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Evidence · Immigration

Immigration: questions, answers and evidence

Read all 797 original answers and the tables behind the findings. The 27 missing answers are from the China comparison on three platforms.

questions
143
captured answers
797
missing responses
27
answers collected
15–20 October 2026

01

Every question, with its answers

Each question was written as a voter would ask it and went to all four assistants. Some were also asked from a town. Open a question to read every answer to it in full.

Showing 20 of 143 questions

Show all 143

02

The tables behind the study

Every figure on the study page comes from these tables. They are CSV files, which open in any spreadsheet.

  • Complete AI answers

    answers.csv

    One complete original answer, with the question, platform, country setting and migrant profile.

    question_id, surface_code, location_ref, result_id, prompt_id, platform, scan_id, collection_panel, question_text, response_text

    797rows

    Download complete ai answers (CSV)

  • The questions we asked

    question-catalogue.csv

    One question with the migrant profile, wording and purpose.

    question_id, question_version, group_id, case_id, asked_for, output_id, module_ids, category, wording_style, prompt_set, collection_panel, comparison_id, exact_text, distinguishing_facts, stated_facts, tags, status

    143rows

    Download the questions we asked (CSV)

  • Planned questions, platforms and countries

    execution-assignments.csv

    One question, platform and country we planned to collect an answer from.

    question_id, collection_panel, location_name, location_ref, surface, surface_code

    824rows

    Download planned questions, platforms and countries (CSV)

  • The 27 missing answers

    missing-cells.csv

    One expected answer that was not collected.

    question_id, collection_panel, location_name, location_ref, surface, surface_code

    27rows

    Download the 27 missing answers (CSV)

  • Locations named for each migrant profile

    location-by-persona.csv

    How often a place was named in the twelve New Zealand answers for each migrant profile.

    persona, place, answers, denominator, wording_styles, wording_count, surface_count

    342rows

    Download locations named for each migrant profile (CSV)

  • Locations named across question wordings

    location-by-wording.csv

    One profile, platform and place, showing which versions of the question led to an answer naming the place.

    persona, surface, place, answers, denominator, wording_styles

    1,368rows

    Download locations named across question wordings (CSV)

  • Locations named by collection country

    location-by-region.csv

    One place and country setting; the China comparison has nine answers on Google AI Mode only.

    region, place, answers, denominator, surfaces

    304rows

    Download locations named by collection country (CSV)

  • Eight countries on Google AI Mode

    location-ai-mode-eight-regions.csv

    One place and country across the same nine questions on Google AI Mode.

    region, place, answers, denominator

    304rows

    Download eight countries on google ai mode (CSV)

  • Matched local and overseas answers

    matched-region-answer-pairs.csv

    A New Zealand answer alongside the same question and platform using another country setting.

    region, surface, persona, question_id, result_id, nz_result_id, same_place_set, jaccard, added_names, omitted_names

    261rows

    Download matched local and overseas answers (CSV)

  • Topics explicitly raised in the answers

    signals-by-output-platform.csv

    How often selected words and phrases appeared, by topic and platform.

    output, surface, signal, answers, denominator

    1,120rows

    Download topics explicitly raised in the answers (CSV)

  • Topics raised for each migrant profile

    signals-by-persona-output.csv

    How often selected words and phrases appeared, by migrant profile and topic.

    output, persona, signal, answers, denominator

    1,876rows

    Download topics raised for each migrant profile (CSV)

  • Website addresses in captured answers

    captured-answer-links.csv

    Web addresses saved in the original answers, with image and file links identified.

    question_id, result_id, prompt_id, surface, surface_code, region, output, persona, wording, panel, words, raw_page, transcript, url, domain, host_class, image_or_asset

    2,003rows

    Download website addresses in captured answers (CSV)

  • Extra table: links excluding images and files

    captured-links-by-platform.csv

    One platform across the same 143 New Zealand questions. The table excludes image and file links; the main Sources section counts those links.

    surface, denominator, answers_with_links, answers_with_govt_links

    4rows

    Download extra table: links excluding images and files (CSV)

  • Captured answer lengths

    platform-answer-length.csv

    One platform across the same 143 local questions.

    surface, answers, median_words, mean_words

    4rows

    Download captured answer lengths (CSV)

  • Recorded websites by answer

    sources-by-answer.csv

    Each website recorded as a source for an answer, with the page addresses and number of statements linked to the website.

    question_id, result_id, prompt_id, surface, surface_code, region, output, persona, wording, panel, words, raw_page, transcript, domain, publisher, claim_count, source_urls

    1,462rows

    Download recorded websites by answer (CSV)

  • Recorded sources and their original claims

    source-claim-ledger.csv

    Sources attached to individual statements, with the original answer, quotation and source passage.

    narrative_id, claim_id, question_id, result_id, prompt_id, surface, surface_code, region, output, persona, wording, panel, words, raw_page, transcript, domain, url, source_passage, claim_quote, quote_exact

    3,105rows

    Download recorded sources and their original claims (CSV)

  • Answers with sources and answers with links

    source-answer-coverage.csv

    Each New Zealand answer, showing whether sources were recorded and whether the answer text contains a web link.

    question_id, result_id, prompt_id, surface, surface_code, region, output, persona, wording, panel, words, raw_page, transcript, associated_websites, had_sources, literal_url_answer

    572rows

    Download answers with sources and answers with links (CSV)

  • Website publisher classifications

    source-publisher-classification.csv

    Each website, the type of organisation behind the website and the reason for the category. Unconfirmed types remain Other.

    domain, publisher, basis, source

    332rows

    Download website publisher classifications (CSV)

  • Tone toward each place

    place-sentiment-ledger.csv

    One named place in one answer, with the positive, neutral, negative or mixed label, supporting passages and reason. All 108 New Zealand answers about where to live were reviewed.

    result_id, question_id, prompt_id, persona, assistant, region, place, stance, paragraph_numbers, supporting_passages, display_passage, reason, answer_sha256, reviewed_on

    630rows

    Download tone toward each place (CSV)

  • Facts supplied in each question

    prompt-reporting-eligibility.csv

    Every question, with corrected descriptions of the facts stated and limits on interpreting its answers.

    question_id, reviewed_on, prompt_sha256, original_stated_facts, corrected_stated_facts, metadata_changed, destination_explicit, descriptive_counts_included, interpretation_rule

    143rows

    Download facts supplied in each question (CSV)

  • Sources across question styles

    source-wording-incidence.csv

    One website, profile, topic and platform, with answer totals, question styles and the original answer references.

    persona, output, surface, domain, answers_with_source, eligible_answers, wording_styles_with_source, eligible_wording_styles, observed_styles, eligible_styles, answer_ids, by_style

    2,144rows

    Download sources across question styles (CSV)

  • Questions with corrected fact descriptions

    question-catalogue-reviewed.csv

    The unchanged original question text with fact descriptions reviewed on 28 October 2026.

    question_id, question_version, group_id, case_id, asked_for, output_id, module_ids, category, wording_style, prompt_set, collection_panel, comparison_id, exact_text, distinguishing_facts, stated_facts, tags, status

    143rows

    Download questions with corrected fact descriptions (CSV)

  • Statements checked against official sources

    statement-checks.csv

    One checked statement, with its exact passage, verdict, official source, review date and original answer reference.

    check_id, measure_id, question_checked, result_id, prompt_id, question_id, persona, assistant, wording, exact_statement, verdict, what_the_source_says, source_name, source_url, checked_on, answer_sha256

    47rows

    Download statements checked against official sources (CSV)

  • Policy questions covered by the checks

    statement-measures.csv

    One policy question, showing checked statements, original answers and the question wordings represented.

    measure_id, question_checked, checked_statements, distinct_answers, wording_styles_with_checked_assertions, wording_styles, answer_ids, question_ids, scope

    27rows

    Download policy questions covered by the checks (CSV)

Use the question and answer numbers to follow the evidence between tables. Locations named in warnings and comparisons count. Sources attached to an answer and web links in the answer text are counted separately.

03

The reviewed evidence

We read all 108 New Zealand answers about where to live to assess the tone toward each named place. A separate selection of 41 answers explores practical advice and contrasts across topics. The original policy checks were made on 22 October and expanded on 28 October 2026; verdicts cover selected statements, not every answer.

ChatGPT · New Zealand country setting

I've worked in dairy farming for years and need steady work, but I also need somewhere that works for my partner and young child. Which parts of New Zealand should we look at?

Given your years of dairy farming experience, I’d focus on regions where dairy is a major part of the local economy, but where you can also build a stable family life with your partner and young child.

My advice is to look for a dairy region with several potential employers within commuting distance of a decent-sized town. That gives you more options if a farm changes ownership, hours become unsuitable, or you want to move into a senior role later on.

In New Zealand, I’d put the following regions on your shortlist.

The best regions to consider

1. Waikato — best all-round starting point

My first choice

Areas to investigate: Matamata-Piako, Morrinsville, Te Awamutu and the wider Waikato farming district.

  • Work: New Zealand's largest dairy employment region, with around 10,600 dairy farming and processing employees in DairyNZ's 2026 analysis. Backing dairy means backing New Zealand
  • Family life: A broad choice of rural communities and larger towns, with schools, shops, healthcare and other employment for your partner.
  • Trade-off: Some towns are popular with rural workers, so check actual rents or the quality of any farm-provided house.

Best for: Finding work without committing your family to an isolated rural location.

2. Taranaki — a strong family-oriented option

Areas to investigate: South Taranaki, Hāwera, Eltham and the wider Stratford area.

  • Work: Dairy is deeply embedded in the regional economy; South Taranaki is particularly dairy-dependent. The wider Taranaki region supports about 3,800 dairy farming and processing employees. Backing dairy means backing New Zealand
  • Family life: Hāwera and Stratford offer town amenities, schools and services while keeping rural employment within reach.
  • Trade-off: The local job market is smaller than Waikato's, and the range of alternative jobs for your partner may be narrower.

Best for: A rural lifestyle with access to established towns rather than living far from services.

3. Canterbury — worth a serious look for experienced staff

Areas to investigate: Ashburton, Darfield, Rangiora and the wider Selwyn and mid-Canterbury districts.

  • Work: Canterbury has a substantial dairy workforce, including larger farming operations and dairy processing. DairyNZ reports around 8,650 dairy farming and processing employees in its 2026 analysis. Backing dairy means backing New Zealand
  • Family life: Ashburton and Rangiora offer town-based services, schools and shopping; proximity to Christchurch can expand your partner's employment options.
  • Trade-off: Some roles are on large, intensive farms, so ask about staffing levels, roster expectations and winter duties. Housing and commuting costs vary by town.

Best for: Someone with solid dairy experience who wants to explore larger operations and more structured farm roles.

4. Southland — strong dairy country with a quieter pace

Areas to investigate: Winton, Gore, Invercargill's surrounding rural districts and the wider Southland farming area.

  • Work: Dairy farming is a major regional employer, with around 4,050 dairy farming and processing employees in DairyNZ's analysis. Backing dairy means backing New Zealand
  • Family life: Gore and Invercargill provide access to more services than many small rural settlements.
  • Trade-off: Winters are colder, some farms are remote, and the distance from larger centres can limit your partner's options depending on their occupation.

Best for: Families happy with a quieter, cooler rural lifestyle, particularly if a good job includes suitable housing.

5. Northland — an option if a milder climate matters

Areas to investigate: Dargaville, Kaikohe and the wider rural districts around Whangārei.

  • Work: Northland has an established dairy sector, with about 1,730 dairy farming and processing employees in DairyNZ's 2026 analysis. Backing dairy means backing New Zealand
  • Family life: A milder climate may appeal, and Whangārei provides access to a wider range of services and jobs.
  • Trade-off: The dairy job market is smaller than Waikato or Canterbury, and rural commutes can be long.

Best for: Prioritising a milder climate and a North Island lifestyle, provided you secure a suitable role first.

How I would choose between them

Your priority Best places to start
Most choice of dairy employers Waikato
Farm work plus family-friendly town amenities Taranaki or Waikato
Larger operations and experienced staff roles Canterbury
Quieter rural lifestyle Southland
Milder climate Northland

These are starting points, not guarantees of current vacancies. The number of dairy jobs in a region doesn't tell you whether a particular employer has reliable hours, a good roster or a suitable house.

What matters most for your family

Before accepting a job, I would check these five things:

  • Permanent employment: Confirm whether the position is ongoing, what happens outside peak season, and what hours and days off are guaranteed in writing.
  • Family accommodation: Ask for photos or an in-person viewing, the weekly rent and deductions, heating, bedroom arrangements and distance to town.
  • Your partner's options: Check whether there are jobs in their field nearby, rather than assuming they will find something after you move.
  • Childcare and schools: Find out about childcare availability, school transport and travel times to a GP.
  • The actual farm roster: Ask about calving hours, weekend work, relief cover and who takes over when you're sick or on leave.

DairyNZ specifically recommends weighing up accommodation, hours, the farm team and your partner's employment needs when choosing a role. Its on-farm accommodation guidance is also worth reading. Finding the right role for you - DairyNZOn-farm accommodation - DairyNZ

For vacancies, start with Farm Source Jobs and DairyNZ's job-search advice. Finding the right role for you - DairyNZ

Let’s narrow it down to the right fit

One thing would help me make a much more useful recommendation: what kind of dairy role are you experienced in, and what does your partner need from the location?

Ask anything

ChatGPT can make mistakes. Check important info.

Captured 15–20 October 2026

Gemini · New Zealand country setting

I've worked in dairy farming for years and need steady work, but I also need somewhere that works for my partner and young child. Which parts of New Zealand should we look at?

Balancing steady employment in dairy farming with a supportive environment for a partner and young child means looking for regions that offer a healthy mix of robust agricultural work, good community infrastructure, schools, and family-friendly lifestyle benefits.

The primary dairy farming regions in New Zealand each offer distinct advantages for families:

1. Waikato (The Dairy Heartland)

  • The Farming Scene: As New Zealand’s premier dairy region, Waikato accounts for the largest share of the national dairy herd. Jobs for experienced farm assistants, herd managers, and contract milkers are consistently high.
  • For the Family: Because farming is woven deeply into the regional identity, rural communities are well-equipped for families. It features a dense network of rural primary schools, local sports clubs, and easy access to larger hubs like Hamilton, Cambridge, and Te Awamutu for healthcare, shopping, and secondary education.
  • Partner Opportunities: Good mix of off-farm employment and regional service industries.

2. Taranaki (Coastal Dairy Excellence)

  • The Farming Scene: Renowned for its rich volcanic soils and reliable rainfall, Taranaki has a proud, historic dairy culture with high-producing herds and innovative farm operations.
  • For the Family: Taranaki offers an incredible lifestyle if you enjoy the outdoors. Farms are often situated relatively close to both the mountain (Mount Taranaki) and the coast. Towns like New Plymouth, Stratford, and Hawera provide strong community support, excellent schools, and a slower-paced, family-oriented regional culture with great arts and recreational facilities.
  • Partner Opportunities: New Plymouth acts as a solid economic hub for diverse employment fields.

3. Canterbury Plains

  • The Farming Scene: Canterbury features large-scale, highly productive, and often technologically advanced dairy operations driven heavily by irrigation. There is a constant demand for skilled herd managers and large-scale operators.
  • For the Family: Many farming families live a bit closer to larger rural service towns (like Ashburton, Rangiora, or Timaru) or commute within reach of Christchurch. This means exceptional access to larger healthcare facilities, specialized schooling options, and vibrant community activities.
  • Partner Opportunities: Greater breadth of employment options within commuting distance to larger provincial towns or Christchurch.

4. Southland (Southern Expansion)

  • The Farming Scene: Southland has experienced massive dairy growth over recent decades. It features larger-scale farms, modern infrastructure, and a strong community of progressive dairy professionals.
  • For the Family: While winters are cooler and require some adjustment, Southland communities are famously tight-knit, welcoming, and supportive of young families. Rural schools are often at the heart of these communities, and housing/cost of living aspects can be attractive compared to major metropolitan centers. Towns like Gore, Invercargill, and Winton anchor the region.
  • Partner Opportunities: Strong presence in regional trades, education, health, and agricultural support services.

Key Factors to Weigh With Your Partner:

  • Schooling & Isolation: Consider how far you are willing to live from a township. Many rural areas have local primary schools or reliable bus runs right to the farm gate, but secondary schooling or early childhood options may require driving.
  • Partner's Career: If your partner wants to work off-farm, targeting positions closer to regional hubs (like the outer Waikato near Hamilton, or central Canterbury) will give them a much broader job market.

Are you looking for a specific type of farming setup (e.g., lower-input, large-scale corporate, or progression toward sharemilking), or is there a particular island you prefer?

Ask Gemini

Gemini is AI and can make mistakes.

Captured 15–20 October 2026

Google AI Mode · New Zealand country setting

I've worked in dairy farming for years and need steady work, but I also need somewhere that works for my partner and young child. Which parts of New Zealand should we look at?

When balancing a long-term career in dairy farming with family life, you want a region that offers not only high job security and a deep pool of farm jobs, but also good access to schools, healthcare, and a strong community for your partner and child.

The top dairy farming regions in New Zealand that blend robust agricultural economies with family-friendly infrastructure include:

** Waikato** — Known as the country's premier dairy heartland, holding the largest concentration of New Zealand's dairy herds. It offers immense job stability and career progression. Towns across the region feature strong, young family demographics, and you are never too far from major hubs like Hamilton for wider health services, secondary education, and community activities.

Taranaki — Famous for its rich volcanic soils and stable dairy climate, Taranaki has a deeply embedded farming culture with a tight-knit, supportive community feel. Being anchored near New Plymouth gives families access to great coastal lifestyles, parks, and regional amenities while remaining right on the doorstep of intensive farming operations.

Canterbury — A major powerhouse for South Island dairying, Canterbury features large-scale, highly productive operations with modern infrastructure. Rural and provincial towns throughout the region offer modern local schools and sports clubs, with Christchurch accessible for major family events, specialized healthcare, and alternative employment options for your partner.

Southland — Renowned for its green pastures, large-scale properties, and a welcoming, down-to-earth rural community spirit. Southland offers a slower-paced, highly community-oriented lifestyle that many young families love, alongside strong and stable employment in the pastoral sector.

To help narrow down the best specific pockets or communities for your family, let me know:

  • Are you leaning more toward the North Island (e.g., Waikato, Taranaki) or the South Island (e.g., Canterbury, Southland)?
  • Does your partner need access to non-farming employment opportunities or specific early childhood/schooling support locally?
Ask anything

Captured 15–20 October 2026

AI Overviews · New Zealand country setting

I've worked in dairy farming for years and need steady work, but I also need somewhere that works for my partner and young child. Which parts of New Zealand should we look at?

AI Overview

For a dairy farming professional with a family, the ideal location balances steady, high-volume employment with robust community infrastructure (such as accessible early childhood education, healthcare, and strong rural community networks).

The primary regions in New Zealand that best fit these requirements are outlined below.

1. Waikato

As the traditional powerhouse of New Zealand dairy farming, this region provides the highest density of dairy jobs nationwide, which ensures long-term employment stability.

  • Work Opportunities: The massive volume of farms means jobs are consistently available year-round across all experience levels.
  • Family Benefits: Because the region is highly developed, you are rarely far from a service town. It boasts excellent regional health services, widespread early childhood centres, and plenty of community support networks tailored to young farming families.

2. Canterbury

Canterbury features highly modernized, large-scale dairy operations with a high degree of technological integration and flatter terrain.

  • Work Opportunities: Farms here tend to have larger herd sizes, meaning you are more likely to work within a larger team rather than in isolation. This creates clearer rosters, structured hours, and robust corporate or multi-staff farm environments.
  • Family Benefits: The infrastructure in Canterbury's rural hubs is top-tier. Many rural towns have experienced steady growth, offering modern schools, swim schools, medical clinics, and great connectivity for partners looking for off-farm employment.

3. Southland

Southland offers an affordable lifestyle with a highly passionate and tight-knit farming community.

  • Work Opportunities: There is a high demand for experienced, long-term farm staff. The region is known for highly productive pasture systems, though you must be comfortable working in cooler, southern winter climates.
  • Family Benefits: Rural Southland communities are exceptionally welcoming to young families, often hosting active playgroups and community events designed to integrate newcomers. Housing costs (both rental and on-farm accommodation options) also tend to stretch further here than in the upper North Island.

4. Taranaki

Taranaki offers a deep-rooted farming heritage centered around a strong family-farm culture.

  • Work Opportunities: The region features a reliable mix of smaller, family-owned operations and larger corporate farms.
  • Family Benefits: Geographically, the region is highly compact. Even on a remote farm, you are generally a short drive away from a major town, beaches, parks, and childcare facilities. It provides a fantastic outdoor lifestyle for raising a young child.

If you would like to narrow this down, let me know:

  • What current role level are you operating at (e.g., Farm Assistant, Herd Manager, or Sharemilker)?
  • Does your partner need local, off-farm employment?
  • Do you prefer large team environments or smaller, family-run operations?
Ask anything

Captured 15–20 October 2026