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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 have a mobility impairment, rent and want to keep living independently. I rely on accessible transport and support services. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. Which parties address accessible public transport and mobility access, and what would they change?

Several New Zealand parties have addressed disability access, public transport, or transport affordability, but the level of detail differs. The key issues for someone wanting to live independently with a mobility impairment are likely to be: accessible buses and trains, Total Mobility funding, wheelchair-accessible vehicles, door-to-door options, and housing/support services that enable independence. Review of the Total Mobility scheme | Ministry of Transport

Party Relevant approach (based on published policies/statements)
Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand Supports stronger public transport investment and has advocated for more affordable/free public transport options, including concessions for disabled people. Policies for Party vote - NZ Election 2026 - Policy.nz
New Zealand Labour Party Has generally supported expanding public transport access and affordability measures. Transport policy comparisons for 2026 include Labour proposals around public transport investment and concessions. Policies for Party vote - NZ Election 2026 - Policy.nz
New Zealand National Party The current government has focused on changes to the Total Mobility scheme, including funding changes and longer-term work on transport choice, accessibility standards, and wheelchair-accessible vehicle support. Disability Issues | Beehive.govt.nz
ACT New Zealand Has generally emphasised targeted support and choice-based approaches rather than broad public transport expansion; specific disability transport commitments should be checked in its election policy releases. Disability Policies – Disability Responsiveness New Zealand
New Zealand First Disability and transport positions should be checked against its current election policies; it has participated in the current coalition’s transport and disability policy decisions. Disability Issues | Beehive.govt.nz
Te Pāti Māori Has highlighted disability inclusion and equity issues; its specific transport commitments should be checked in its election policy material. Disability Policies – Disability Responsiveness New Zealand
The Opportunities Party Has been included in disability policy comparisons, but specific accessible transport commitments should be checked against its current platform. Disability Policies – Disability Responsiveness New Zealand

For your situation, useful questions to ask each candidate or party are:

  • Will you protect or increase Total Mobility subsidies for people who cannot use standard public transport? Total Mobility card | New Zealand Government
  • Will you require more buses, stops, stations and information systems to meet accessibility needs?
  • Will wheelchair users have reliable options outside major cities?
  • How will transport policy support disabled renters to remain independent in their communities?
  • Will disabled people be directly involved in designing transport changes?

The Electoral Commission has also published accessibility services for disabled voters for the 2026 election, including accessible election information and voting support. Access 2026: accessibility action plan for the 2026 General Election | Elections NZ

I can also compare the parties specifically on housing + disability support + transport, which may be closer to your priorities as a renter wanting to stay independent.

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 have a mobility impairment, rent and want to keep living independently. I rely on accessible transport and support services. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. Which parties address accessible public transport and mobility access, and what would they change?

In the context of the 2026 New Zealand general election, several political parties have put forward distinct proposals addressing public transport, mobility access, and disability rights. Parties approach these issues through different lenses—ranging from rights-based legislative changes to targeted fare structures and infrastructure investments.

The key positions and proposed changes from major political parties relevant to your situation include:

Green Party

The Green Party places a strong emphasis on public transport and accessibility, linking transport choice directly to independence for disabled people.

  • Proposed Changes:
    • Free Fares for Total Mobility Card Holders: Their transport platform explicitly proposes extending free public-transport travel to Total Mobility card holders, alongside students, apprentices, Community Services Card holders, and everyone under 18.
    • Enforceable Standards: The Greens support strengthening the Accessibility for New Zealanders Act by introducing firm timelines and legally enforceable standards for transport, buildings, and digital access.
    • Infrastructure: Investment in mass rapid transit, bus-priority lanes, and improved local network connectivity designed to make independent travel more reliable.

Te Pāti Māori

Te Pāti Māori approaches accessibility through a rights-based and mana-enhancing framework.

  • Proposed Changes:
    • Support for strengthening accessibility legislation to ensure it moves past mere strategy into tangible accountability.
    • Embedding universal accessibility requirements directly into public spaces, housing, and transport networks to guarantee inclusion and dignity for tāngata whaikaha Māori and all disabled New Zealanders.

The Opportunities Party (TOP)

While TOP focuses heavily on broader systemic and economic reforms, they align with several key advocacy positions.

  • Proposed Changes:
    • Support for co-designing accessibility legislation directly with the disabled community.
    • Advocacy for enforceable accessibility standards and an expansion of accessible public services, positioning their framework close to robust rights-based implementation.

Labour Party

Labour's platform emphasizes cost-of-living relief and broader public transit frameworks, following up on previous legislative steps.

  • Proposed Changes:
    • Labour previously passed the initial Accessibility for New Zealanders Act 2022, though it faced criticism from the disability sector for lacking enforceable standards. For 2026, they have signaled intentions to co-design replacement or strengthened disability legislation with the sector and have proposed broader measures such as a weekly public transport fare cap to ease transport costs.

National Party & ACT

  • Stance: These parties generally lean toward economic management, fiscal restraint, and individual choice rather than sweeping rights-based mandates or new regulations.
  • Focus: While they propose major investments in roading, traffic management, and transport infrastructure (such as dedicated transport groups or congestion reduction), specific, standalone policies targeting transport accessibility or disability-specific transit subsidies are less prominent in their core platforms compared to parties like the Greens.

Summary of Key Takeaways for Voters

If your primary considerations are free or subsidized travel via mobility schemes (like Total Mobility) and enforceable legal standards for public transport accessibility, parties on the left and center-left (particularly the Green Party and Te Pāti Māori) feature the most explicit, granular policy commitments. Other parties tend to focus more broadly on general infrastructure, economic management, or broad cost-of-living caps.

Are there specific support services or housing stability measures beyond transport that are influencing your vote decision?

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 have a mobility impairment, rent and want to keep living independently. I rely on accessible transport and support services. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. Which parties address accessible public transport and mobility access, and what would they change?

As you weigh your vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election with a focus on independent living, mobility access, and public transport, the major political parties present distinct approaches and proposed changes.

An overview of how the key parties address accessibility, independent living, and support systems highlights these differences:

1. The Green Party

  • Accessibility Standards & Rights: Promises to introduce a comprehensive disability rights law grounded in Te Tiriti o Waitangi, featuring legally enforceable accessibility standards.
  • Housing & Independent Living: Commits to ensuring disabled people can live in safe, accessible, and affordable community housing by setting robust universal design standards for both public and private stock. [The Spinoff]
  • Income & Support: Pledges timely, easily accessible income support to cover all disability-related living and medical costs, delinked from relationship status or the origin of the disability. Read more in the analysis by The Spinoff.

2. The Labour Party

  • Support System Overhaul: Pledges to repeal the recently passed Disability Support Services Act and replace it with rights-based legislation codesigned directly alongside the disability community to protect self-determination and independent living. [The Spinoff]
  • Focus on Consultation: Emphasizes reversing recent centralized ministerial powers over support allocation in favor of community-led funding structures.

3. The Opportunities Party (TOP)

  • Universal Basic Income & Disability Allowance: Proposes a universal basic income (citizen’s income) of up to $370 a week for adults over 18, which would replace current standard benefits (like the Supported Living Payment). [The Spinoff]
  • Targeted Transport/Tech Funding: Proposes pairing this with a specific universal disability allowance (projected around $6,000 annually) alongside needs-based top-ups. They note this universal income structure is designed not to replace specific dedicated funding allocations for transport or assistive technology. [The Spinoff]

4. The National Party (Current Government Approach)

  • Funding Stability & System Consistency: Does not feature a distinct standalone transport accessibility or enforceable accessible-housing platform for this election cycle.
  • Current Administration Focus: Their approach centers on stabilizing Disability Support Services (DSS) following its shift to the Ministry of Social Development, easing purchasing restrictions on flexible funding to give individuals more choice over daily supports (like respite care), and establishing a more consistent nationwide assessment process.

5. Other Parties (ACT and New Zealand First)

  • Have not campaigned on distinct, enforceable nationwide accessibility standards or dedicated public transport accessibility frameworks in their core platforms, focusing instead on broader economic management, public sector spending restraint, or general health delivery models.

Note: If you are planning how and where to cast your vote independently, you can review the Electoral Commission'sAccess 2026 Accessibility Action Plan which details available formats (such as Easy Read, braille, and assistive technology support) as outlined on 1 News.

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AI Overviews · No location

I have a mobility impairment, rent and want to keep living independently. I rely on accessible transport and support services. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. Which parties address accessible public transport and mobility access, and what would they change?

AI Overview

For the 2026 New Zealand general election , several political parties have put forward specific platforms addressing accessible public transport, mobility access, and support services to help disabled people live independently.

Because you mentioned renting and independent living, the parties' stances span both transport costs and physical accessibility standards for infrastructure and housing.

Comparison of Party Policies on Accessibility and Mobility

Political Party Public Transport & Mobility Schemes Infrastructure & Housing Accessibility
Green Party • Make public transport free for Total Mobility users.
• Restore the Total Mobility taxi subsidy back to 75% (from 65%). • Introduce a disability rights law with firm, enforceable timelines and accessibility standards for transport.
• Enforce robust universal design standards for rental and public housing.
Labour Party • Introduce a $20-per-week public transport fare cap for all users. • Commit to universal design standards for public and private housing so disabled people can rent safely in their communities.
The Opportunity Party (TOP) • Implement universal free public transport.
• Introduce a universal disability allowance (approx. $6,000/year) that keeps transport/assistive funding intact. • Establish a 30-year national infrastructure framework focused on consistent, long-term practical access.
National Party • Reallocate the National Land Transport Fund to focus primarily on road infrastructure. • Oversaw the New Zealand Disability Strategy 2026–2030. No current commitments to enforceable building accessibility standards.
New Zealand First • Prioritise regional public transport and rail connections. • Previously proposed an Accessibility Standards Bill to build access into new transport hubs and public buildings from the start.
ACT Party • Focuses on a user-pays model , tolling, and private capital for infrastructure. • No specific disability-targeted transport or housing accessibility policies identified.

What These Proposed Changes Mean for You

1. Public Transport and Daily Costs

  • If you rely on specialized transport schemes, the Green Party platform focuses on reducing your out-of-pocket costs by lowering taxi fares through an increased Total Mobility subsidy and eliminating bus/train fares entirely for scheme users.

  • Labour and TOP focus on broad cost reduction through general fare caps or universal free transport across the network.

2. Housing and Independent Renting

  • Because finding an accessible rental property can be exceptionally difficult, Labour and the Green Party have specifically pledged to legally enforce universal design standards. This would mandate that a percentage of new builds or community housing incorporate step-free entries, wider doorways, and accessible bathrooms.

3. Support Services and System Navigation

  • The Green Party has actively opposed recent fast-tracked changes to Disability Support Services funding , campaigning for a "nothing about us without us" approach to support allocations.

  • National has focused on a nationwide, streamlined assessment process introduced in early 2026 to ensure support service consistency across different regions.

If you would like to explore these platforms further before voting on Saturday, 7 November 2026 , you can look into the Electoral Commission’s Access 2026 Plan on Vote NZ. This plan includes interactive maps indicating the physical accessibility of your local voting places, alongside information available in Easy Read and alternate formats.

Would you like more details on how a specific party plans to fund these support services , or would you like to know more about the accessible voting options available for election day?

Ask anything

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