Who each party is, and what they stand for

New Zealand's oldest continuing party, formed in 1916 out of the union and socialist movements. Its first government (1935-49) built the welfare state; the fourth Labour government (1984-90) deregulated the economy; Helen Clark led 1999-2008 and Jacinda Ardern 2017-23. Labour returned to opposition after the 2023 election.

• Cost of Living: $20 weekly public transport fare cap
• Cost of Living: Three free doctor's visits each year for every New Zealander
• Cost of Living: Free prescriptions from July 2027
• Cost of Living: Free maternity scans from July 2028
• Cost of Living: Free cervical screening for ages 25–69 from 1 October 2027

Founded in 1936 from the merger of the Reform and United parties as the main centre-right force. It has led governments under Holyoake, Muldoon, Bolger, Shipley and Key. Christopher Luxon became Prime Minister after the 2023 election, governing in coalition with ACT and NZ First.

• Cost of Living: Home Energy Fund offering low-interest, long-term loans for solar, batteries, insulation and other home-energy upgrades to help lower power bills
• Cost of Living: No new taxes if re-elected
• Cost of Living: [Stuff news source] Delay the scheduled January 2027 fuel-excise increase; positions on the planned 2028 and 2029 increases were still to be announced
• Cost of Living: [1News source] Make cervical screening free for all women aged 25–69 from March 2027, removing the screening charge for about 786,000 more women
• Economy: Three Budget Responsibility Rules: prioritise surplus in 2028/29, reduce debt below 40% of GDP, and lower core Crown spending towards 30% of GDP

Grew out of the Values Party of the 1970s and was founded in its present form in 1990, entering Parliament under MMP in 1999. It has supported or partnered with Labour-led governments in 2017 and 2020, campaigning on climate action, public transport, housing and wealth taxes.

• Cost of Living: Create a $10,000 income-tax-free threshold, giving 96% of New Zealanders an income-tax cut
• Cost of Living: Offer zero-interest clean-energy loans to eligible homeowners and expand support for warm, energy-efficient homes
• Cost of Living: [1News source] Propose fines for supermarkets charging prices deemed excessive relative to supply costs and a reasonable profit margin
• Economy: Raise an estimated $5.15 billion in 2027/28 through the announced tax package to fund services and reduce inequality
• Economy: Establish publicly owned Kiwipower to invest in renewable generation and backup capacity

Founded in 1994 by Roger Douglas and Derek Quigley to continue free-market reform. It survived on the Epsom electorate seat through the 2010s and grew sharply in 2020 and 2023, entering coalition government with National and NZ First after the 2023 election.

• Cost of Living: Limit state schools to three compulsory branded uniform items and require generic alternatives for common items
• Cost of Living: Let children use available seats on existing rural school-bus routes, reducing family fuel and travel costs
• Economy: Strengthen property rights and require clearer limits on government interference with property and investment
• Economy: Add a $6-a-day infrastructure surcharge to temporary work visas, expected to raise about $80 million annually
• Economy: Return $1 to councils for every commercial guest night through a Local Tourism Dividend funded from existing tourism revenue, without a new bed tax

Formed in 1993 by Winston Peters after he left National. It has held the balance of power repeatedly — going with National in 1996 and Labour in 2005 and 2017 — and returned to Parliament in 2023 as part of the National-led coalition.

• Cost of Living: Break up Foodstuffs into separate New World/Four Square and Pak’nSave cooperatives to increase supermarket competition and lower grocery prices
• Cost of Living: Split the large power companies into separate generators and retailers, reform wholesale pricing, and require fair payment for household solar exports
• Economy: Establish a New Zealand Future Fund of up to $100 billion for a ring-fenced, multi-decade national infrastructure programme
• Economy: Buy back BNZ, merge it with Kiwibank, and create a commercially run, Crown-owned National Bank of New Zealand
• Economy: Establish a Special Economic Zone at Marsden Point with streamlined consenting and possible investment and tax incentives

Founded in 2004 after the foreshore and seabed debate, it supported National-led governments from 2008 to 2017, lost its seats in 2017, returned in 2020 and won six of the seven Māori electorates in 2023 on a 3.08% party vote, creating an overhang.

• Cost of Living: Lift incomes so people can live with dignity and strengthen welfare so whānau are not punished for being poor
• Cost of Living: Provide practical cost-of-living relief, including more affordable transport
• Cost of Living: Support Māori-owned supermarkets, local kai sellers and community food systems to improve access to affordable, healthy food
• Cost of Living: [Stuff news source] Create a $30,000 tax-free income threshold, reduce the rate to 15% for income from $30,001–$60,000, and provide a kai tax credit worth about $1,000 for people earning $60,000 or less
• Economy: Establish Māori-led institutions and funds to grow Māori enterprise, trade, innovation and long-term wealth

Founded in 2016 by economist Gareth Morgan around evidence-based tax and housing policy. It has never reached the 5% threshold or won an electorate, and for 2026 leader Qiulae Wong is contesting Mt Albert as a possible electorate route into Parliament.

• Cost of Living: Pay almost all adults a tax-free Citizen’s Income of up to $370 a week, replacing most benefits with targeted top-ups retained
• Cost of Living: Make public transport permanently free nationwide
• Cost of Living: Deliver household energy savings through cheaper electricity, low-interest electrification loans and warmer homes
• Economy: Lift research and development spending to at least 2% of GDP, introduce technology-investment tax credits and expand accelerator funding
• Economy: Give the Commerce Commission the power and funding to challenge or break up uncompetitive markets through the High Court