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Evidence · NZ Election 2026 · Edition 2

Every question, every answer, every source

All 174 questions and the 793 answers produced on 12 October 2026. The 27 remaining cells produced no AI Overview.

questions
174
answers saved
793
collected
12 Oct 2026

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 unchanged question.

    id, draft, text, voterCode, issue, towns

    174rows

    Download questions (CSV)

  • Answers

    nz-election-2026-answers.csv

    One row per produced answer, with its complete original text.

    result id, prompt id, draft id, scenario id, platform, region, words, parties, literal url answer, associated source answer, temporal pair, common four platforms, response text

    793rows

    Download answers (CSV)

  • Sources by answer

    nz-election-2026-sources.csv

    One row per website associated with an answer; repeated citations count once.

    answer id, question id, assistant, region, domain, publisher

    4,137rows

    Download sources by answer (CSV)

  • Checks against official sources

    nz-election-2026-checks.csv

    One row per reviewed proposition, retaining both answers, extracts and the reviewed change.

    check, draft id, platform, claim, verdict, assessment, source url, source label, source date, checked date, old result id, new result id, old excerpt, new excerpt

    15rows

    Download checks against official sources (CSV)

  • Who to vote for: coding

    nz-election-2026-guidance.csv

    One row per manually reviewed guidance answer. Codes overlap; original answers supply the evidence.

    draft, assistant, q, voter, a, declined, matched, shortlist, asked, chose, extract

    31rows

    Download who to vote for: coding (CSV)

  • Location and national answers

    nz-election-2026-towns.csv

    One row per matched national/location pair, with both editions.

    prompt id, draft id, scenario id, issue, platform, city, edition 1 same party set, edition 1 national result, edition 1 city result, edition 2 same party set, edition 2 national result, edition 2 city result

    124rows

    Download location and national answers (CSV)

  • Changes between editions

    nz-election-2026-comparisons.csv

    One row per identical question, assistant and location across the two collections.

    prompt id, draft id, scenario id, scenario, issue, platform, region, old result id, new result id, old words, new words, same party set, old parties, new parties, added parties, removed parties, literal same domains, literal old domains, literal new domains, literal added domains, literal removed domains, associated same domains, associated old domains, associated new domains, associated added domains, associated removed domains

    793rows

    Download changes between editions (CSV)

  • No AI Overview produced

    nz-election-2026-coverage.csv

    One row per planned cell where no AI Overview was produced.

    prompt id, platform, region, draft id, block, scenario id, scenario, issue, priority, question, cause, availability

    27rows

    Download no ai overview produced (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've recently been made redundant after years in the same industry. I have rent to pay, and I'm unsure whether to retrain or keep looking for similar work. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. Which party has the most convincing plan for someone in my position to get back into work, and what should I check before trusting that judgement?

I'm sorry you're facing this. Losing a job after years in the same industry can mean more than losing a pay cheque: it can mean having to reconsider a career you've invested years in, while rent and other bills keep coming.

For the 2026 New Zealand general election, I'd separate your decision into three practical questions:

  • Getting back into work quickly: Which policies help redundant workers find jobs, connect with employers, and cover the gap while they're looking?
  • Retraining without taking an unaffordable risk: Which policies offer accessible, relevant training and a realistic route into a job, rather than simply a course?
  • Keeping a roof over your head: Which policies address income support, housing costs and the financial pressure of changing careers?

The important distinction is between a party promising to create jobs across the economy and one offering specific, accessible help to someone who has lost a job and needs to earn again. Those are related, but they're not the same thing.

What the parties are proposing

The election is scheduled for Saturday, 7 November 2026. The Electoral Commission has published the list of registered parties contesting it. 2026 Election Q&ACandidate and party lists released

Here is a comparison of documented proposals that are relevant to employment, retraining and financial security. It is not a ranking of parties; the practical value of each proposal depends on your circumstances and whether it is implemented.

Labour Party

Public works, apprenticeships and targeted training

Labour's Start Work Now policy proposes accelerating building and repair work in housing, schools and hospitals to create jobs. Its apprenticeship proposals include expanding Apprenticeship Boost, extending employer support to more trades, and a $1,000 grant for tools and equipment. Labour also proposes Māori-led skills training linked to employers. Start Work NowLabour's 2026 Election PoliciesLabour Party announces Māori training policy

What to examine: Whether your existing skills transfer into the jobs being created, whether your industry is covered, and whether the start dates are soon enough to help with your rent.

Read: Start Work Now · Full policy list

National Party

Employment services and a work-focused welfare system

National proposes more intensive employment support for 30,000 work-ready people who have been receiving a benefit for more than a year, alongside stronger work expectations and sanctions. Its stated growth sectors include primary industries, construction and infrastructure, tourism, and hospitality. A firm, fair and affordable welfare system2026 Election Policy

What to examine: Whether you would qualify for the more intensive support, whether it is available before a year on a benefit, and how the proposed benefit reductions could affect you if your job search takes a long time.

Read: A firm, fair and affordable welfare system · Full policy list

Green Party

Worker protections and employment quality

The Greens have previously advocated stronger employment protections, including minimum redundancy compensation. Their 2023 election proposals are historical, however, and should not be mistaken for confirmed 2026 commitments. Election 2023: The employment policies in two minutes

What to examine: The party's current 2026 commitments on retraining costs, income support during unemployment, redundancy protection and actual job pathways.

Read: Green Party website

ACT New Zealand

Employer incentives and labour-market flexibility

ACT has advocated changes intended to reduce employer costs and encourage business activity. In September 2026, it proposed freezing the adult minimum wage for three years and allowing a lower training wage for workers under 20. ACT outlines policy to freeze adult minimum wage for three years

What to examine: Whether the party's current policies would increase hiring in your field, and what the proposed wage rules would mean for you if you needed to start in a different occupation.

Read: ACT New Zealand

These are different approaches to the problem. A public-works programme might help someone whose skills fit the projects; employment services might help someone needing intensive job-search support; and employer-focused measures might help if businesses in their field respond by hiring. None of those possibilities, on its own, proves how quickly a particular redundant worker will find a suitable job.

The Greens' current manifesto also deserves a look if you are considering a career change. Its announced Youth Jobs Guarantee would give 16–24-year-olds who have been out of work for six months a pathway into a local job, education or training. That eligibility limit matters: it is not a general job guarantee for all redundant workers. Manifesto 2026Jobs_for_all_of_usGreens announce jobs guarantee for young people

What to check before trusting any party's plan

I'd use these six tests, regardless of which party you are considering.

  1. How soon could it help?

Look for dates, not just promises. A programme starting in 2028 may have little value if your savings run out next month.

  1. Are you actually eligible?

Check age limits, income tests, benefit status, previous qualifications, industry restrictions and whether experienced workers qualify alongside school leavers.

  1. Does training lead to a real job?

Look for employer partnerships, paid placements, recognised qualifications, completion rates and the percentage of participants who find relevant work. Enrolments and training places alone do not demonstrate success.

  1. Can you afford the transition?

Check tuition fees, living costs, student-loan eligibility, lost earnings and whether support continues while you retrain. Compare these with the likely salary and demand for the new occupation.

  1. Is the policy funded and specific?

Look for a published cost, funding source, eligibility rules, delivery agency and implementation timetable. Distinguish a fully specified commitment from a campaign announcement.

  1. Is there independent evidence it works?

Check official employment statistics, evaluations of previous programmes and independent fiscal analysis. Ask whether reported results measure people entering sustained, adequately paid work or simply leaving a benefit.

Don't wait for the election to get support

You may be able to get practical help now, regardless of which party forms the next government.

My practical suggestion is to investigate two tracks at once: apply for suitable jobs that use your existing experience, while identifying any short, recognised training that could open up additional opportunities. You don't necessarily have to choose between your old industry and a complete career change immediately.

Let's make the comparison more relevant to you

The biggest missing detail is the industry you've worked in. A person leaving manufacturing, construction, administration, retail or IT may need very different support, and a policy aimed at one sector may be irrelevant to another.

What industry and type of role were you working in before the redundancy? If you share that, I can compare the parties' published 2026 commitments against realistic routes back into work, retraining options, and the income support available while you search—without choosing your vote for you.

Ask anything

ChatGPT can make mistakes. Check important info.

Captured 12 October 2026 · shown as ChatGPT gave it, not a verified account

Gemini · No location

I've recently been made redundant after years in the same industry. I have rent to pay, and I'm unsure whether to retrain or keep looking for similar work. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. Which party has the most convincing plan for someone in my position to get back into work, and what should I check before trusting that judgement?

Navigating a redundancy after a long tenure in one industry is a deeply stressful situation, especially when managing immediate living costs like rent. Because political parties offer different philosophical approaches to economic management, job creation, and retraining support, deciding which plan is "most convincing" depends heavily on whether you believe a market-led approach or government-backed intervention will serve you best.

Evaluating the political landscape requires weighing different party strategies and critically assessing their promises.

Comparing Party Approaches to Redundancy and Re-employment

  • The Incumbent Coalition (National, ACT, NZ First):
    • Approach: Generally focuses on broader economic management, stimulating business confidence, and creating a flexible labor market to encourage private-sector hiring. Recent legislative changes (such as expanding 90-day trial periods and altering employment frameworks) are designed to make employers more willing to take on new staff.
    • For someone in your position: The argument is that a growing, unburdened private sector provides the fastest route back into stable employment. However, critics note that these policies can reduce job security and may offer less direct, targeted safety nets or state-funded transition packages for mid-career workers needing a pivot.
  • Opposition Parties (Labour, Greens, Te Pāti Māori):
    • Approach: Typically emphasize stronger worker protections, industry-specific workforce planning, and targeted government investment in retraining, education, and sector-wide standard-setting (such as potential changes or alternatives to recent employment law overhauls).
    • For someone in your position: The argument appeals to those who want structured support, such as government-subsidized retraining schemes, income security measures, or active labor market programs to transition smoothly into a new sector. Critics argue these policies can increase compliance costs for businesses, potentially dampening rapid job creation.

What to Check Before Trusting a Political Plan

Before casting your vote based on a party's employment or retraining pitch, it is wise to interrogate the specifics behind the rhetoric:

  1. Feasibility and Funding: Look past the headline goal (e.g., "100,000 new jobs" or "free retraining"). Check how the policy is funded. Is it backed by costed budget allocations, or does it rely on optimistic economic growth forecasts?
  2. Speed vs. Long-Term Payoff: Consider your immediate needs—rent has to be paid next week. Does the policy offer immediate bridging support (like income assistance or short-term job matching), or are the benefits years away (such as long-term polytechnic reform or macro-economic shifts)?
  3. Targeting for Mid-Career Workers: Many training packages are heavily skewed toward youth or specific high-tech sectors. Check whether a party's retraining initiatives realistically accommodate someone with years of legacy experience pivoting to an entirely different industry.
  4. Implementation Realities: Ask whether the plan relies on employers voluntarily participating, or if it requires complex bureaucracy that could take months to roll out.

If you are comfortable sharing what industry you were in or whether you lean toward immediate re-employment versus a longer-term career pivot, we can look more closely at specific policy mechanisms.

Ask Gemini

Gemini is AI and can make mistakes.

Captured 12 October 2026 · shown as Gemini gave it, not a verified account

Google AI Mode · No location

I've recently been made redundant after years in the same industry. I have rent to pay, and I'm unsure whether to retrain or keep looking for similar work. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. Which party has the most convincing plan for someone in my position to get back into work, and what should I check before trusting that judgement?

First, I am really sorry to hear about your redundancy. Finding yourself out of work after years in a single industry—especially with rent and immediate financial pressures hanging over you—is an incredibly stressful and destabilizing place to be.

Navigating the choice between pivoting via retraining or holding out for a similar role requires balancing your immediate financial survival with your long-term career viability.

When it comes to the upcoming November 7, 2026 general election , political parties offer sharply different philosophical and practical approaches to economic support, job creation, and industry retraining.

Evaluating Party Approaches for Displaced Workers

Rather than naming a single "most convincing" plan—which depends heavily on whether you prioritize immediate income support, market-led job creation, or state-backed retraining—it helps to look at how the major political blocs generally frame these issues:

  • The Current Coalition/Centre-Right (e.g., National, ACT): Their focus tends to be on broad economic management, incentivizing business growth to create private sector jobs, and streamlining regulatory or employment law settings. For retraining, their approach typically favors targeted industry-led training or targeted micro-credentials tied directly to active labour market shortages rather than broad-based tertiary expansion. Their strategy relies on the premise that a growing private sector is the fastest route back into sustainable employment.

  • The Centre-Left/Opposition (e.g., Labour, Greens, Te Pāti Māori): Their platforms usually place a heavier emphasis on direct state intervention, stronger safety nets, and subsidized or free retraining/upskilling schemes through polytechnics or targeted industry transition funds. They generally advocate for higher baseline income support or targeted assistance for displaced workers navigating structural economic shifts.

What to Check Before Trusting a Party’s Plan

To figure out which plan genuinely serves someone in your exact position (dealing with rent, redundancy, and a career pivot), cut through the campaign rhetoric by verifying these four critical elements:

  1. Immediate vs. Long-Term Support: Does their policy put cash in your pocket to pay rent next week (e.g., changes to Jobseeker support, MSD transition grants, or redundancy assistance), or is it entirely focused on macro-economic job growth that might take 12 to 18 months to materialize?
  2. The Reality of Retraining Stipends: If a party champions "free retraining," check the fine print. Does the policy include a living allowance or stipend while you study? Learning a new skill is impossible if you cannot afford your rent during the study period.
  3. Funding and Feasibility: Look at independent economic commentary (such as from the New Zealand Treasury or NZIER) regarding how the party plans to pay for their employment or training packages. Does the math add up, or does it rely on optimistic revenue forecasts?
  4. Past Track Record: Look at what the parties have done or supported when previously in government or local leadership roles regarding industry transitions, WINZ/MSD support thresholds, and vocational education structures (like the evolution of Te Pūkenga).

If you would like to narrow this down, tell me:

  • What was your previous industry?
  • Are you leaning more toward retraining into a completely new field or finding immediate work in the short term?

I can share more specific avenues for immediate financial support or types of transition programs currently available through Work and Income NZ (MSD).

Ask anything

Captured 12 October 2026 · shown as Google AI Mode gave it, not a verified account

AI Overviews · No location

I've recently been made redundant after years in the same industry. I have rent to pay, and I'm unsure whether to retrain or keep looking for similar work. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. Which party has the most convincing plan for someone in my position to get back into work, and what should I check before trusting that judgement?

AI Overview

I am truly sorry to hear you have been made redundant. It is incredibly stressful to face housing costs like rent while navigating the overwhelming choice between changing careers or sticking to your known industry, especially with New Zealand's unemployment rate sitting at an 11-year high of 5.6%.

Because evaluating which plan is "most convincing" depends entirely on whether you prefer targeted government retraining programs or market-driven job growth, there is no single right answer. However, ahead of the 7 November 2026 general election , New Zealand’s major political parties offer distinctly different pathways for someone in your position.

How the Parties Plan to Get You Back to Work

🛠️ Option A: Focus on Retraining and Job Guarantees (Left-of-Center)

If you lean toward retraining into a new industry with government financial backing, the center-left parties focus on direct intervention.

  • The Labour Party: Labour’s platform relies heavily on subsidized training. Their core policy includes expanding the Apprenticeship Boost program to support those entering trades. They are also heavily promoting Māori-led regional training into skilled work and have committed to industry-specific safety nets, like a job guarantee for graduate nurses.

  • The Green Party: The Greens emphasize direct public job creation. They recently announced a Jobs for Young People pilot program (modeled after Jobs for Nature). While targeted at 16–24-year-olds, their wider platform supports worker income-protection schemes and vocational education to manage redundancies caused by economic shifts. They also support a strict 2% cap on annual rent increases , which directly targets your immediate concern about housing costs.

💼 Option B: Focus on Market Flexibility and Business Growth (Right-of-Center)

If you prefer to find similar work quickly within the private sector, the center-right parties focus on making it cheaper and easier for businesses to hire you.

  • The National Party: National argues that the best way to get you a job is to stimulate the private sector by reducing red tape. Their Small Business Plan focuses on speeding up employment dispute resolutions through the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) and lowering compliance costs so businesses have the capital to hire. They oppose rent caps, arguing that keeping the rental market deregulated ensures a steady supply of houses.

  • ACT and NZ First: ACT strongly supports employer flexibility, backing the retention of 90-day trial periods to make it less risky for businesses to take a chance on a new worker. Meanwhile, New Zealand First has focused on wage security, promising to link future minimum wage increases directly to inflation to ensure workers do not fall behind.

What to Check Before Trusting a Party's Plan

Before deciding who gets your vote, a healthy dose of skepticism is required. To protect yourself and your rent money, verify these three critical factors:

  1. The Timeline vs. Your Rent Due Date: Many election promises take years to implement. Check when these policies actually take effect. For example, Labour's expanded training schemes are tied to future budgets. If a policy won't help you for 18 months, it won't pay next month's rent.

  2. Eligibility Bottlenecks: Read the fine print on retraining. Many "free fees" or training subsidies are strictly restricted by age, prior qualifications, or specific industries. Ensure you wouldn't be disqualified for having "too much experience" in your past industry.

  3. The Coalition Reality: In New Zealand's MMP system, no party governs alone. Minor parties like ACT or the Greens must compromise with National or Labour. Look at past political behavior to see which policies are usually "dropped" during coalition negotiations.

🔍 Non-Partisan Resources to Help You Decide

To compare exact policies line-by-line without the political spin, use independent tools like the Policy.nz 2026 Election Tool or check the official Vote NZ Candidate and Party Lists to see who is running in your specific electorate.

(Note: If you need immediate, short-term income while you look for permanent work, theElectoral Commission is currently hiring over 22,000 paid workers for election day operations. You can check available temporary roles in your area on the Elections NZ Work Platform.)

To help narrow down which path might suit you best, could you share what industry you were previously in, and whether you feel your skills could easily transfer to another field?

Ask anything

Captured 12 October 2026 · shown as AI Overviews gave it, not a verified account