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Evidence · NZ Election 2026

Every question, every answer, every source

Everything the study collected, as it was collected on 5 October 2026. Read any answer in full, or download the tables behind every figure in the study.

questions
174
voters the questions were written as
32
answers collected, of 820 planned
815
answers compared like for like
800
pairs of national and town answers
124
answers with sources recorded
774
answers that showed a link
304

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 174 questions

Show all 174

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.

  • Questions

    nz-election-2026-questions.csv

    One row per question.

    Question id, report reference, question, voter, issue, towns it was also asked from, answers per assistant

    174rows

    Download questions (CSV)

  • Answers

    nz-election-2026-answers.csv

    One row per answer, with its full text.

    Answer id, question id, assistant, town, words, parties named, showed a link, websites recorded as sources, compared like for like, full text

    815rows

    Download answers (CSV)

  • Sources by answer

    nz-election-2026-sources.csv

    One row for each website recorded as a source of an answer.

    Answer id, question id, assistant, town, website, publisher type

    4,216rows

    Download sources by answer (CSV)

  • Checks against official sources

    nz-election-2026-checks.csv

    One row per statement checked.

    Check, answer id, assistant, what the answer said, verdict, what the source says, source, date

    17rows

    Download checks against official sources (CSV)

  • Who to vote for: coding

    nz-election-2026-guidance.csv

    One row per answer to the eight questions that asked who to vote for.

    Answer id, question id, assistant, what the answer did, the words that show it

    32rows

    Download who to vote for: coding (CSV)

  • Location and national answers

    nz-election-2026-towns.csv

    One row per question asked both nationally and from a location, for each assistant.

    Question, town, assistant, both answer ids, parties named nationally and from the town, same parties

    124rows

    Download location and national answers (CSV)

Use these tables to trace findings back to the original questions and answers. The full text of each answer is also on this page, under its question.

03

Read in full and checked

Some answers were read in detail or checked against official sources. Those appear on the study page, beside the findings they support.

ChatGPT · No location

I've recently been made redundant after years in the same industry. I have rent to pay, and I'm unsure whether to retrain or keep looking for similar work. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. Which party has the most convincing plan for someone in my position to get back into work, and what should I check before trusting that judgement?

If your main concern is “I’ve lost a job, I need to keep paying rent, and I may need to retrain or change industries”, there isn’t a neutral basis for me to tell you which party you should vote for or declare one party’s plan the “most convincing.” I can, however, show you where the 2026 parties differ on exactly those questions so you can make that judgement yourself.

What the major parties are actually offering

Party Relevant approach for someone made redundant
National Emphasises overall economic growth, investment, infrastructure, deregulation and more trades training, on the theory that a stronger economy creates jobs. Its 2026 economic plan targets growth, more jobs and higher wages, while promising no new taxes. 2026 Election Policy | National Party
Labour Has the most explicit direct job-creation programme among the policies I found: Start Work Now, using housing, school and hospital construction/repair to create jobs, alongside nearly 30,000 apprenticeships, expanded Apprenticeship Boost and Māori-led skills training. Labour's 2026 Election Policies
Greens Combine employment programmes with stronger income and worker protections. Their manifesto includes a 40,000-job conservation/construction guarantee and a substantial expansion/reorientation of tertiary education and training. Manifesto 2026 - Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand
ACT Places more emphasis on incentives to enter work, reducing regulation and encouraging private-sector investment, alongside tighter conditions for longer-term Jobseeker recipients. ACT New Zealand
NZ First Focuses particularly on infrastructure, regional investment and practical/trades pathways. Budget 2026 measures it highlights include doubling Trades Academy places and 1,000 additional Youth Guarantee places. Its wider economic policy includes a proposed large infrastructure-focused Future Fund. Our Policy - NZ First
Te Pāti Māori Has a Māori-led job-training programme among its relevant employment policies, alongside a broader emphasis on Māori-led economic and social development. Policies for Party vote - NZ Election 2026 - Policy.nz

One important distinction is how directly a policy helps someone who has already lost a job. For example, an infrastructure programme might create jobs eventually, whereas a funded retraining place, wage subsidy or employment service could affect your situation much sooner. Conversely, policies designed to make the whole economy more productive may have broader effects but less obvious individual assistance.

What I'd check before trusting any party's employment promise

Given your situation, I'd put these questions ahead of slogans:

  1. Is there a specific pathway from redundancy → training → job?
    “More skills” isn't enough. Look for the qualification, who pays, how long it takes, whether you're eligible, and—most importantly—whether employers actually need people with that qualification.

  2. How quickly does the policy put money in your household?
    With rent to pay, a policy beginning in 2028 is very different from assistance available within months. Check transitional arrangements rather than just the headline promise.

  3. Does it create jobs or merely improve the conditions for jobs?
    Ask whether the party has identified actual jobs, contracts, apprenticeships or employers—or is assuming that tax/regulatory changes will eventually produce employment.

  4. What happens if your old industry doesn't come back?
    This is particularly important after years in one industry. A good retraining policy should help people transfer existing experience into adjacent occupations rather than treating them as starting from zero.

  5. What's the evidence behind the promised number of jobs?
    Ask: gross jobs or net jobs? Are these temporary construction jobs, permanent positions, apprenticeships, or jobs that might have happened anyway?

  6. How is it paid for?
    Check the full cost, not just the attractive programme. Labour, for example, publishes a fiscal strategy targeting a return to surplus in 2029/30 and specifies some of the revenue measures it proposes. Labour's Fiscal Strategy National says its economic plan will return the government to surplus in 2028/29 and maintain its no-new-taxes position. National’s Economic Plan backs Kiwis to get ahead | National Party

  7. What does the independent evidence say?
    Don't rely solely on a party's own calculation of how many jobs it will create. Look for Treasury, Stats NZ, Productivity Commission, MBIE/MSD and other independent analysis where available.

  8. Check the current baseline.
    You don't want to credit a party for promising something that already exists. For example, MSD already provides Jobseeker Support and can connect jobseekers with training and employment assistance. How to apply for Jobseeker Support | Check what you might get

One particularly practical point for you

You don't necessarily have to decide “retrain or keep applying” immediately. Current MSD services include job matching based on your existing skills and experience, while also allowing training/upskilling to be considered where that's what you need. How to create or update your Jobseeker profile

So I'd judge the parties against a concrete scenario:

“I have X years' experience in [industry], I've just been made redundant, I have $X of savings and $X weekly rent, and I'm prepared to retrain for up to X months. Which of your policies gets me into sustainable employment fastest, and what exactly would I receive?”

Then demand eligibility rules, dates, dollar amounts, expected job numbers, funding source, and independent evidence.

That comparison will tell you considerably more than asking which party has the nicest-sounding “jobs plan.” Policies for Party vote - NZ Election 2026 - Policy.nz

And because the election is on 7 November 2026, with early voting from 26 October, you have time to check the parties' detailed policies rather than relying on campaign advertising. Policies for Party vote - NZ Election 2026 - Policy.nz

Ask anything

ChatGPT can make mistakes. Check important info.

Captured 5 October 2026 · shown as ChatGPT gave it, not a verified account

Gemini · No location

I've recently been made redundant after years in the same industry. I have rent to pay, and I'm unsure whether to retrain or keep looking for similar work. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. Which party has the most convincing plan for someone in my position to get back into work, and what should I check before trusting that judgement?

Navigating redundancy while facing rent and living costs is a stressful position to be in, and deciding whether to retrain or jump straight back into a similar role is a major fork in the road.

Because political parties view economic recovery and workforce re-entry through different lenses, choosing which plan is "most convincing" depends heavily on whether you lean toward rapid employment via economic stimulation or state-backed safety nets and targeted retraining.

Comparing the Approaches for Displaced Workers

  • Center-Right / Incumbent Perspective (e.g., National, ACT):
    • The Plan: Focuses on broader economic growth, business confidence, and small-business tax incentives to stimulate job creation organically. The philosophy is that a growing private sector is the fastest engine to reabsorb displaced workers. They also emphasize strict criteria and obligations for welfare and jobseeker support to push people back into active employment quickly.
    • Best for someone in your position if: You believe the quickest way to pay rent is through an aggressive private job market and you prefer lower taxes or regulatory hurdles to spur hiring.
  • Center-Left / Opposition Perspective (e.g., Labour, Greens, Te Pāti Māori):
    • The Plan: Tends to focus heavily on direct workforce interventions, industry transitions, strengthening worker protections, and expanding vocational education or training subsidies. They argue that when an entire industry shifts or contracts, workers need state-backed pathways, income protection during retraining, and stronger collective bargaining rights.
    • Best for someone in your position if: Your old industry is shrinking and you need structured retraining, financial buffers, or government-backed transition support to pivot safely into a new career path.

What to Check Before Trusting Any Party’s Judgment

To figure out which plan actually delivers for someone facing immediate rent and unemployment—rather than just sounding good on a campaign stage—check these critical factors:

  1. Immediate Cashflow vs. Long-Term Reform: Does the policy help you pay rent next week (e.g., immediate jobseeker support, emergency accommodation supplements, or fast-tracked job matching), or does it rely on long-term structural changes (like 5-year industry transformations) that won't put food on your table now?
  2. Funding and Costing Realism: Look at the party’s fiscal plan. Are their job creation or retraining subsidies backed by realistic revenue, or are they cutting services elsewhere to fund them? A promise to retrain thousands of workers is only as good as the funding allocated to actual course placements and provider capacity.
  3. Flexibility for Mature or Experienced Workers: If you have years of experience in one industry, check whether their retraining initiatives account for adult learners. Do they offer living allowances or subsidies while you study, or do they expect you to live on a standard student allowance that won't cover rent?
  4. Track Record and Implementation Speed: Review what parties have historically done—or what their current implementation timelines look like. Vague promises about "creating a high-wage economy" need to be weighed against concrete mechanisms like specific training voucher schemes or direct employer-partnered hiring programs.

Which specific industry are you transitioning out of, and are you leaning more toward trying to find a similar role immediately or taking time to retrain?

Ask Gemini

Gemini is AI and can make mistakes.

Captured 5 October 2026 · shown as Gemini gave it, not a verified account

Google AI Mode · No location

I've recently been made redundant after years in the same industry. I have rent to pay, and I'm unsure whether to retrain or keep looking for similar work. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. Which party has the most convincing plan for someone in my position to get back into work, and what should I check before trusting that judgement?

Navigating redundancy after a long tenure in a single industry is a massive life disruption, especially with immediate financial pressures like rent. Because political parties view economic recovery, upskilling, and worker support through fundamentally different lenses, which plan is "most convincing" depends on whether you lean toward market-led flexibility or state-supported industry intervention.

To help you decide where your vote aligns, here is an objective breakdown of the contrasting approaches major New Zealand political blocs generally take regarding jobseekers, redundancy, and retraining, followed by a checklist to evaluate their credibility.

Comparing Political Approaches for Displaced Workers

  • The Governing/Centre-Right Approach (e.g., National-led coalition):

  • Focus: Flexible, employer-driven labour markets, streamlining business compliance to encourage hiring, and targeted welfare-to-work obligations.

  • Retraining/Re-entry view: Tends to favour practical, industry-aligned short courses, workplace-based training, and tight connection of Jobseeker support to active job-hunting or sanctions/incentives. The philosophy is that economic growth driven by private enterprise and business confidence is the fastest way to generate new job openings.

  • The Centre-Left/Opposition Approach (e.g., Labour, Greens, Te Pāti Māori):

  • Focus: Stronger worker protections, industry-specific transition support, and direct government investment in public sector or green-economy jobs.

  • Retraining/Re-entry view: Tends to favour expanded state-funded retraining schemes (similar to past targeted training funds or fees-free retraining initiatives), stronger safety nets for displaced workers, and higher regulation on redundancies or workplace restructuring. The philosophy is that government intervention and structured industry transitions protect workers from market shocks. [Lane Neave lawyers]

What to Check Before Trusting a Party’s Plan

When evaluating which party's policy actually helps someone with rent to pay today and a career pivot ahead, look past the rhetoric and check these practical indicators:

  1. Immediate Income Support vs. Future Promises: Does their policy address your immediate cash-flow needs (e.g., changes to Jobseeker support, MSD transition grants, or Accommodation Supplement adjustments), or is their entire plan focused on macro-economic shifts that will take 2 to 3 years to bear fruit?
  2. Access and Funding for Retraining: If you choose to retrain, check whether their policy provides a living allowance during study or just covers course fees. Free tuition doesn't pay rent if you cannot work full-time while studying.
  3. Evidence and Costing: Look at how they intend to fund their employment and retraining packages. Are their economic models independently scrutinized, or are they relying on optimistic revenue forecasts?
  4. Independent Policy Comparisons: Use non-partisan comparison tools like Policy.nz to line up side-by-side what different parties are promising specifically on incomes, employment, and training.
  5. Practical Assistance Today: Remember that immediate support is managed through agencies like Work and Income NZ (WINZ), which handles redundancy-related entitlements, MSD transitions, and training incentive allowances regardless of who is in power.

To help narrow down which party's approach fits your situation, would you like to share:

  • The industry you were made redundant from?

  • Whether you are leaning toward immediate re-employment or seriously wanting a complete career pivot?

Ask anything

Captured 5 October 2026 · shown as Google AI Mode gave it, not a verified account

AI Overviews · No location

I've recently been made redundant after years in the same industry. I have rent to pay, and I'm unsure whether to retrain or keep looking for similar work. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. Which party has the most convincing plan for someone in my position to get back into work, and what should I check before trusting that judgement?

AI Overview

Choosing the "most convincing" political plan depends entirely on whether you believe market deregulation and employer flexibility or targeted public funding and stronger worker safety nets are the best pathway back to work.

With New Zealand's unemployment rate sitting at an 11-year high of 5.6% , major parties are pitching vastly different structural fixes for job seekers ahead of the 2026 general election.

A direct comparison outlines the core competing philosophies to help you evaluate which plan aligns with your current financial constraints and long-term career choices.

📊 Comparing the Major Election Platforms for Job Seekers

Feature / Party 🔵 National-Led Coalition (Incumbent) 🔴 Labour-Led Opposition
Core Economic Strategy Private-sector growth and deregulation. Focuses on boosting employer confidence to hire, targeting a goal of 220,000 new jobs by 2030. Public investment and worker protections. Focuses on targeted industry funding, trades training, and bolstering social services.
Retraining & Skill Development Emphasizes workforce-aligned training alongside the ACT Party's training wage initiatives for younger workers. Promises to expand the Apprenticeship Boost scheme to two years, opening it up to more trades and adding tool grants.
Welfare & Short-Term Support Incentivising independence. Focuses on targeted funding to move sole parents and job seekers off benefits and into work via MSD partnerships. Cost-of-living relief. Offers a $20 weekly public transport fare cap, free GP visits, and free prescriptions to ease pressure on the unemployed.
Workplace Protections & Rules Has rolled out employer-friendly flexibility via the Employment Relations Amendment Act 2026 , easing rules on high-earner dismissals and trial periods. Pledges to unwind current deregulation , reinstate stronger pay equity legislation, and introduce mandatory pay transparency bills.

🔍 What to Check Before You Trust a Party's Promises

Before casting a vote based on these employment frameworks, evaluate their real-world practicality against your current position:

  • The Reality of Retraining vs. Re-entry: Look at the specifics of Labour's expanded Apprenticeship Boost or the National Party's Budget 2026 job targets. If you decide to retrain, will the supported industries match your skillset, or will you be starting from scratch at entry-level wages?

  • Rent and Immediate Cash Flow: National's plan focuses on moving people into immediate private employment to stop benefit reliance, while Labour targets your everyday bills (transport and healthcare) to lower out-of-pocket costs while you search. Assess which method gives you a more viable financial runway to keep paying rent.

  • Fiscal Viability and Costings: Track independent fiscal reviews of the parties' manifestos. For example, scrutinize how Labour plans to manage the costs of its pay equity pledges, and whether National’s targeted growth plans can successfully stimulate hiring in an environment of high unemployment.

To help narrow this down for your specific situation, how many years were you in your previous industry, and are you leaning more toward retraining for a high-demand trade or finding a bridge job just to cover rent immediately?

Ask anything

Captured 5 October 2026 · shown as AI Overviews gave it, not a verified account