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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'm 18, starting an apprenticeship and living with my parents. I want to become financially independent but don't understand how voting works. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. Which parties have practical plans for apprenticeships, entry-level jobs and wages?

For your priorities, Labour currently has the most directly targeted plan, especially on apprenticeships and creating entry-level work. National focuses more on overall economic growth and keeping taxes low. Labour's 2026 Election Policies

  • Labour: expand Apprenticeship Boost, provide a $1,000 toolbox grant, support nearly 30,000 apprentices, and create construction/trades work through housing, school and hospital projects. Start Work Now - NZ Labour
  • National: emphasises economic growth, lower taxes and making it easier to build; its policies are less specifically focused on apprenticeships. 2026 Election Policy | National Party
  • Wages: the current adult minimum wage is $23.95/hour; some apprentices can instead fall under the $19.16 training minimum. Minimum wage and fair pay - Business.govt.nz

How your vote works: you get two votes under MMP—one for a party and one for your local electorate candidate. Your party vote is particularly important because it largely determines each party's share of Parliament. What happens in a general election? | Elections NZ

The 2026 election is 7 November, and you must enrol by 25 October. What to do | Vote NZ

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Gemini · No location

I'm 18, starting an apprenticeship and living with my parents. I want to become financially independent but don't understand how voting works. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. Which parties have practical plans for apprenticeships, entry-level jobs and wages?

Starting an apprenticeship at 18 while living at home is a fantastic foundation for building financial independence. Navigating your first vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election can feel a bit overwhelming, but looking at how different political parties approach apprenticeships, entry-level work, and wages can help clarify where your interests lie.

Different parties approach these issues through distinct economic lenses—generally balancing direct government funding and industry support versus broad economic growth and tax settings.

Key Political Approaches to Apprenticeships and Jobs

1. New Zealand Labour Party

  • Apprenticeships & Training: Labour heavily emphasizes direct state-backed support for vocational education. A core part of their platform focuses on backing tradies and young people into qualifications through targeted funding initiatives, such as supporting and expanding programs like Apprenticeship Boost to help employers take on and retain apprentices.
  • Wages & Cost of Living: Labour traditionally advocates for regular increases to the statutory minimum wage (which sits at $23.95 per hour for adults, with training/starting-out wages at $19.16 per hour) to protect lower-income and entry-level workers against inflation. They also lean toward workforce protections and collective bargaining rights.

2. New Zealand National Party

  • Apprenticeships & Jobs: National centers its approach on broader economic growth, cutting red tape, and boosting business confidence to organically create jobs (targeting broad employment growth and infrastructure building like roads, schools, and housing). Their focus is on streamlining industry training requirements and making it easier for businesses to operate and hire.
  • Wages & Tax: Rather than focusing primarily on mandated minimum wage hikes, National emphasizes letting people keep more of what they earn through tax relief and adjustments to tax thresholds. For an 18-year-old apprentice starting out, policies that reduce income tax or curb living cost inflation are central to their pitch for financial independence.

3. ACT New Zealand

  • Apprenticeships & Jobs: ACT generally favors free-market solutions, aiming to reduce regulations on small businesses and employers so they have more flexibility to hire entry-level staff. They often support reforming employment laws (such as 90-day trial periods universally) to encourage employers to take a chance on young or inexperienced workers without heavy legal barriers.
  • Wages: ACT tends to oppose sharp, government-mandated increases to the minimum wage, arguing that higher labor costs can sometimes make employers hesitant to take on entry-level trainees or youth who are still building their baseline skills.

4. Green Party & Te Pāti Māori

  • Apprenticeships & Wages: These parties place a strong emphasis on living wages, ensuring that minimum and training wages are pegged directly to the actual cost of living. They also advocate for specialized, community-led training grants and targeted job programs (such as green jobs or Māori-led training initiatives) to support youth entering the workforce.

What This Means for Your Financial Independence

When deciding how to cast your party vote, consider which philosophy aligns best with your situation:

  • If you prefer direct government subsidies and protection for trainees: Parties like Labour or the Green Party focus heavily on state-backed support structures, training incentives, and minimum wage floors.
  • If you prefer business-led growth and tax relief: Parties like National or ACT focus on economic conditions that encourage private companies to expand, hire, and let you keep more of your paycheck through tax policy.

To explore exact, up-to-date policy comparisons side-by-side, you can check out Policy.nz, which is a comprehensive, neutral guide mapping out every party's specific stances on trades, vocational education, and the economy for the 2026 election.

What specific financial milestone or goal (like moving out on your own or buying a car) is most important to you as you start your apprenticeship?

Ask Gemini

Gemini is AI and can make mistakes.

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Google AI Mode · No location

I'm 18, starting an apprenticeship and living with my parents. I want to become financially independent but don't understand how voting works. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. Which parties have practical plans for apprenticeships, entry-level jobs and wages?

Entering an apprenticeship, living at home, and figuring out your path toward financial independence is an exciting (and slightly overwhelming) milestone. The 2026 New Zealand general election takes place on Saturday, 7 November 2026 , with advance voting starting on 26 October 2026.

To help you get your head around how voting works and what the major parties are offering for people in your exact shoes, here is a breakdown of the voting basics and the current landscape of entry-level, wage, and apprenticeship policies.

Part 1: How Voting Works in NZ (The Short Version)

New Zealand uses the MMP (Mixed Member Proportional) voting system. When you vote, you get two main votes :

  1. Your Electorate Vote: This is for the specific MP you want to represent your local area (the electorate you live in).
  2. Your Party Vote: This is the most powerful vote for determining the overall makeup of Parliament. It decides the proportion of seats each political party gets. If a party gets 5% of the total party vote (or wins an electorate seat), they get seats in Parliament.

  • To vote: You must be 18 or older, a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident, and have lived in NZ for a certain period. If you haven't enrolled yet, you can check details or sign up through the Elections NZ Enrolment page.

  • Tool to compare: A fantastic, neutral tool for comparing where every party stands on youth, wages, and training is Policy.nz, which maps out party policies side-by-side for the 2026 election.

Part 2: Party Approaches to Apprenticeships, Jobs, and Wages

Different parties view the economy, wages, and training through different lenses. Here is how the key political movements approach entry-level workers and apprentices:

  • Labour Party

  • Apprenticeships: Labour has campaigned on expanding the Apprenticeship Boost scheme, proposing to reset the employer subsidy back to a two-year duration (from 2028), introduce a $1,000 tool grant for apprentices, and expand targeted trades to sectors like road construction and water treatment to bring in more diverse workforces.

  • Wages & Jobs: Traditionally favours increasing or protecting the minimum wage and supporting industry-training structures through centralized bodies. They argue that direct government subsidies give employers the confidence to keep hiring and training young people through economic ups and downs.

  • National & ACT (The Coalition Government/Center-Right perspective)

  • Apprenticeships & Jobs: Their focus tends to be on broader economic management—trying to reduce business costs, cut red tape, and stimulate the construction and private sectors so that businesses naturally create entry-level jobs and take on apprentices without relying heavily on permanent state subsidies. They often scrutinize the fiscal cost of broad-based grants, prioritizing targeted support and fiscal restraint.

  • Wages: They generally favor a cautious approach to minimum wage increases, arguing that raising the minimum wage too high too fast can discourage small businesses from taking a chance on untried, entry-level workers. [RNZ]

  • Green Party & Te Pāti Māori (Center-Left / Independent perspectives)

  • Apprenticeships & Training: The Greens support boosting funding for trades and vocational training, alongside localized, community-led or Māori-led job training frameworks designed to transition young people directly into sustainable regional employment.

  • Wages: They strongly advocate for higher baseline wages (such as a living wage framework) to combat the cost of living, arguing that entry-level workers need stronger income floors to achieve true financial independence from their parents sooner. [Policy.nz]

What this means for your goal of financial independence:

  • If you value direct government financial support for your employer (which can make it easier to secure an apprenticeship or tool subsidies while you earn), center-left parties like Labour or the Greens have more explicit interventionist and grant-based policies.

  • If you value policies aimed at curbing inflation, lowering business compliance costs, and expanding the private economy to drive job creation organically, center-right parties like National or ACT focus more on the macro-business environment.

Take a look at Policy.nz to search specific keywords like "apprenticeships" or "minimum wage" to see the verbatim policy promises from each party before heading to an advance voting place between 26 October and 6 November.

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AI Overviews · No location

I'm 18, starting an apprenticeship and living with my parents. I want to become financially independent but don't understand how voting works. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. Which parties have practical plans for apprenticeships, entry-level jobs and wages?

AI Overview

Congratulations on starting your apprenticeship —taking this step at 18 while living at home is an excellent foundation for building long-term financial independence.

Understanding how your vote shapes your financial future can feel overwhelming, but the mechanics of voting in the November 7, 2026 New Zealand General Election are straightforward, and the major parties have distinctly different practical approaches to apprenticeships, entry-level jobs, and wages.

Part 1: How Voting Works in New Zealand

New Zealand uses the Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) voting system. When you go to vote, you receive a single ballot paper and get two separate votes :

  1. The Party Vote (The Most Powerful Vote): You choose the political party you want to lead the country. This vote dictates the overall percentage of seats that party gets in Parliament. To get into Parliament, a party needs at least 5% of the total party vote or must win at least one electorate seat.

  2. The Electorate Vote: You choose the specific local Member of Parliament (MP) who will represent your geographic area. The candidate with the most votes wins that seat.

Key Dates & Action Steps:

  • Enrol: You must enrol before you can vote. Head over to the official Vote NZ Website to enrol or update your details online by Sunday 25 October 2026.

  • Cast Your Vote: Advance voting opens on 26 October 2026 , or you can vote in person on Election Day, Saturday 7 November 2026.

Part 2: Party Policies on Apprenticeships, Jobs, and Wages

Political parties have varying economic philosophies regarding how to support young workers and employers. The major platforms ahead of the 2026 election outline distinct strategies:

🛠️ Vocational Training & Apprenticeships

The level of financial assistance provided directly to your employer or into your pocket depends on who forms the next government:

  • Labour: Has campaigned heavily on a major expansion of the Apprenticeship Boost scheme. If elected, they plan to restore the employer subsidy to $500 a month for two full years (instead of the current one-year cap), offer a $1,000 toolbox grant directly to new apprentices for equipment, and add five new eligible trades (including road construction and personal services).

  • National / ACT Coalition: Focuses on shifting the vocational framework away from centralized systems (like the former Te Pūkenga) back to regional polytechnics and Industry Skills Boards to make training more responsive to local businesses. They emphasize creating broader economic conditions that encourage private business growth, arguing that market demand—rather than extended government subsidies—is the most sustainable way to secure long-term trade jobs.

💰 Wages and Entry-Level Jobs

The parties take vastly different approaches to the balance between increasing your take-home pay and making it easier for employers to hire entry-level workers.

  • Green Party: Strongly advocates for workers’ rights and proposes shifting the legal National Minimum Wage to match the Living Wage (which sits at $29.90 for the 2026/27 period). This would significantly boost starting incomes but faces pushback from business sectors concerned about rising operational costs.

  • National: Backs gradual, market-aligned changes. As part of their current coalition setup, they raised the adult minimum wage moderately in April 2026 to $23.95 per hour , asserting that smaller, predictable increases balance worker protection without forcing small businesses to cut jobs.

  • ACT: Approaches this from a small-business survival perspective. They propose a three-year freeze on the adult minimum wage at $23.95 to combat inflation. Crucially for young workers, ACT wants to implement a Youth Training Wage set at 60% of the adult minimum ($14.37/hr) for a worker's first 12 months with any employer. They argue this lower rate incentivizes businesses to take risks on hiring inexperienced youth who require significant on-the-job training.

Direct Comparison Overview

Policy Area Labour National ACT Green Party
Apprenticeship Support 2-year employer subsidy ($500/mo) + $1,000 tool grant. Focuses on localized, industry-led regional polytechnic training. Focuses on reducing business costs to encourage hiring. Supports targeted funding for equitable trade opportunities.
Minimum Wage Target Historically supports annual raises indexing with inflation. Moderate, controlled annual increases ($23.95/hr as of 2026). Freeze the adult rate at $23.95/hr for three years. Legislate the minimum wage to match the Living Wage ($29.90/hr).
Youth Wage Rates Opposes lowering youth rates; supports equal pay for equal work. Maintains current starting-out/training wage frameworks (80% of adult rate). Introduce a 60% Training Wage ($14.37/hr) for under-20s for 12 months. Opposes youth/training discounts; supports full Living Wage.

💡 Blind Spots to Keep in Mind

As you build financial independence, remember that your hourly rate is only one piece of the puzzle :

  1. Take-Home Pay vs. Subsidies: A party offering higher direct wages (like the Greens) puts money in your pocket immediately, but if businesses struggle to pay it, entry-level roles can dry up. Conversely, policies reducing training wages (like ACT) make it easier to get a foot in the door but mean a lower initial income while you are learning.

  2. Kiwisaver & Taxes: Keep an eye on secondary policies. For instance, Labour's 2026 platform includes moves to make employer KiwiSaver contributions compulsory even if you pause your own, whereas right-leaning parties focus heavily on tax bracket adjustments to let you keep more of what you earn.

To dive deeper into the full text of these platforms before making your choice, you can explore the comprehensive interactive breakdowns at Policy.nz.

Ask anything

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