--- title: "PF095 · Captured AI answers" publisher: "Onsomble Limited" publication: "NZBrands.ai" edition: 1 collected_on: "2026-10-05" html_url: "https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/1/questions/baafb988-3900-4696-ad22-4cb573959b21/" --- # PF095 · Captured AI answers Edition 1 · answers collected 5 October 2026. [Read on NZBrands.ai](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/1/questions/baafb988-3900-4696-ad22-4cb573959b21/) ## Question I'm an eligible New Zealand voter living overseas and considering returning. I am comparing job opportunities, housing costs and New Zealand's international outlook. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. What are parties proposing that could improve work opportunities for people returning to New Zealand? Question ID: baafb988-3900-4696-ad22-4cb573959b21. Report reference: PF095. Issue: Jobs and unemployment. Voter: Eligible overseas voter considering returning. [Source record (JSON)](https://nzbrands.ai/data/nz-election-2026/editions/1/answers/baafb988-3900-4696-ad22-4cb573959b21.json) ## How to read this evidence The answers below are shown as the assistants gave them, not a verified account or NZBrands.ai voting advice. They may contain errors or outdated claims. A recorded source association is not necessarily a link shown to the reader. Captured 5 October 2026. 3 answers were saved for this question. Missing answers have not been filled in. [Study methodology and limitations](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/1/method.md) ## ChatGPT · asked nationally Answer ID: 3cd54b2c-2577-4ccc-b014-c5e3ce45678c. Captured 5 October 2026. **Begin captured answer — shown as given, not verified** Yes. If you are a New Zealander overseas considering **returning for work**, the useful way to compare the 2026 parties is not simply “who has the best jobs policy?” but **what kind of economy each party thinks will create enough good jobs for people to want to come home**, and whether its housing and international strategy make that return financially and professionally attractive. The election is **7 November 2026**. Parliament was dissolved on 1 October, so the policies below are the parties' current campaign positions rather than older manifesto promises. [New Zealand Parliament dissolved ahead of tight November vote](https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/new-zealand-parliament-dissolved-ahead-tight-november-vote-2026-10-01/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) One important point for you as an overseas voter: the Electoral Commission says New Zealand citizens overseas can vote if they have been in New Zealand within the last **three years** under the current 2026 rules. [What’s new this election](https://elections.nz/assets/2026-Media-Kit-/2026-General-Election-media-kit.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com) ## The short version | Party | How it would try to create opportunities for returnees | Housing approach | International/economic orientation | |---|---|---|---| | **National** | Lower taxes, deregulation, infrastructure, trade and private-sector investment | More building and easier access to 5% deposits | Strongly pro-trade; expanding export markets and Trans-Tasman integration | | **Labour** | Public investment, Future Fund, infrastructure, skills, apprenticeships, technology and small business | More state/community housing; shift investment away from property speculation | More active industrial policy and investment in NZ capabilities | | **Greens** | Green economy, public services, sustainable industries, stronger worker protections | Strongest emphasis on affordability, public housing and renter protection | More independent/peace-oriented foreign policy and climate diplomacy | | **ACT** | Smaller government, lower regulatory costs, business investment and productivity | Build more through planning/regulatory reform and market mechanisms | Strongly pro-business, pro-trade and investment | | **NZ First** | Prioritise NZ workers, infrastructure, trades and domestic economic development | Government intervention and more infrastructure/land development | More economically nationalist; substantially tighter immigration | That distinction matters particularly if you're returning with an **established professional career** rather than looking for entry-level work. --- ## 1. National: make New Zealand more attractive through private-sector growth National's proposition is essentially: **grow the economic pie, make it easier for businesses to invest and hire, and let workers keep more of their income.** Its 2026 economic plan focuses on fiscal restraint, replacing the RMA, infrastructure, education/trades and reducing regulatory barriers. National says this will produce more jobs and higher wages, and projects 220,000 additional jobs by 2030. [Building the Future: National's Economic Plan | National Party](https://www.national.org.nz/policies/nationals-eco-plan?utm_source=chatgpt.com) For someone returning from overseas, some particularly relevant policies are: - **No new taxes** if re-elected. [No new taxes under National | National Party](https://www.national.org.nz/news/260823-no-new-taxes-under-national?utm_source=chatgpt.com) - More infrastructure and energy investment. - Easier commercial development and building consenting. - More emphasis on trades and practical education. - Policies intended to increase business productivity and investment. - A programme to find New Zealand's "next billion customers" through exports. [2026 Election Policy | National Party](https://www.national.org.nz/policies?utm_source=chatgpt.com) ### Housing National's most direct 2026 housing offer to returnees is widening the First Home Loan scheme so people earning up to **$300,000** can potentially buy with a **5% deposit**. [National is backing first home buyers | National Party](https://www.national.org.nz/news/260906-backs-first-home-buyers?utm_source=chatgpt.com) That's helpful if your problem is **getting into the market despite a good salary but insufficient deposit**. It doesn't, however, directly address the underlying price of housing. National also points to its existing planning reforms, including the ability to build standalone granny flats of up to 70m² without building/resource consent in specified circumstances. [Granny flat consent exemption takes effect | National Party](https://www.national.org.nz/news/20260115-hon-chris-bishop-granny-flat-consent-exemption-takes-effect?utm_source=chatgpt.com) ### International outlook This is one of National's strongest areas if you're thinking about whether New Zealand can become a more internationally competitive place to work. The government has been pursuing new trade access, including India, the UAE and GCC, and further Trans-Tasman economic integration. Australia and New Zealand agreed in September to deepen regulatory alignment, supply chains, technology, innovation and defence-industry cooperation. [Speech to National Party 2026 Campaign Launch | National Party](https://www.national.org.nz/news/260927-christopherluxon?utm_source=chatgpt.com) **For a returnee:** National is probably the clearest choice if your thesis is *“New Zealand needs a more business-friendly, internationally connected economy, and private investment will generate the jobs.”* --- ## 2. Labour: deliberately create jobs and invest in the economy Labour's approach is almost the mirror image. Its argument is that New Zealand has **talent and ideas but insufficient domestic capital and investment**, so government should actively help create the conditions for higher-productivity industries. Its centrepiece is the proposed **New Zealand Future Fund**, which would invest in infrastructure and innovative New Zealand businesses with the explicit aim of creating secure, well-paid jobs. [Labour's New Zealand Future Fund](https://www.labour.org.nz/election-policy-pages/new-zealand-future-fund?utm_source=chatgpt.com) Labour also proposes: - More investment in infrastructure, technology, R&D and skills. - Expanded apprenticeships. - Small-business support. - AI and technology policy. - More public-sector and health investment. - A **Start Work Now** programme involving schools, hospitals and social housing construction. - A Graduate Nurse Job Guarantee. - A targeted 28% capital-gains tax on post-July-2027 gains from residential investment and commercial property, excluding the family home, farm, shares, businesses and KiwiSaver. [Labour's Fiscal Strategy](https://www.labour.org.nz/election-policy-pages/fiscal-strategy/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) The apprenticeship policy is unusually concrete: employer support would extend to two years, with a $1,000 toolbox grant and expanded eligibility. [Labour's Apprenticeship Boost Expansion](https://www.labour.org.nz/election-policy-pages/expanding-apprenticeship-boost/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) And Labour explicitly targets people who have left because they can't find opportunities. Its Future Fund policy says the objective is to build businesses and jobs in New Zealand rather than seeing promising companies and talent move offshore. [Labour's New Zealand Future Fund](https://www.labour.org.nz/election-policy-pages/new-zealand-future-fund?utm_source=chatgpt.com) ### Housing Labour's housing strategy is more focused on **increasing public/community housing supply** than National's home-purchase assistance. Its Start Work Now policy allocates **$2.9 billion of capital to Kāinga Ora** over four years and promises to get it building again, alongside funding for community housing providers. [Start Work Now - NZ Labour](https://www.labour.org.nz/election-policy-pages/start-work-now/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) The more consequential economic/housing proposal is the capital-gains tax. Labour argues that taxing investment-property gains would make property speculation relatively less attractive and redirect capital towards productive businesses and jobs. [Capital Gains Tax to Level the Playing Field for Businesses, Create Jobs and Fix New Zealand's Health System](https://www.labour.org.nz/election-policy-pages/capital-gains-tax/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) That is potentially significant for a returnee who is **renting initially**, because Labour's objective is partly to reduce the degree to which housing competes with productive investment. But whether it actually lowers house prices is an economic question rather than an established outcome. ### International outlook Labour's international economic model is less about simply removing barriers and more about **building domestic capability so NZ firms can compete internationally**. That includes infrastructure, technology, R&D, skills and the Future Fund. Labour also wants to restore a Reserve Bank **dual mandate** covering both price stability and maximum sustainable employment. [Labour's Fiscal Strategy](https://www.labour.org.nz/election-policy-pages/fiscal-strategy/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) **For a returnee:** Labour is particularly relevant if your view is *“I would come back if New Zealand had more high-productivity businesses, technology, infrastructure and professional jobs rather than relying so heavily on property and primary production.”* --- ## 3. Greens: make the cost of living and public services part of the employment proposition The Greens' approach is broader than simply "create jobs." Their 2026 manifesto argues for a substantially different economic model centred on **affordable housing, renewable energy, public services, sustainable industries and stronger worker bargaining power**. [Manifesto 2026 - Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand](https://www.greens.org.nz/manifesto_2026?utm_source=chatgpt.com) Relevant proposals include: - Investment in renewable energy and electrification. - Sustainable food, fibre and forestry industries. - Stronger public services and health investment. - Support for local/small businesses. - Stronger employment protections and worker bargaining power. - Investment in affordable transport. - A significant programme around affordable housing and living costs. [Manifesto 2026 - Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand](https://www.greens.org.nz/manifesto_2026) The Greens also explicitly have an **“Overseas New Zealanders”** component of their manifesto, aimed at maintaining connections between New Zealand and its overseas population. [Manifesto 2026 - Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand](https://www.greens.org.nz/manifesto_2026) ### Housing Housing is much more central to the Green economic proposition than it is to National or ACT. The Greens frame affordable, warm housing as a basic requirement for participating in society and the economy, alongside greater public investment and renter protections. [Manifesto 2026 - Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand](https://www.greens.org.nz/manifesto_2026?utm_source=chatgpt.com) That could matter considerably if you're returning without an NZ property portfolio and expect to rent in Auckland, Wellington or another expensive centre. ### International outlook The Greens propose a more independent foreign-policy orientation, stronger climate diplomacy and a greater emphasis on Pacific relationships. Their manifesto explicitly presents New Zealand as a potential international voice on peace, democracy, climate and global cooperation. [Manifesto 2026 - Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand](https://www.greens.org.nz/manifesto_2026) **For a returnee:** the Green proposition is strongest if *quality of life, housing, public services, climate resilience and worker conditions* matter almost as much as your gross salary. --- ## 4. ACT: make it easier for businesses to hire, invest and grow ACT's economic theory is quite different again. Its argument is that New Zealand's productivity problem is partly caused by **too much government, regulation and employment cost**, so the route to better jobs is to make businesses more willing to invest and employ people. Its latest small-business package includes: - A proposed three-year freeze in the adult minimum wage. - A **training wage** for under-20s. - Further regulatory simplification. - Changes to tax treatment of software and digital investment. - Continued emphasis on 90-day trials and reducing employment regulation. [ACT New Zealand](https://www.act.org.nz/news/act%E2%80%99s-small-business-policy-package-to-clear-red-tape?utm_source=chatgpt.com) ACT's broader 2026 programme calls for a smaller, simpler government and argues this would raise productivity and wages. [ACT New Zealand](https://www.act.org.nz/news/act-unveils-plan-for-radically-simpler-smaller-government?utm_source=chatgpt.com) ### Immigration This is particularly interesting for a returning New Zealander. ACT isn't advocating simply shutting immigration down. It wants immigration more closely tied to **demonstrated skills shortages**, with employment categories automatically expiring unless there is current evidence of demand. [ACT New Zealand](https://www.act.org.nz/news/making-immigration-work-for-new-zealand?utm_source=chatgpt.com) So ACT's model is roughly: > attract people where there is genuine economic demand, but don't use immigration as a substitute for productivity or infrastructure. ### Housing ACT's general approach is to make it easier and cheaper to build by reducing planning and regulatory barriers rather than relying principally on government-funded housing. **For a returnee:** ACT is most attractive if your priority is *“I want an economy where employers are prepared to invest, start companies and hire professionals, and I don't want government to be the main mechanism for achieving that.”* --- ## 5. NZ First: prioritise returning/New Zealand workers more explicitly NZ First is arguably the party whose rhetoric most directly addresses the question **“what about New Zealanders who want jobs here?”** Its founding principles explicitly state that employment of New Zealanders should be the first planning priority. [Our founding principles - NZ First](https://www.nzfirst.nz/our_founding_principles?utm_source=chatgpt.com) Its 2026 immigration policy argues that high immigration has increased competition for entry-level jobs and pressure on housing and infrastructure, and proposes substantially reducing **non-essential immigration**. [NZ First Announces Immigration Reform Policies - New Zealand First](https://www.nzfirst.nz/nz_first_announces_immigration_reform_policies?utm_source=chatgpt.com) That includes tighter rules around international students' work rights. The party also emphasises: - Trades and apprenticeships. - Youth employment. - Infrastructure. - Domestic economic development. - Stronger borders. - Reducing the cost of living. [Budget 2026: Common sense wins for NZ First - New Zealand First](https://www.nzfirst.nz/budget_2026_common_sense_wins_for_nz_first?utm_source=chatgpt.com) ### Housing NZ First has historically favoured direct government involvement in housing, including unlocking land near population centres and improving planning certainty. [2023 Election Policies - NZ First](https://www.nzfirst.nz/2023_policies?utm_source=chatgpt.com) Its 2026 emphasis is closely connected to its immigration argument: **population growth shouldn't outpace the country's ability to build housing and infrastructure.** [NZ First Announces Immigration Reform Policies - New Zealand First](https://www.nzfirst.nz/nz_first_announces_immigration_reform_policies?utm_source=chatgpt.com) **For a returnee:** NZ First's distinctive proposition is *“make room for New Zealanders by reducing competing labour supply and population pressure.”* The trade-off is that lower immigration can also mean fewer workers, skills and consumers for industries that depend on international recruitment. --- # What this means specifically for someone returning from overseas I'd separate the question into **four tests**. ### 1. Can I actually find a good job? - **National/ACT:** strongest emphasis on private-sector hiring, investment, deregulation and productivity. - **Labour:** strongest emphasis on government-supported investment, infrastructure, technology and skills creating new jobs. - **Greens:** more emphasis on public services, green industries and improving employment conditions. - **NZ First:** strongest emphasis on prioritising New Zealanders in the labour market. There is a genuine disagreement here about *how* jobs get created. It's not simply a disagreement about the number of jobs. ### 2. Will my salary go far enough? This is where housing becomes critical. A NZ$150,000 job in Auckland isn't necessarily more attractive than an equivalent Australian or UK salary if rent or mortgage costs consume a much larger proportion of your income. - **National:** help you buy sooner through a larger 5% deposit scheme and increase housing supply. - **Labour:** increase public/social housing and try to shift investment away from speculative property. - **Greens:** much stronger emphasis on reducing housing and living costs directly. - **ACT:** attack the supply/planning problem through deregulation. - **NZ First:** combine housing development with population/immigration restraint. The parties therefore have **quite different theories of why housing is expensive**. That is probably more important to your decision than the headline housing policies themselves. ### 3. Will NZ generate the kind of jobs I want in 5–10 years? This is where the National–Labour divide becomes particularly interesting. National says the answer is **international trade + private investment + infrastructure + deregulation**. Its "next billion customers" strategy and closer Australia relationship fit that model. [Speech to National Party 2026 Campaign Launch | National Party](https://www.national.org.nz/news/260927-christopherluxon?utm_source=chatgpt.com) Labour says the answer is **domestic capital + technology + infrastructure + skills + targeted government investment**. The Future Fund is the clearest expression of that philosophy. [Labour's New Zealand Future Fund](https://www.labour.org.nz/election-policy-pages/new-zealand-future-fund?utm_source=chatgpt.com) ACT goes further toward **market-led productivity and smaller government**. The Greens emphasise **renewable energy, sustainable industries and public investment**, while NZ First emphasises **domestic employment and economic sovereignty**. ### 4. What sort of country will NZ be internationally? There is an important emerging distinction. **National/ACT** generally favour a strongly outward-facing, pro-trade, pro-investment economy, with Australia as a particularly important economic partner. The current government's Trans-Tasman work is moving towards deeper regulatory and economic integration. [CER Trade Ministers strengthen Single Economic Market agenda | Beehive.govt.nz](https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/cer-trade-ministers-strengthen-single-economic-market-agenda?utm_source=chatgpt.com) **Labour** is also pro-trade, but wants more domestic economic capability and strategic investment alongside international engagement. **Greens** favour a more independent foreign-policy voice, stronger climate diplomacy and Pacific engagement. [Manifesto 2026 - Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand](https://www.greens.org.nz/manifesto_2026) **NZ First** puts greater emphasis on economic sovereignty and controlling population growth. That matters if your reason for returning is not merely "home" but **where you think New Zealand will sit economically and strategically in the next decade**. --- ## One particularly important consideration for overseas voters The overseas vote could be unusually consequential this election. There are roughly **one million New Zealanders living overseas**, and overseas enrolments have risen sharply; the 2026 contest is also unusually close, making smaller parties potentially important in coalition formation. [A tight election looms in New Zealand. This time, overseas voters could be bad news for the big parties](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/30/new-zealand-election-voters-abroad-influence-result?utm_source=chatgpt.com) So you don't necessarily have to think of your vote as choosing between two complete economic programmes. Under MMP, a party vote can also affect **which policies the eventual governing coalition needs to negotiate over**. ### My neutral reading If I reduce the policies to the question **“what would make returning to NZ professionally worthwhile?”**, the major differences are: - **National:** *make the existing economy more competitive.* - **Labour:** *actively invest to create a different, higher-productivity economy.* - **ACT:** *remove barriers so private enterprise creates the opportunities.* - **Greens:** *make housing, services, climate and worker wellbeing part of economic prosperity.* - **NZ First:** *give New Zealanders priority for the opportunities that exist.* There isn't a single objectively "best" answer. The key question is **why you left in the first place**. If it was primarily because of salary/career progression, the National–Labour–ACT productivity debate is probably most relevant. If it was because of housing and quality of life, the Labour–Green–National housing differences become more important. If it was because you felt NZ was becoming economically dependent on immigration and overseas capital, NZ First offers the most different model. If you tell me **your profession/industry, approximate overseas salary, whether you'd rent or buy on return, and which NZ city you'd consider**, I can make this much more concrete: a **2026 return-to-New-Zealand scorecard for each party**, including likely job prospects, tax, housing affordability and international economic outlook. **End captured answer** ## Gemini · asked nationally Answer ID: ccba54f0-237e-42c7-a6b2-38d42a62dbd9. Captured 5 October 2026. **Begin captured answer — shown as given, not verified** As a New Zealand citizen returning from overseas, navigating your career re-entry ahead of the **7 November 2026 general election**, political parties are pitching distinct economic and structural strategies to spur job creation, lift productivity, and attract global talent back home. Because you are a citizen, immigration visa policies don't apply to you, but broader macroeconomic policies, tax settings, and sector-specific growth agendas heavily influence the job market you will step into. --- ### Key Economic and Job-Growth Strategies by Political Blocs #### 1. Centre-Right / Incumbent Coalition Focus (National, ACT, NZ First) The current government parties focus heavily on business investment, lowering compliance costs, and attracting high-value international capital to generate professional and skilled employment. * **Investment and Innovation Incentives:** The National-led government introduced initiatives like *Investment Boost* (a tax incentive designed to encourage businesses to invest and lift wages) and *Invest New Zealand*, an agency specifically targeted at drawing global capital, major businesses, and high-value talent into domestic industries. * **Red Tape and Market Competitiveness:** Parties like ACT advocate for structural market reforms, lower corporate compliance, and streamlined regulations to make it easier for businesses to expand, hire, and compete internationally. * **Infrastructure and Project Fast-Tracking:** Policies emphasize large-scale infrastructure and energy projects, which aim to stimulate engineering, construction, project management, and commercial sectors. #### 2. Centre-Left / Opposition Focus (Labour, Greens) The opposition parties focus on domestic wage growth, workforce capability, public sector investment, and a transition to a high-wage, sustainable economy. * **Targeted Industry Transformation:** Labour and the Green Party traditionally focus on industry-specific transformation plans (such as green technology, renewable energy, and digital tech infrastructure) to diversify New Zealand's export base away from traditional primary industries. * **Strengthening Public Services:** Their platforms prioritize workforce capacity in essential public sectors like healthcare, education, and public infrastructure—areas facing acute skill shortages that often require recruiting skilled professionals locally and from overseas. * **Workplace Rights and Training:** Focus is placed on strengthening apprenticeship schemes, targeted vocational training, and protecting local wage floors to ensure job growth translates into real purchasing power. --- ### Considerations for Returning Expatriates When comparing how these different political directions might affect your return, consider the following factors: * **Job Market Dynamics:** If you work in tech, finance, corporate enterprise, or high-value export sectors, policies emphasizing foreign direct investment and business tax incentives (favored by the right) aim to expand those private-sector white-collar roles. Conversely, if your background is in public policy, health, education, or environmental sustainability, policies from the left emphasize expanding public and social infrastructure capacity. * **The Broader Cost of Living and Housing Context:** Job opportunities cannot be viewed in isolation from New Zealand’s high cost of living and housing market. Parties are split on housing supply—some emphasize rolling back regulations to spur private residential development, while others focus on state-led housing builds and demand-side tax adjustments. * **International Outlook:** New Zealand’s trade stance (such as recent trade agreements and global positioning) is critical for returning professionals accustomed to multinational environments. Major parties generally support maintaining open export channels, though they differ on how aggressively to pursue bilateral agreements versus domestic economic self-reliance. Are you looking to pivot into a specific sector (such as tech, healthcare, construction, or finance) upon your return? **End captured answer** ## Google AI Mode · asked nationally Answer ID: 10dac6a2-b16f-4a22-9ecb-5e9744a5e187. Captured 5 October 2026. **Begin captured answer — shown as given, not verified** As an overseas New Zealand voter weighing a move back home for the 2026 general election, looking at how different political parties plan to stimulate the job market, handle living costs, and position the economy helps clarify the landscape. According to their respective 2026 election and fiscal platforms, New Zealand’s major political parties outline distinct approaches to economic growth, workforce development, and targeted incentives that indirectly or directly affect returning Kiwis: New Labour Party Proposals As outlined in Labour's 2026 Election Policies, the party focuses heavily on domestic economic interventions, public sector support, and specific workforce guarantees: [NZ Labour Party] * * **Graduate Nurse Job Guarantee:** Labour pledges guaranteed job placements in the public health system for New Zealand-trained graduate nurses, addressing critical healthcare workforce retention. * **Research, Innovation, and Skills:** Proposals to lift R&D spending to at least 2% of GDP alongside technology investment tax credits. They have also floated targeted student loan incentives/adjustments (such as student loan write-offs or reductions) which can impact returning diaspora members managing legacy New Zealand student debt. * **Small Business Action Plan:** Aimed at boosting local firms through faster invoice-paying frameworks, reduced paperwork, and a fairer approach to government procurement contracts, which they argue will stimulate private-sector job creation. * **Apprenticeship Boost Expansion:** Expanding support for practical training and trades to build domestic capacity. [NZ Labour Party] * New National Party Proposals The National-led government's approach centers on broader economic growth, regulatory streamlining, and productivity frameworks: * * **Going for Growth & Infrastructure:** National focuses on economic settings designed to streamline business regulations, reform resource management/planning systems (including targeted changes for the primary and fibre sectors), and boost productivity to foster a competitive job market. * **Public Sector and Targeted Training:** Expanding practical, classroom-based and onsite training programmes (such as scaled-up training pathways for high-demand professions like teaching) to tackle persistent workforce gaps domestically rather than relying solely on immediate external recruitment. * **Immigration and Skill Settings:** Maintaining a focused approach via the Skilled Migrant Category and specific Occupation Lists to balance local job market absorption with high-value skills. * Other Notable Party Perspectives * * **ACT New Zealand:** Focuses heavily on regulatory reform, cutting business compliance costs, reviewing annual skilled job lists, and tightening public sector spending to drive broad-based private sector competitiveness. [www.livinginnz.co.nz] * **New Zealand First:** Emphasizes tighter domestic priority settings, local workforce protection, and adjustments to immigration and residency caps to ensure domestic infrastructure and job availability match population changes. [www.livinginnz.co.nz] * Broader Context for Returning When weighing these proposals against housing costs and your international outlook, keep in mind that parties differ sharply on taxation and property (e.g., Labour's proposed targeted 28% capital gains tax on investment property vs. National's existing settings) which directly influences the domestic housing market you would be returning to. [The Conversation] To check your specific enrolment details or voting logistics from overseas, you can visit the official [Elections NZ](https://elections.nz/) portal or review temporary work opportunities around the election cycle via [Work at an Election](https://work.elections.nz/). **End captured answer** ## Publication and corrections Published and funded by Onsomble Limited. NZBrands.ai takes no view on any party or policy. [Independence](https://nzbrands.ai/about/independence/) · [Corrections](https://nzbrands.ai/about/corrections/) · [Contact](https://nzbrands.ai/about/contact/)