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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

My partner and I rent, have steady jobs and are trying to save a deposit for our first home. We worry that the target keeps moving. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. How do the parties' housing plans differ for first-home buyers rather than existing property owners?

If you and your partner are renting, working, and trying to build a deposit, the most relevant distinction between New Zealand parties’ housing policies is whether they focus on:

  1. Helping you get over the deposit/mortgage hurdle, or
  2. Changing the underlying affordability problem (house prices, supply, rents, public housing, tax settings).

The 2026 campaign is still developing, and some parties’ detailed policies may change. The comparison below focuses on announced or clearly signalled positions rather than predicting what a future government would do. Policies for Party vote - NZ Election 2026 - Policy.nz

Quick comparison: first-home buyer focus

Party Main approach relevant to first-home buyers What it could mean for a couple saving a deposit
National Party of New Zealand Expand access to low-deposit lending through the First Home Loan scheme Targets the specific problem of having a deposit, especially for households who can service a mortgage but struggle to reach 20%
New Zealand Labour Party More emphasis on housing supply, affordability, and public housing measures Aims more at reducing housing pressure over time rather than primarily giving buyers more borrowing power
Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand More emphasis on affordable housing supply, renters’ rights, and reducing housing costs Focuses less on deposit assistance and more on changing the housing system that affects renters and future buyers
ACT New Zealand Generally favours market-led approaches, increasing supply and reducing regulatory barriers Focus is more on making it easier to build homes and reducing constraints rather than direct buyer subsidies
New Zealand First Has supported ideas such as Crown co-ownership models for first-home buyers More direct focus on helping people into ownership through alternative financing approaches
Te Pāti Māori Emphasis on affordable housing, Māori housing needs, and community-based solutions Relevant particularly to voters prioritising broader housing equity and access

Policies for Party vote - NZ Election 2026 - Policy.nz

National: lower deposit barrier

National’s announced first-home policy is the most directly aimed at people in your situation: renters with stable income who may be blocked mainly by the deposit. It proposes expanding access to the government’s First Home Loan scheme by lifting the income cap to $300,000 for applicants, allowing more households to qualify for 5% deposit lending. National is backing first home buyers | National Party

The underlying idea:

  • Problem identified: “We can afford repayments but cannot save a large enough deposit.”
  • Tool: Make a smaller deposit acceptable with government-backed lending.
  • Potential trade-off to consider: A smaller deposit can get buyers into the market sooner, but buyers still need to manage mortgage costs and interest-rate risk.

Labour: supply and affordability pressures

Labour’s housing approach has generally centred on increasing housing supply and improving affordability through government involvement, including public and affordable housing. Policies for Party vote - NZ Election 2026 - Policy.nz

For a first-home buyer, the theory is:

  • More homes being built can reduce competition and price pressure.
  • More affordable housing options can reduce pressure on renters.

The question for someone saving now is timing: supply-focused policies tend to affect the market over a longer period than a direct deposit programme.

Greens: reduce housing costs and strengthen renters’ position

The Greens’ housing approach places more weight on:

For renters trying to buy, this approach is less about “how do we get you a mortgage next year?” and more about “how do we make housing less financially punishing while you rent and save?”

ACT: build more homes through market changes

ACT has generally argued that affordability improves when more homes can be built and barriers to development are reduced. Policies for Party vote - NZ Election 2026 - Policy.nz

For first-home buyers, this approach depends on whether increased construction translates into:

  • more choice,
  • slower price growth,
  • lower costs over time.

It is less focused on direct assistance with your deposit.

New Zealand First: ownership support and alternative models

New Zealand First has signalled support for measures aimed at helping people into ownership, including revisiting a Crown co-ownership idea where government could share ownership with first-home buyers. NZ First reconsiders Crown co-ownership idea for first-home buyers

That approach tries to address the deposit barrier by changing the ownership structure rather than simply lending more.

Questions that may matter most for your situation

When comparing party policies, you might find these questions more useful than “who has a housing policy”:

  • Deposit problem: Would the policy help a couple like you buy sooner, or mainly affect prices years from now?
  • Mortgage risk: Does it help you buy safely, or mainly help you buy earlier?
  • Supply: Does it increase the number of homes available where you actually want to live?
  • Renting while saving: Does it reduce your current costs and improve your ability to save?
  • Price expectations: Does it aim to make houses cheaper, or mainly make borrowing easier?

One important distinction: a policy that helps more people buy can increase demand, while policies that increase housing supply aim to change the supply side of the market. Parties differ substantially on which lever they prioritise. Policies for Party vote - NZ Election 2026 - Policy.nz

If you want, I can also compare the parties specifically for a dual-income renting couple in Auckland trying to buy their first home in the next 2–5 years (deposit, mortgage, house prices, and rental impacts).

Ask anything

ChatGPT can make mistakes. Check important info.

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Gemini · No location

My partner and I rent, have steady jobs and are trying to save a deposit for our first home. We worry that the target keeps moving. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. How do the parties' housing plans differ for first-home buyers rather than existing property owners?

For renters with steady jobs trying to bridge the gap to homeownership, the debate over how to make a deposit and beat a "moving target" is a central issue in the 2026 political landscape.

The political parties approach the housing market with fundamentally different philosophies. While some focus on easing the immediate financial barriers for first-home buyers (like deposits), others focus on structural shifts to curb property investor competition or incentivize supply.

The main parties' approaches highlight distinct differences for first-home buyers versus existing property owners:

National Party

  • For First-Home Buyers: National focuses heavily on lowering immediate entry hurdles. They have pledged to expand access to the government's 5% deposit First Home Loan scheme by lifting the income caps (e.g., raising thresholds for individuals and couples) to help middle-income earners and young professionals enter the market sooner without waiting to save a traditional 20% deposit. They also lean into planning and zoning reforms to boost housing supply long-term.
  • For Existing Property Owners / Investors: National maintains a more landlord-friendly environment, supporting policies like interest deductibility for rental properties.
  • The Trade-off: While lower deposit requirements help you get your foot in the door faster, critics note that pro-investor policies can mean you may still face competition from existing property owners for entry-level housing stock.

Labour Party

  • For First-Home Buyers: Labour’s approach targets the competitive advantage that property investors often hold over owner-occupiers. Their headline policy is a proposed 28% capital gains tax (CGT) on residential investment and commercial property (excluding the family home). The intent is to cool speculative investor demand, theoretically leveling the playing field for first-home buyers competing at auctions.
  • For Existing Property Owners / Investors: Existing owners are protected on their primary residence (which remains exempt from the proposed CGT), but property investors face a tighter fiscal environment due to the capital gains tax.
  • The Trade-off: While reducing speculative demand can take the heat off house prices, critics argue that penalizing investors can sometimes contract the private rental pool, putting pressure on renters who are still trying to save.

ACT New Zealand

  • For First-Home Buyers: ACT emphasizes a free-market, supply-side solution. They argue that the ultimate fix for the "moving target" is aggressively cutting red tape, planning barriers, and consenting costs so that building more houses becomes cheap and fast.
  • For Existing Property Owners / Investors: ACT strongly supports property rights and landlord incentives, advocating for full interest deductibility and minimal regulatory interference in the rental market.
  • The Trade-off: First-home buyers benefit if massive deregulation successfully floods the market with affordable new builds, but the lack of curbs on property investors means you will likely still compete directly against established wealth.

Green Party & The Opportunity Party (TOP)

  • For First-Home Buyers: Both parties propose structural tax reforms aimed at reducing housing speculation. The Greens emphasize state, public, and community housing provision alongside renter protections. TOP proposes a sweeping annual Land Value Tax on urban land (paired with a citizen's income) explicitly designed to drive down inflated land and house prices by 10–15% to make buying structurally more achievable.
  • For Existing Property Owners / Investors: These policies present a challenging environment for multi-property owners and land bankers, shifting the tax burden away from productive work and onto land and capital investment.
  • The Trade-off: If successful, lower overall house price growth or broad price corrections help first-home buyers enter the market cheaper, but landlords warn these policies can disrupt the rental market.

Summary: What this means for your vote

  • If your primary hurdle is saving the cash for a deposit, parties like National offer direct demand-side mechanisms (like expanded low-deposit loan caps).
  • If your primary frustration is competing against property investors driving up prices, parties like Labour, the Greens, or TOP offer tax and structural shifts meant to disincentivize speculation and cool the market.

Given that you are balancing saving while renting, are you more drawn to policies that help you gather a deposit faster, or policies aimed at shifting overall house prices down?

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

My partner and I rent, have steady jobs and are trying to save a deposit for our first home. We worry that the target keeps moving. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. How do the parties' housing plans differ for first-home buyers rather than existing property owners?

Navigating the housing market as renters trying to save a first deposit is tough, and it is completely understandable why the target feels like it keeps moving. Ahead of the 2026 general election, the major political parties approach the housing market with distinct philosophies—balancing support for getting first-home buyers into the market versus the impact on existing property owners and residential investors.

The primary differences in how the main parties frame their housing policies for first-home buyers compared to existing owners and landlords are outlined below:

  • National Party

  • For First-Home Buyers: Focuses heavily on lowering the deposit hurdle through financial accessibility. National proposes widening access to the Kāinga Ora First Home Loan scheme (allowing a 5% deposit instead of 20%) by introducing a flat income cap of $300,000 for anyone buying (whether single or combined), removing the previous restrictive caps (which were $95,000 for singles and $150,000 for couples/families).

  • For Existing Owners & Investors: Maintains full mortgage interest deductibility for landlords (which was restored under the current government) and proposes no new property taxes. Their supply strategy leans heavily on Resource Management Act (RMA) reform, streamlining consents, encouraging medium-density housing, and making it easier to build granny flats.

  • Labour Party

  • For First-Home Buyers: Generally targets mechanisms that help build long-term deposit capacity, such as enhancing structural savings tools and KiwiSaver support, while addressing structural affordability and housing supply.

  • For Existing Owners & Investors: Tends to favour a level playing field between owner-occupiers and property speculators, historically questioning tax concessions for landlords to reduce the purchasing power advantage that heavily-leveraged investors hold over first-time buyers. [LJ Hooker NZ]

  • Green Party

  • For First-Home Buyers & Renters: Strongly prioritises shifting housing from an investment asset back to a basic necessity. Their focus is heavily weighted toward strengthening renters' rights (such as capping annual rent increases at 2% and ending no-cause evictions) to give financial breathing room to people who are renting while trying to save.

  • For Existing Owners & Investors: Proposes reversing tax cuts and interest deductibility for landlords and property speculators, and introducing broad tax reforms (like a capital gains tax) to curb speculative demand and cool competition against first-home buyers.

  • New Zealand First

  • For First-Home Buyers: Has explored or considered interventions like Crown co-investment or shared-equity schemes, where the government takes a partial equity share in the property to reduce the size of the mortgage required by the first-home buyer.

  • For Existing Owners & Investors: Generally positions itself around balanced regional growth and practical infrastructure-led supply rather than aggressive market-cooling property taxes.

  • ** ACT New Zealand**

  • For First-Home Buyers: Focuses almost entirely on aggressive supply-side deregulation, cutting red tape, and reforming local council zoning to dramatically ramp up land availability and building capacity, arguing that abundant supply is the only permanent cure for high prices.

  • For Existing Owners & Investors: Strongly opposes new property taxes or heavy regulation on landlords, supporting property rights and free-market incentives for residential providers.

If you'd like to narrow this down further, let me know:

  • Are you more interested in policies targeting down payments/loans or overall house price inflation?

  • Do you want to look at how these policies affect your current renting situation as well?

I can provide more targeted details on how these distinct approaches line up with your goals.

Ask anything

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AI Overviews · No location

My partner and I rent, have steady jobs and are trying to save a deposit for our first home. We worry that the target keeps moving. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. How do the parties' housing plans differ for first-home buyers rather than existing property owners?

AI Overview

As you look ahead to the 2026 New Zealand general election , the major political parties offer distinctly different visions for addressing the housing market. Their strategies outline different pathways for first-home buyers trying to enter the market versus the regulations and tax structures surrounding existing property owners and investors.

The current political landscape shows how the parties differ in their approach to first-home buyers and existing property owners:

🏠 Focus on First-Home Buyers (Getting onto the Ladder)

For buyers struggling to save a traditional 20% deposit while paying rent, the policies focus heavily on reducing deposit barriers or lowering alternative entry hurdles:

  • National: The cornerstone of National's 2026 campaign is a massive expansion of the Kāinga Ora First Home Loan scheme. If re-elected, they plan to lift the household income ceiling to a flat $300,000 for all applicants (replacing the previous caps of $95,000 for singles and $150,000 for couples). This allows higher-earning couples or singles who can afford mortgage repayments—but struggle to save a 20% deposit—to purchase a home with just a 5% deposit.

  • Labour: Labour focuses heavily on affordability and targeted construction support. They advocate for state-backed paths to ownership, previously focusing on building density and supply, though they critique National's $300,000 deposit scheme expansion as missing the root cause of high prices.

  • Green Party: The Greens approach the problem by trying to cool investor competition so first-home buyers don't get outbid. They also support massive public and community provider housing projects to take the heat off the private market.

  • NZ First: NZ First has actively floated exploring a Crown co-investment or shared-equity scheme , where the government owns a slice of the home alongside the first-home buyer to reduce the size of the required mortgage.

💰 Focus on Existing Property Owners & Investors (Taxes and Rules)

The parties draw a sharp line when it comes to the tax burdens and regulations applied to investment properties and secondary homes:

Political Party Tax Policy on Property Impact on Investors / Existing Owners Impact on First-Home Buyers
National & ACT No new property taxes. Maintains the current 2-year bright-line test and full mortgage interest deductibility for landlords. High incentive to hold or buy residential rentals; minimizes tax on capital gains after 2 years. May keep investor demand high in the lower-to-middle tiers of the property market.
Labour Proposing a flat 28% Capital Gains Tax (CGT) on commercial and residential investment properties (excluding the family home). Effectively replaces the bright-line test; investors pay tax on profits upon selling. Designed to redirect capital away from property speculation and into the productive economy.
Green Party Reversing landlord tax cuts, extending the bright-line test to 10 years , and introducing a wealth tax on high net-worth individuals. Strips away mortgage interest deductibility again; targets wealth accumulation. Aims to aggressively suppress investor competition so first-home buyers face lower prices.

🏢 What About Renting While You Save?

Because saving a deposit requires stable, affordable rent, the parties' rental market policies act as the bridge to your first home:

  • The Green Party is campaigning on a strict 2% annual cap on rent increases , the removal of no-cause evictions, and an independent Rental Warrant of Fitness.

  • Labour similarly aligns toward stronger renters' rights and fairer rental market protections.

  • National and ACT firmly oppose rent controls, arguing that capping rents or adding heavy compliance costs forces landlords out of the market, which shrinks the pool of available rentals and drives prices up overall.

To help look at how this impacts your specific journey, could you share:

  • What is your approximate household income bracket? (To see if you qualify for the expanded 5% deposit limits)

  • Are you hoping to buy an existing home or build a new build?

  • How much does rental cost stability factor into your current timeline?

Ask anything

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