capital, plus $745 million in operating funding for the Income-Related Rent Subsidy and the running costs of Kāinga Ora and community housing providers.
- Party claimThe party says nearly 30,000 apprentices would get $1,000 towards tools and gear.
- Party claimThe party says work would begin within one year of taking office, with school work starting in 12 to 24 months.
Communities, culture and sport
Labour proposes sport grants and school screen rules to keep kids off screens
Labour says its Keeping Kids off Screens policy would keep paying sport grants of up to $300 a year for two years for children, and add $4 million a year for after-school sport and activities run by community groups. It would update national screen-use advice for early childhood education and schools, and require school and kura boards to have clear screen-use policies. It would keep the existing school mobile phone ban and make online-safety tools easier for parents to find. The page does not say when any of the measures would start.
- Party claimThe party says Active Me - Kia Tū would get $3 million a year for four more years, with grants of up to $300 a year for two years covering registration, uniforms and equipment.
- Party claimThe party says more than 10,000 children have benefited from Active Me - Kia Tū since 2021, and that its current funding is due to expire in 2026.
- Party claimThe party says Tū Manawa Active Aotearoa would get an extra $4 million a year for community groups running after-school sport and activities for 5- to 18-year-olds.
- Party claimThe party says Tū Manawa supported 5,281 projects and nearly two million opportunities from 2020 to 2024.
Labour proposes Safer Online plan with under-16s social media ban
Labour says its Safer Online plan would stop people under 16 from holding social media accounts, and would make companies legally responsible for keeping them off. Users aged 16 and over would get more say over how their feed works. Online services would owe users a duty of care, with stronger protections for under-18s, and the plan includes action on deepfake abuse and "nudify" apps. An independent digital regulator would enforce the rules.
- Party claimThe party says legislation for the under-16s social media ban would be part of its first 100 days in government.
Switch to Explain to see them by topic.
Its answers on the issues
The same questions every party is asked. Each links to the full comparison with every party.
- How should supermarket competition be fixed?
Break up the existing chainsBan excessive pricesSupport local and Māori-owned sellers
Separate the chains' wholesale arms from their stores, and ban "price gouging".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.
Full entry, tradeoffs and sources - How should income tax change?
OpposesKeep current rates and thresholds
No income tax changes planned; would consider tax cuts once the budget allows.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.
Full entry, tradeoffs and sources - Should KiwiSaver be compulsory, and how much should go in?
Make only employer contributions compulsoryExtend contributions to parents on leave and workers over 65
Make employer contributions compulsory, rising to 6% by 2032; workers' own stay optional.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.
Full entry, tradeoffs and sources - Should the NZ Super age rise to 67?
Opposes
Keep the Super age at 65, with no means test.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.
Full entry, tradeoffs and sources - Should GP visits or prescriptions be free?
Make GP visits free for everyoneRemove the $5 prescription chargeFund practices to hold or lower fees
Three free GP visits a year for everyone, and no $5 prescription charge.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.
Full entry, tradeoffs and sources - What should change in medicines funding, the health workforce and Māori health services?
Guarantee jobs for new graduate nursesFund Māori-led providers directly
Guarantee every eligible graduate nurse a job; fund Māori health providers directly.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.
Full entry, tradeoffs and sources - How should housing policy change?
Government builds more public homesFund community and Māori housing providersChange how rents are setChange tax on property
Give Kāinga Ora $2.9 billion for state houses, back community housing loans, tax property gains.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.
Full entry, tradeoffs and sources - How should households get solar?
Government-backed loans repaid over timePay part of the costAllow plug-in solar and remove rulesChange what households are paid for exported powerFund community and Māori-owned energy
Government-backed solar loans, a subsidy of up to $3,000, and plug-in panels for renters.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.
Full entry, tradeoffs and sources - How should the electricity market change?
Don't build the LNG terminalChange the regulators or their powers
Stop the LNG terminal if no contract is signed; ban prices well above competitive levels.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.
Full entry, tradeoffs and sources - What should New Zealand's climate commitments be?
Stay in the Paris AgreementChange the Emissions Trading SchemeCut farm emissions without a price
Stay in Paris, review the ETS, and no farm emissions price by default.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.
Full entry, tradeoffs and sources - What should change in sentencing, prisons, youth offending, gang laws and policing?
End military-style academies
No crime policy released; would scrap the military-style academy law.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.
Full entry, tradeoffs and sources - What should happen to Te Tiriti settings and Māori representation?
Keep or strengthen the Waitangi TribunalRestore or strengthen Treaty clauses in laws
Keep the Waitangi Tribunal, stop the Treaty clause review, restore Te Tiriti in schools law.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.
Full entry, tradeoffs and sources
Sources for this page
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Change history
Every recorded change to this page, newest first, including our own corrections after checks.
- 17 Oct 2026 Profile written. [3][1][11][12]