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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 retired and still rent. NZ Super is my main income, and I am worried about rent increases or needing to move again. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. How do parties compare on housing-cost support for older people with limited income?

For someone in your situation—retired, renting, and relying mainly on NZ Super—the most relevant differences are around rent increases, the Accommodation Supplement, access to secure social housing, and protection against being forced to move. I’ve focused on those rather than policies aimed mainly at first-home buyers.

The 2026 election is on Saturday 7 November 2026. New Zealand Parliament dissolved ahead of tight November vote

The main differences

Party What it is proposing/doing that matters to a low-income older renter
National As the current Government, it has increased the maximum Accommodation Supplement by $10–$30 a week from April 2027, but is also increasing the minimum rent contribution for social-housing tenants from 25% to 30% of assessable income. It is moving social housing towards tighter needs-based eligibility and is exploring defined tenancy periods. Social Housing and Welfare - Budget 2026 - 28 May 2026
ACT Supports the Government's approach: shifting more assistance towards private renters through higher Accommodation Supplement payments, while making social housing more tightly targeted and subject to reviews/possible defined tenancy periods. ACT New Zealand
NZ First Has particularly explicit policies for older renters: it says it will develop a Seniors Housing Plan and consider increasing the Accommodation Supplement for seniors in rental accommodation. It also says NZ Super should remain at 65 and not be means-tested. 2023 Election Policies - NZ First
Green Party Proposes much stronger direct protection against rent shocks: a 2% annual rent-increase cap, substantially more public housing, and restoring income-related rent treatment for public/council housing. It has opposed the Government's higher social-housing contributions. Leave our homes alone! - action.greens.org.nz
Labour Labour opposed the Government's 2026 Accommodation Supplement/social-housing changes, arguing that they make life harder for people already struggling with housing costs. It voted against the relevant legislation; the governing National–ACT–NZ First parties voted for it. Hansard - New Zealand Parliament
Te Pāti Māori Its current 2026 policy material is less prominent on the specific question of an older Pākehā/non-Māori renter's Accommodation Supplement or rent cap, so I would not infer a position where the party has not clearly stated one. Policy.nz is useful for checking its wider housing proposals. Policies for Party vote - NZ Election 2026 - Policy.nz

What this means in practical terms

There are two quite different approaches here.

National/ACT's approach is essentially: help private renters more through the Accommodation Supplement, while concentrating scarce social housing on people judged to have the greatest barriers to private housing. The Budget 2026 package explicitly moves money in that direction. Social Housing and Welfare - Budget 2026 - 28 May 2026

For you, that could mean more assistance with a private-market rent, but it does not directly prevent your landlord from raising the rent. And if you were seeking social housing, the Government's direction is toward tighter eligibility and potentially less security of tenure. Changes to housing support | Work and Income

Greens' approach puts considerably more emphasis on controlling the rent itself and expanding secure public housing. Its 2026 campaign calls for a 2% annual rent cap and more public housing, specifically arguing that secure housing is particularly important for people on fixed incomes. Leave our homes alone! - action.greens.org.nz

NZ First is unusually specific about older renters. Its published policy calls for a Seniors Housing Plan aimed at the increasing number of seniors renting and needing Accommodation Supplement assistance, alongside maintaining NZ Super at 65 and opposing means-testing. 2023 Election Policies - NZ First

Labour's position is clearer on opposing the current Government's changes than on a single, detailed 2026 rent-support package. In Parliament it opposed the legislation changing Accommodation Supplement and social-housing settings. Hansard - New Zealand Parliament

One particularly important point for you

If you are renting privately, the Government's April 2027 Accommodation Supplement increase is directly relevant. The maximum payments are scheduled to rise by $10–$30 per week depending on circumstances and location. Changes to housing support | Work and Income

If you are in social housing, the situation is different: the minimum income-related rent contribution is scheduled to rise from 25% to 30% of assessable income. That is potentially much more important if your fear is being unable to remain in secure housing. Changes to housing support | Work and Income

And if you receive NZ Super, the Government's separate change to the Accommodation Supplement entry threshold for some homeowners does not apply to NZ Super recipients—but that's mainly relevant to homeowners, not someone renting. Hansard - New Zealand Parliament

A useful way to make your own comparison

Given your concern about having to move again, I would look at parties on these four questions rather than their general housing rhetoric:

  1. Will my rent be allowed to rise without a specific limit?
  2. If my rent rises, how much additional Accommodation Supplement could I receive?
  3. If private rent becomes unaffordable, how easy would it be for an older person on NZ Super to obtain secure social housing?
  4. If I get into social housing, how secure is my tenancy likely to be?

Those questions produce quite different answers across the parties, and they may be more relevant to you than policies about helping younger people buy homes.

If you want, I can next make a simple side-by-side comparison of National, Labour, Greens, NZ First and ACT specifically for a single retired renter on NZ Super, including what each party says about rent caps, Accommodation Supplement, public housing, NZ Super and the Winter Energy Payment.

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'm retired and still rent. NZ Super is my main income, and I am worried about rent increases or needing to move again. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. How do parties compare on housing-cost support for older people with limited income?

Navigating the rental market on New Zealand Superannuation is a significant source of stress for many older New Zealanders, and housing costs are a key area of debate in the 2026 General Election.

Different political parties approach rental costs, income support, and housing stability through vastly different lenses—balancing market incentives, public housing supply, and direct financial regulation.

Overview of Party Approaches to Rental Support and Housing

1. National, ACT, and New Zealand First (The Current Coalition / Center-Right)

  • Focus: Supply-side solutions, market incentives for landlords, and homeownership pathways rather than direct rent regulations.
  • Rental Support Policies: They generally oppose rent controls and caps, arguing that restricting landlords or increasing property taxes reduces the overall supply of rental homes and ultimately pushes rents higher.
  • Landlord Incentives: They maintain full interest deductibility for residential landlords (restored to 100%), which they argue keeps private rental stock stable.
  • Support for Seniors: New Zealand First has highlighted a specific focus on aged-care reform and a dedicated Seniors Housing Plan aimed at increasing options for aging in place, alongside protecting the statutory rate of NZ Super (at 66% of the net average wage).

2. Labour (Center-Left)

  • Focus: Broad tax reform, increased public housing, and tenant protections.
  • Rental Support Policies: Labour supports stronger renter protections (such as previously removing no-cause evictions when in government), though it has stopped short of hard rent control caps.
  • Tax and Cost Pressures: Labour is campaigning on a 28% capital gains tax on residential investment and commercial property (excluding the family home) starting mid-2027. While intended to cool property speculation, critics note that property tax changes can sometimes flow through to private rental pricing depending on market conditions. Labour’s primary strategy for low-income renters centers on expanding social and public housing stock to reduce reliance on the private market.

3. The Green Party and Te Pāti Māori (Left / Progressive)

  • Focus: Direct intervention, market regulation, and massive expansion of public/community housing.
  • Rental Support Policies: Both parties strongly support a Renters’ Rights Bill, which features a strict hard cap on annual rent increases (around 2%) and the elimination of no-cause evictions.
  • Housing Quality & Security: The Greens are also campaigning on a mandatory rental warrant of fitness to ensure older and lower-income tenants are not stuck in cold or damp homes. Their approach relies heavily on shifting low-income tenants out of the private rental market entirely and into deeply subsidized public housing.

4. The Opportunities Party (TOP)

  • Focus: Structural welfare and tax shifts.
  • Rental Support Policies: TOP has proposed replacing the current Accommodation Supplement system with a universal housing payment to simplify and boost direct financial assistance for low-income households. They also emphasize increasing social housing supply and broad land-tax mechanisms to improve overall housing affordability.

Summary Checklist for a Superannuitant Renter

  • If you want direct limits on rent hikes: Parties like the Greens and Te Pāti Māori offer hard caps (e.g., 2% annual limits), whereas National, ACT, and New Zealand First strongly oppose rent controls.
  • If you want more direct financial/housing assistance: TOP proposes overhauling the Accommodation Supplement into a universal housing payment, while NZ First emphasizes targeted senior housing options.
  • If you are worried about displacement and long-term security: Progressive parties focus on expanding public housing options and tenant rights, while center-right parties focus on stimulating private landlord investment to prevent rental shortages.

Are there specific aspects of assistance (like the Accommodation Supplement or public housing waitlists) that matter most to your day-to-day budgeting?

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'm retired and still rent. NZ Super is my main income, and I am worried about rent increases or needing to move again. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. How do parties compare on housing-cost support for older people with limited income?

Major New Zealand political parties approach housing-cost support for older, low-income renters through distinct policy platforms focusing on benefit adjustments, supply, rent controls, and targeted senior housing schemes.

As the Grey Power NZ advocacy highlights key retirement issues for the electoral cycle, individual parties propose varying methods to assist seniors struggling with accommodation costs.

Party Policy Comparisons for Older Renters

  • National Party : Emphasizes broader economic management and housing supply reforms to moderate market rents, alongside utilizing and adjusting existing systems like the Accommodation Supplement and rates rebates, while focusing on general fiscal restraint.

  • Labour Party : Focuses on broader cost-of-living relief, public transport fare caps, and energy cost reductions, while traditionally supporting state and public housing supply expansions rather than specific new private-rental caps for seniors.

  • Green Party : Advocates for significant direct market intervention, including limiting annual rent increases to 2%, building thousands of accessible public and social homes, and establishing a state-owned, not-for-profit retirement village option for lower-income older people. [greypowermag.co.nz]

  • New Zealand First : Proposes a dedicated Seniors Housing Plan aimed at increasing housing options designed specifically for older citizens and supporting aging-in-place initiatives. [greypowermag.co.nz]

  • The Opportunities Party (TOP) : Proposes replacing the traditional Accommodation Supplement with a more universal housing payment model, coupled with increased funding for social housing. [greypowermag.co.nz]

If you'd like, I can provide more details on:

  • Specific Accommodation Supplement eligibility criteria and asset thresholds

  • How to access current Work and Income senior entitlements

Ask anything

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

AI Overviews · No location

I'm retired and still rent. NZ Super is my main income, and I am worried about rent increases or needing to move again. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. How do parties compare on housing-cost support for older people with limited income?

AI Overview

For retired New Zealanders who rent, housing costs are one of the most critical issues heading into the 2026 general election. As a renter on NZ Super , your primary concerns around rent hikes, security of tenure, and access to assistance are being approached very differently across the political spectrum.

The main political parties generally split into two distinct paths: the right-of-centre approach focusing on private rental supply and targeted cash supplements, and the left-of-centre approach focusing on stricter rent controls, tenant rights, and building state housing.

Comparison of Party Policies on Housing-Cost Support

Political Party Stance on Accommodation Supplement & Financial Support Rent Controls & Tenant Protections Public & Community Housing Stance
National Party Introduced a Budget 2026 overhaul to increase maximum Accommodation Supplement rates by $10 to $30 per week. Expanded rates rebates for low-income seniors. Reinstated 90-day no-cause tenancy terminations and interest deductibility for landlords to encourage rental supply. Opposes caps on rent. Shifted the minimum Income-Related Rent contribution for social housing from 25% to 30% of income to align closer with the private market.
Labour Party Opposes National's 2026 changes , pledging to reverse the increase of social housing rents to 30%. Argues that increasing the Accommodation Supplement ultimately acts as a subsidy for private landlords. Vows to improve security for renters. Pledged to introduce a law within their first 100 days requiring retirement villages to repay departing residents within three months. Committed to delivering at least 6,000 additional social housing places over four years via a $3.7 billion investment to clear waiting lists.
Green Party Rejects the expansion of the Accommodation Supplement in favor of broader wealth redistribution. Strongly opposes National's public housing rent increases and limits on stay duration. Promises a Renters' Rights Bill that will cap annual rent increases at 2%. Aims to ban no-cause evictions and introduce a strict, independently certified Rental Warrant of Fitness. Pledges to build tens of thousands of quality, affordable public homes. Proposes a state-owned, not-for-profit retirement village scheme to offer secure options for aging in place.
ACT New Zealand Focuses on keeping general government spending low to curb the inflation that devalues NZ Super. Supports funding mechanisms that tie housing growth to local infrastructure. Strongly supports the removal of rental regulations, arguing that reducing compliance burdens on landlords lowers overall rental market costs. Advocates for a smaller state footprint, encouraging private sector solutions and strict limits/check-ins on social housing eligibility.
New Zealand First Supports targeted relief and proposed a dedicated Seniors Housing Plan specifically designed to address the growing number of retirees requiring rental assistance. Focuses on encouraging older New Zealanders to "age in place" by offering localized support networks so seniors aren't forced to move frequently. Open to exploring innovative housing supply models (such as the Singaporean model) for down-sizing and affordable options.

Key Financial Realities for 2026

  • NZ Superannuation Rates: As of the annual adjustment, the standard "Single Living Alone" rate sits at $555.15 net weekly (using the 'M' tax code).

  • The "30% Rule" Conflict: The National-led coalition is raising the amount social housing tenants must pay from 25% to 30% of their income starting in April 2027 to fund increases to the Accommodation Supplement. While National argues this creates fairness for private renters, Labour and the Greens have labeled it harmful to fixed-income seniors and vow to push back.

To help narrow down which options might offer you the most peace of mind, could you tell me:

  • Are you currently receiving the Accommodation Supplement , or have you checked if you qualify for the latest rates?

  • Do you prefer a system that prioritizes capping rent increases legally (Greens/Labour), or one that increases cash supplements (National/NZ First)?

  • Are you open to or currently on the waitlist for public/council housing , or are you strictly looking at the private rental market?

Ask anything

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