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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

For the 2026 New Zealand general election: Compare parties' positions on foreign relationships, defence, trade and regional security.

New Zealand general election 2026: foreign relationships, defence, trade and regional security comparison

New Zealand’s 2026 election debate on foreign policy is centred on how to balance traditional security partnerships (especially with Australia, the United States and Five Eyes), economic links with China and other markets, Pacific relationships, and the country’s independent foreign policy tradition. Policies for Party vote - NZ Election 2026 - Policy.nz The main differences are usually about degree and emphasis rather than whether New Zealand should engage internationally. (The election is scheduled for 7 November 2026.) New Zealand Parliament dissolved ahead of tight November vote

The table below summarises the major parties’ broad positions based on publicly stated policies and platforms. Some smaller parties have less detailed published policy in these areas. Foreign affairs and sovereignty: party comparison 2026 | PartyMap

Party Foreign relationships Defence Trade Regional security (Pacific/Indo-Pacific)
Christopher Luxon / New Zealand National Party Emphasises close relationships with traditional partners, including Australia, the US and other democracies; supports active international engagement. Supports strengthening defence capability and closer cooperation with partners. Favors expanding export opportunities and trade agreements, with a strong focus on economic growth. Places emphasis on Pacific partnerships and working with allies on regional stability.
Chris Hipkins / New Zealand Labour Party Supports a rules-based international order, diplomacy and maintaining New Zealand’s independent foreign policy approach. Supports a capable Defence Force, with focus on practical needs and international cooperation. Supports trade diversification and maintaining access to international markets. Emphasises Pacific engagement, climate-related security issues and diplomacy.
Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand Places greater emphasis on peace, international law, human rights, climate diplomacy and an independent foreign policy. Foreign affairs and sovereignty: party comparison 2026 | PartyMap Generally favours a defence role focused on peacekeeping, humanitarian assistance, disaster response and climate-related security. Policies for Party vote - NZ Election 2026 - Policy.nz Supports trade approaches that incorporate environmental, labour and indigenous rights considerations. Gives strong weight to Pacific climate security, self-determination and regional cooperation. Foreign affairs and sovereignty: party comparison 2026 | PartyMap
ACT New Zealand Advocates closer alignment with democratic allies and a more explicit strategic response to authoritarian influence. Foreign Policy Policy NZ — All Parties Compared | Policy Navigator Supports increased defence spending, deeper Five Eyes cooperation and examining options such as closer involvement with AUKUS-related security arrangements. Foreign Policy Policy NZ — All Parties Compared | Policy Navigator Generally supports freer trade and reducing barriers to business activity. Focuses on deterrence, alliance cooperation and countering strategic pressure in the Indo-Pacific. Foreign Policy Policy NZ — All Parties Compared | Policy Navigator
Winston Peters / New Zealand First Emphasises sovereignty, national interest and pragmatic diplomacy. Peters has argued for continued US engagement in Pacific security while highlighting regional instability. New Zealand's Peters urges strong US role in Pacific Supports maintaining defence capability and attention to national sovereignty. Favours trade that protects New Zealand interests and avoids excessive dependence on any single partner. Strong focus on Pacific security, Pacific-led approaches and balancing great-power competition. New Zealand's Peters urges strong US role in Pacific
Te Pāti Māori Emphasises tino rangatiratanga (Māori self-determination), Te Tiriti o Waitangi perspectives and relationships with Indigenous peoples internationally. More likely to emphasise peace, humanitarian roles and community security alongside defence. Supports trade settings that protect Māori interests, indigenous knowledge and environmental values. Places Pacific relationships, climate justice and Indigenous sovereignty at the centre of security discussions. New Zealand Elections 2026

Key differences by issue

1. Relationship with major powers

2. China and strategic competition

A central question for all parties is how New Zealand should manage the tension between:

Broadly:

  • ACT advocates a clearer strategic response to China’s influence. Foreign Policy Policy NZ — All Parties Compared | Policy Navigator
  • National and NZ First emphasise security partnerships while maintaining economic relationships.
  • Labour, Greens and Te Pāti Māori generally place more emphasis on diplomacy, dialogue and independent decision-making.

3. Defence spending and role of the NZ Defence Force

The main divide is over scale and purpose:

4. Trade policy

There is broad agreement that New Zealand needs export growth and diverse markets, but parties differ on conditions attached to trade.

  • National/ACT: emphasise market access, business growth and expanding trade opportunities.
  • Labour: supports trade diversification while incorporating economic and social objectives.
  • Greens/Te Pāti Māori: more strongly emphasise environmental standards, labour protections and indigenous rights in trade agreements. Policies for Party vote - NZ Election 2026 - Policy.nz
  • NZ First: stresses economic sovereignty and reducing strategic vulnerabilities.

5. Pacific security

All major parties identify the Pacific as central to New Zealand’s security interests, but their approaches differ:

Broad spectrum of positions

A simplified way to view the differences:

  • More alliance- and defence-focused: ACT → National → NZ First
  • Centrist balance of alliances, diplomacy and trade: National / Labour / NZ First (with different emphases)
  • More independent, peace-, climate- and rights-focused: Greens / Te Pāti Māori

These are broad comparisons; coalition negotiations after the election could also affect how any party’s foreign and defence policies are implemented under New Zealand’s MMP system. How does New Zealand's electoral system work and does it favour coalitions?

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Gemini · No location

For the 2026 New Zealand general election: Compare parties' positions on foreign relationships, defence, trade and regional security.

For the 2026 New Zealand general election, political parties hold distinct visions for New Zealand’s place in the world, balancing traditional alliances, regional security in the Pacific and Indo-Pacific, and export-driven trade strategies.

## 1. Foreign Relationships and International Diplomacy

  • National, ACT, and New Zealand First (The Coalition Government): Generally favor strengthening traditional security and intelligence alliances (such as the Five Eyes network) alongside deepening partnerships with traditional Western democracies and key Indo-Pacific partners. New Zealand First strongly emphasizes a pragmatic, independent foreign policy centered heavily on national interests and robust diplomatic engagement within the Pacific neighborhood.
  • Labour: Focuses on an independent, values-based foreign policy. They support active engagement through multilateral institutions like the United Nations, a commitment to international law, and maintaining balanced relations with major powers.
  • The Green Party and Te Pāti Māori: Advocate for a more progressive, independent foreign posture. Both parties push for stronger commitments to international human rights, with specific calls from progressive blocks to formally recognize Palestinian statehood and pivot away from military-aligned frameworks.

## 2. Defence and Regional Security

  • National and ACT: Emphasize the need to reinvest in and modernize the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) to respond to growing geopolitical competition in the Indo-Pacific. They lean toward closer interoperability with traditional partners (like Australia, the US, and UK) to address maritime security and cyber threats.
  • Labour: Supports strengthening defence capabilities with an explicit core focus on domestic security, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, and fulfilling stability obligations within the South Pacific.
  • The Green Party and Te Pāti Māori: Frequently advocate for military neutrality, peace-building, and non-alignment. They tend to oppose joining broader security pacts like AUKUS (specifically the non-nuclear Pillar II discussions) and favor redirecting defence budgets toward climate diplomacy, international aid, and conflict resolution.

## 3. Trade and Economic Diplomacy

  • National and ACT: Prioritize an export-led economic strategy heavily anchored by expanding global trade links, securing new bilateral free trade agreements (FTAs), and ratifying or upgrading deals across Asia, Europe, South America, and the Middle East. They view trade as New Zealand's primary tool for economic resilience.
  • Labour: Supports an active trade agenda centered on diversifying markets, upholding rules-based global trade via the WTO, and integrating environmental and labor protections into modern trade agreements.
  • The Green Party and Te Pāti Māori: Critically evaluate traditional free trade agreements, arguing that trade policy must align with strict climate targets, local labor rights, and indigenous sovereignty. They support localized supply chains and climate-conscious trade provisions.

## 4. Foreign Aid and Pacific Partnerships

  • All Parties: Agree that the Pacific Islands region is of paramount strategic and security importance, though they differ on funding scales and focus areas.
  • The Coalition Government: Directs aid and defence spend toward Pacific resilience, regional policing, infrastructure, and countering strategic shifts in Oceania.
  • The Left/Progressive Bloc (Labour, Greens, Te Pāti Māori): Generally push for significantly scaling up official development assistance (ODA)—with some advocating targets closer to the UN benchmark of 0.7% of GDP—with a heavy emphasis on climate change adaptation aid for vulnerable low-lying Pacific nations.

Would you like to explore a specific party's detailed manifesto commitments on one of these areas ahead of the November 7 election?

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

Google AI Mode · No location

For the 2026 New Zealand general election: Compare parties' positions on foreign relationships, defence, trade and regional security.

For the general election on Saturday, 7 November 2026 , New Zealand's political landscape presents a range of perspectives on foreign relationships, defence, trade, and regional security. According to platforms tracking the 2026 campaign—such as

Policy.nz

—the debate spans from maintaining traditional security alignments to advocating for independent or military-neutral postures.

Overview of Key Thematic Positions

  • Foreign Policy and Regional Focus

  • Mainstream and Governing/Right-leaning parties (such as National) generally emphasize traditional diplomatic ties with core Western, European, and trans-Tasman/American allies while expanding practical economic engagement across Asia.

  • Progressive and Left-leaning/Minor parties (such as the Greens and Te Pāti Māori) advocate for independent foreign policy reviews, pushing to refocus diplomatic capital heavily on the Pacific, supporting regional sovereignty and independence in the Asia-Pacific, and taking distinct stances on global human rights issues such as formally recognizing the state of Palestine.

  • Defence and Security

  • Centrist and Conservative approaches prioritize maintaining functional interoperability with traditional security partners and addressing rising geopolitical tensions in the Indo-Pacific.

  • Left/Independent alignments (promoted by various minor or progressive entities) feature proposals to refocus the New Zealand Defence Force strictly toward domestic civil protection, humanitarian assistance, and Pacific disaster relief, with fringe or pacifist positions going as far as advocating to declare New Zealand a "military neutral" nation. [Policy.nz]

  • Trade and Export Strategy

  • Across the political spectrum , expanding and diversifying global export markets remains a point of consensus, though with varying emphasis. Mainstream parties lean into bilateral and multilateral free-trade agreements across Asia, India, and the Americas to drive economic growth.

  • Alternative party views stress linking trade frameworks more explicitly to environmental standards, fair labor practices, and strengthening economic resilience alongside Pacific neighbors.

  • Foreign Aid and Development

  • Left-leaning and progressive parties advocate for scaling up international development assistance—with specific proposals to increase climate-change adaptation aid targeted at Pacific Island nations and lifting overall foreign aid commitments closer to international targets like 0.7% of GDP.

  • Right-leaning parties typically favor tighter fiscal constraints on overseas development assistance, prioritizing domestic economic recovery while maintaining baseline aid to immediate Pacific partners. [Policy.nz]

_The 2026 New Zealand General Election takes place on

Saturday, 7 November 2026

Add to calendar

._ [New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade]

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

AI Overviews · No location

For the 2026 New Zealand general election: Compare parties' positions on foreign relationships, defence, trade and regional security.

AI Overview

For the 2026 New Zealand general election scheduled for 7 November 2026, political parties are presenting distinct visions for New Zealand’s global standing. The debate centers on balancing traditional Western security alignments with maintaining an independent, trade-focused foreign policy.

A direct comparison of the major parties' positions across foreign relationships, defence, trade, and regional security highlights key differences:

Policy Comparison for the 2026 General Election

Political Party Foreign Relationships & Regional Security Defence Spending & Capability Trade & International Agreements
National Party Focuses on a "latticework" of interlocking alliances; prioritizes interoperability with Australia and deepening ties with the US, NATO IP4, and ASEAN. Committed to doubling defence spending to 2% of GDP over 8 years, adding $9B in new funding; modernizing the NZDF into a combat-capable force. Strongly backs trade diversification across the Indo-Pacific; actively progressing the implementation of the India Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
Labour Party Advocates for an "independent, principled, and unafraid" foreign policy; criticizes the coalition for being too one-sided toward US-led military coalitions. Supports increasing defence spending but demands full public debate; opposes compromising NZ's nuclear-free status through pacts like AUKUS. Deepening relations with ASEAN and the EU; supports the India FTA but emphasizes expanding visa-waiver travel to Pacific citizens.
ACT New Zealand Aligns closely with Western democratic allies; supports entering a defence alliance with Australia and Fiji to create an "ocean of peace." Strongly aligns with the coalition's goal to raise defence capability and boost lethality to serve as a regional deterrent. Staunch champion of free trade agreements; views the India FTA as a vital economic opportunity for Kiwi exporters.
Green Party Strongly opposes great power antagonism; explicitly demands New Zealand steer clear of the AUKUS military pact and US-led naval coalitions. Focuses core NZDF mandates entirely on peacekeeping, disaster relief, and climate-related humanitarian aid rather than military force. Prioritizes climate action and human rights in global justice over military alliances; opposes withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement.
New Zealand First Heavily emphasizes national sovereignty and quiet diplomacy over megaphone diplomacy; maintains a strict focus on the Pacific Islands Forum. Backs increased regional security presence but acts as a internal check on coalition military commitments. Strongly nationalistic; invoked the "agree to disagree" clause over specific elements of the India FTA legislation.

Key Electoral Debates

  • The AUKUS & Alliance Debate: The National-led coalition is pushing for tighter integration with traditional partners, including exploring Pillar 2 of AUKUS and direct regional security alliances. Conversely, Labour and the Greens warn that these steps erode New Zealand's historic independent, nuclear-free foreign stance.

  • Defence Funding: While National and ACT are executing a long-term plan to shift defence funding from 1% to 2% of GDP to counter global volatility, opposition parties argue for a baseline focus on regional climate resilience and humanitarian disaster response.

  • The India FTA & Migration: Advancing trade with India is broadly supported, but execution details differ. Coalition friction exists as NZ First has expressed reservations about specific visa concession rules, while Labour pushes for greater focus on reciprocal human connections and broader Pacific visa-free travel.

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