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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 rent with my partner and work rostered hours that change from week to week. Our pay can drop unexpectedly, but rent and bills don't. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. What would the parties change about rental affordability, tenancy protections and the supply of rental homes?

If your household income can swing because of rostered work, the issues you’re weighing are likely less about home ownership policy and more about rent stability, protection from sudden housing shocks, and whether the rental market has enough supply to keep pressure on prices.

I’ll compare the main parliamentary parties’ stated positions where available. Policies can still change during a campaign, so treat this as a snapshot of announced positions rather than a promise of what will become law. Policies for Party vote - NZ Election 2026 - Policy.nz

Quick comparison

Party Rental affordability / rent rises Tenancy protections Rental home supply
Christopher Luxon’s National Party Focuses more on increasing supply and reducing barriers to building rather than direct rent controls Has argued for making the rental market easier for both landlords and tenants; restored some landlord rights such as no-cause tenancy terminations during its term Emphasises planning reform, infrastructure, construction changes and private-sector development
New Zealand Labour Party Supports measures aimed at improving affordability but has not backed a hard rent cap like the Greens’ proposal Supports stronger renter protections and previously removed no-cause evictions while in government Traditionally supports more public, affordable and state-supported housing alongside private supply
Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand Proposes stronger rent regulation, including a 2% annual rent increase cap Supports scrapping no-cause evictions and introducing stronger minimum rental standards, including a rental warrant of fitness Supports increasing public and affordable housing and stronger regulation of housing investment
ACT New Zealand Opposes rent controls, arguing they could reduce supply and discourage investment Generally favours fewer restrictions on landlords and stronger property rights Emphasises deregulation, reducing building costs and increasing private supply
New Zealand First Has generally focused on affordability through broader economic and housing measures rather than rent caps Positions vary by issue; has supported some tenancy changes while opposing others Supports increasing housing supply, with emphasis on infrastructure and development
Te Pāti Māori Supports stronger affordability measures for renters and lower-income households Supports stronger renter protections Supports significant expansion of public and community housing

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

What the differences mean for someone with variable income

1. If your biggest concern is “my pay can drop, but my rent keeps going up”

The biggest policy divide is over rent controls.

The trade-off debated by parties is:

  • Rent caps: more predictable costs for existing renters, but critics argue they may reduce incentives to provide rental homes.
  • Supply-first approaches: aim to increase the number of homes available and reduce pressure over time, but do not directly prevent a rent increase affecting your household next year.

2. If your concern is “could we suddenly lose our home?”

Tenancy security is another major dividing line.

3. If your concern is “will there actually be enough rentals?”

Most parties agree New Zealand needs more homes, but differ on how.

A useful way to compare the parties for your situation

You might look at these questions:

  1. Would I rather have a rule limiting rent rises, or a policy aimed at increasing supply over time?
  2. How important is the ability to stay in a rental long-term without a landlord ending the tenancy?
  3. Do I prioritise more government-built affordable rentals, or fewer restrictions to encourage private landlords and developers?
  4. Would changes to income support, tax, wages or employment rules matter as much as housing policy for my household’s ability to absorb a bad roster week?

For a detailed side-by-side comparison of housing policies, including party-by-party policy entries, Policy.nz 2026 housing comparison is a useful reference. Policies for Party vote - NZ Election 2026 - Policy.nz

I can also make a “renter with unstable income” comparison table that focuses only on policies most likely to affect your weekly budget (rent rises, security of tenure, accommodation support, wages and cost of living).

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 rent with my partner and work rostered hours that change from week to week. Our pay can drop unexpectedly, but rent and bills don't. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. What would the parties change about rental affordability, tenancy protections and the supply of rental homes?

When balancing variable income with fixed living costs like rent and bills, housing stability and predictability are critical. As New Zealand heads toward the November 2026 general election, the major political parties present starkly different philosophies on how to tackle rental affordability, tenant protections, and housing supply.

Overview of Party Positions

Party Rental Affordability & Tax Tenancy Protections Rental & Social Housing Supply
National • Favours landlord tax incentives (fully restored interest deductibility).
• Focuses on expanding low-deposit options (First Home Loans) to shift renters into ownership.		 • Supports current settings (retained no-cause evictions), arguing heavy regulations shrink supply. • Relies heavily on planning/consenting reform and community housing providers rather than large-scale state builds.
Labour • Proposes a 28% Capital Gains Tax (excluding the family home) starting July 2027.
• Has not explicitly ruled out changes to landlord interest deductibility.		 • Supports stronger tenant rights and protections (previously removed no-cause evictions). • Pledges a major social housing injection (at least 6,000 new social homes over four years).
Green Party • Proposes wealth and inheritance taxes; would re-abolish interest deductibility and extend the bright-line test. • Campaigns on a Renters' Rights Bill (capping rent increases at 2% annually, banning no-cause evictions, and introducing a rental warrant of fitness). • Strongly backs state-led intervention, campaigning for 40,000 public homes over five years.
ACT • Strongly pro-landlord and free-market; supports interest deductibility and opposes new property taxes. • Strongly opposes rent caps and additional regulations, arguing they hurt long-term availability. • Focuses entirely on supply-side deregulation (freeing up land and streamlining planning) rather than state building.
NZ First • Prefers private property investment incentives and home-ownership pathways (such as Crown co-investment) over heavy regulation. • Takes a moderate stance, generally placing less emphasis on heavy tenant market regulation. • Focuses on increasing overall housing availability and first-home buyer accessibility.
Te Pāti Māori • Proposes progressive wealth taxes, a 5% residential stamp duty, and strict taxes on land banking and vacant homes. • Strongly supports robust renter protections and market intervention to curb speculation. • Focuses heavily on public and affordable housing, including developments on Māori and ancestral land.

What This Means for Your Situation

If your primary concern is coping with unpredictable income while facing fixed bills, the parties offer very different mechanisms to ease that pressure:

  • If you want immediate direct relief on rent costs: The Greens offer the most direct intervention via proposed rent increase caps (targeting 2% per year) and rental WOF standards. However, critics argue that aggressive regulation can sometimes prompt landlords to exit the market, tightening overall supply.
  • If you are looking for long-term housing security through stability or ownership: Parties like Labour, Te Pāti Māori, and the Greens lean toward expanding state/public housing and increasing taxes on property speculation to cool the market. Conversely, National, ACT, and NZ First focus heavily on private supply generation, deregulation, and helping renters transition into first-home ownership via schemes like relaxed deposit rules.

Given your fluctuating rostered hours, which aspect of the housing market is most critical for your peace of mind—strict price controls on your current rent, or broader policies aimed at long-term stability and supply?

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 rent with my partner and work rostered hours that change from week to week. Our pay can drop unexpectedly, but rent and bills don't. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. What would the parties change about rental affordability, tenancy protections and the supply of rental homes?

Navigating rostered hours and fluctuating weekly pay while fixed costs like rent and bills stay rigid is a stressful balancing act. Ahead of the NZ Election 2026, New Zealand's political parties offer distinct approaches to rental affordability, tenancy rights, and housing supply.

The core positions of the major and minor parties shape the rental landscape through these key areas:

  • Rental Affordability & Cost Controls

  • Left/Progressive Parties (e.g., Green Party, Labour): Tend to advocate for direct market interventions to protect tenants from steep price hikes. Proposals in this space include limiting annual rent increases (such as caps tied to a low percentage like 2%) or introducing broader tax structures (like capital gains or land taxes) to cool speculative investor demand, which they argue drives up rents.

  • Centre-Right/Governing Parties (e.g., National, ACT): Generally favour market-led supply solutions rather than price controls. Current settings implemented by the National-led government restored interest deductibility for landlords, which they argue encourages private rental supply and helps stabilize or flatten rental growth through increased availability.

  • Tenancy Protections & Rights

  • Labour & Green Parties: Focus heavily on strengthening renters' security of tenure. They typically push to restrict "no-cause" terminations, make it easier for tenants to make modifications or keep pets, and extend notice periods for landlords selling or moving back into properties.

  • National & ACT: Emphasize a balanced regulatory framework that protects both landlords and tenants. Recent shifts under the current government reinstated provisions like 90-day no-cause terminations to encourage property owners to list rentals without fear of being locked into a lengthy eviction process if issues arise, while introducing standardized rules around pets. [iFindProperty]

  • Supply of Rental and Affordable Homes

  • All Parties (Varying Methods): Most parties agree that boosting overall housing supply is critical, but they disagree on the mechanism. National focuses on expanding low-deposit schemes and streamlining planning/zoning (such as Medium Density Residential Standards) to incentivize private builds.

  • Labour & Greens: Place heavier emphasis on direct state and public housing construction, community housing providers, and infrastructure funding for local councils to build non-market affordable housing.

To explore how individual party platforms match your specific priorities, you can look at the interactive comparison tools on the RNZ Housing Policy Guide or Policy.nz.

Would you like to explore how specific parties approach income support and working-for-families/welfare changes when hours drop, or dive deeper into a comparison of specific party manifestos on tenancy rules?

Ask anything

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

AI Overviews · No location

I rent with my partner and work rostered hours that change from week to week. Our pay can drop unexpectedly, but rent and bills don't. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. What would the parties change about rental affordability, tenancy protections and the supply of rental homes?

AI Overview

For the 2026 New Zealand general election , political parties are divided into two distinct philosophies regarding housing: direct intervention to protect tenants versus increasing market supply to lower costs. For a renter with unpredictable rostered hours, these policies directly impact your financial predictability and housing security.

Comparison of Key Party Policies for 2026

Party Rental Affordability Tenancy Protections Rental Supply
Green Party Strong Intervention
Caps rent increases at 2% annually. High Protection
Bans "no-cause" evictions; introduces a rental Warrant of Fitness (WoF). Public-Led
Builds 40,000+ new public homes over 5 years. Reverses landlord tax cuts.
Labour Party Targeted Relief
Opposes increasing accommodation supplements (calling it a landlord subsidy); implements a 28% Capital Gains Tax (CGT) on investment properties to curb speculation. Moderate-High Protection
Historically banned no-cause evictions and supports rolling back current government changes. Mixed Public/Private
Proposes a $4.3 billion housing plan including 6,000 new social houses.
National Party Market-Driven
Maintains restored mortgage interest deductibility for landlords to naturally ease rent pressures. Opposes rent caps. Flexible/Landlord-Focused
Keeps 90-day no-cause evictions and fixed-term rolling rollbacks to encourage landlords to stay in the market. Introduced pet bonds. Private-Led
Boosts supply through fast-track consenting and rewriting the Resource Management Act (RMA).
ACT New Zealand Market-Driven
Strongly opposes rent caps and rental WoFs, arguing they add compliance costs that drive up rents. Property-Rights Focused
Supports keeping no-cause evictions to give landlords control over their investments. Private-Led
Focuses entirely on cutting red tape to allow the private sector to build freely.

1. Rental Affordability

  • The Greens plan to introduce a Renters' Rights Bill that legally caps annual rent increases at 2%. This would give you a highly predictable maximum rent cost, regardless of how your income fluctuates.

  • Labour focuses on flattening costs by using a 28% Capital Gains Tax to cool investor demand. They have explicitly stated they will not increase the accommodation supplement , arguing it ultimately serves as a taxpayer-funded subsidy that private landlords use to raise rents.

  • National and ACT argue that artificial price caps destroy rental markets. They believe affordability is best achieved by keeping landlord tax incentives (like full mortgage interest deductibility), which they credit with the flattening of rental price growth seen in recent years. I Ranked Every Party's Property Policy [NZ Election 2026]Greens revive campaign to make more people homeless2026 Election: What Each Party Means for Property Buyers

2. Tenancy Protections

  • The Greens and Labour want to abolish "no-cause" terminations. Under their policies, a landlord would need a specific, legally justified reason (like selling the house or moving in themselves) to end your periodic tenancy. The Greens also want a national landlord register to hold property managers accountable.

  • National and ACT support the retention of 90-day no-cause evictions. They argue that when it is too difficult to evict problematic tenants, landlords become risk-averse and refuse to rent to anyone without a flawless, high-income background. I Ranked Every Party's Property Policy [NZ Election 2026]

3. Supply of Rental Homes

  • The Greens and Labour focus on state-backed supply. The Greens want a massive state build of roughly 40,000 public homes, while Labour has committed to adding 6,000 social houses via a $4.3 billion infrastructure plan. Their goal is to make tenants less reliant on private landlords.

  • National and ACT prioritize private development. They aim to flood the market with houses by loosening zoning rules, cutting building compliance costs, and introducing fast-track consenting laws. Their philosophy is that a high vacancy rate forces landlords to compete for tenants by lowering prices and improving properties. I Ranked Every Party's Property Policy [NZ Election 2026]Which Party Should I Vote For? Your Guide to the 2026 Election

To help narrow down how these platforms might impact your specific living situation, would you like to know more about:

  • The working and income support policies (like Working for Families or rostered hours protections) that might cushion your dropping pay?

  • The specific rules surrounding Healthy Homes standards and rental maintenance under the different political blocs?

Ask anything

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