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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'm retired and still rent. NZ Super is my main income, and I am worried about rent increases or needing to move again. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. How do parties compare on housing-cost support for older people with limited income?

NZ 2026 election: housing costs for retired renters

If NZ Super is your main income and you rent privately, two issues are particularly important: whether you can keep up with rent increases, and whether you can find another affordable, secure home if you have to move.

For the 2026 New Zealand general election, it helps to compare parties on more than their general promises about housing. The practical questions are whether they would increase help with rent, expand affordable housing for older people, and improve security for tenants on fixed incomes.

There are three distinct kinds of support to look for:

  • Help paying rent now: increases to rent assistance, income support or other payments that can help cover essential housing costs.
  • A more secure home: more public and affordable rentals, particularly housing suitable for older people, and measures that reduce the risk of having to move.
  • Protection against rising costs: policies affecting rent increases, tenancy rights and the supply of affordable homes.

A party can support one of these approaches without supporting the others. The distinction matters when your retirement income is relatively fixed.

How the main parties compare

The following comparison uses published 2026 policies and announcements available as of 12 October 2026. It distinguishes specific commitments from broader approaches; it is not a ranking of parties.

The most relevant parties to compare on this issue include National, Labour, the Green Party, ACT and New Zealand First.

National

Approach: targeted assistance and changes to social housing

National's government announced higher maximum Accommodation Supplement rates in Budget 2026, with increases of $10–$30 a week, depending on eligibility and circumstances. It also announced that from 1 April 2027, minimum income-related rent contributions for social housing tenants would rise from 25% to 30% of income, phased in over 12 months. Delivering fairer social housing

  • For a private renter: the proposed supplement increases could help with weekly costs if you qualify.
  • For someone worried about moving: the government is proposing to target social housing more tightly and explore defined tenancy durations, with exemptions where ongoing need warrants them.
  • What to check: the actual increase you might receive, and how the social housing changes would affect an older person on NZ Super.

Labour

Approach: expanding housing construction and community housing

Labour has announced a $950 million government guarantee to help community housing providers borrow more cheaply and build additional homes. Its stated goal is to support public, transitional, affordable and accessible rentals, including housing for older people. The guarantee would take effect from Labour's first Budget in government in 2027. Release: Labour backs community housing to build more homes

  • For a private renter: the construction policy could expand affordable alternatives over time, but it is not a direct increase to your weekly rent assistance.
  • For someone worried about moving: the focus on community housing and homes for older people is relevant, although availability would depend on where homes are built and the eligibility rules.
  • What to check: whether Labour has a specific commitment on Accommodation Supplement rates, rent increases and access to secure housing for older renters.

Green Party

Approach: stronger renters' rights and more public housing

The Greens' 2026 housing platform calls for more public housing, action to end homelessness, ending no-cause evictions, stabilising rent increases and improving rental quality. A home for everybody

  • For a private renter: rent stabilisation could make future increases more predictable, depending on the final policy details.
  • For someone worried about moving: ending no-cause evictions addresses one important source of insecurity, while expanding public housing aims to create more alternatives.
  • What to check: the proposed limit on rent increases, how it would work when a tenancy changes, and the timeframe for additional public homes.

ACT

Approach: fiscal restraint and changing housing-support incentives

ACT supported the government's 2026 Budget and its social housing reforms, including shifting more assistance toward eligible people in private rentals and reducing the cost gap between private and social housing. ACT New Zealand

  • For a private renter: the government's planned Accommodation Supplement increases are relevant, subject to eligibility.
  • For someone worried about moving: the effect depends on how social housing access, rents and tenancy arrangements change. A focus on fiscal restraint is not, by itself, a guarantee of lower rent.
  • What to check: ACT's specific commitments on rent assistance, social housing availability and tenant protections.

New Zealand First

Approach: protecting superannuation entitlement

New Zealand First has explicitly stated that it opposes raising the NZ Super eligibility age to 67, means-testing NZ Super, or treating superannuation as unaffordable. Winston Peters - “Seniors Sole Defender”

  • For a private renter: protecting NZ Super supports continuity of your main income, but it does not automatically increase the amount available for rent.
  • For someone worried about moving: the published seniors statement is relevant to income security, but it does not establish a specific rent cap or a guarantee of affordable housing.
  • What to check: its detailed housing commitments for older private renters, rather than relying on its superannuation position alone.

Important qualification: these parties' published commitments are not all equivalent. National and ACT's announcements concern changes to the existing assistance system; Labour's cited commitment concerns financing more homes; the Greens' platform includes direct changes to renters' rights; and New Zealand First's cited statement focuses on protecting NZ Super. The policies may change before election day, so check the final commitments before voting.

What could make the biggest difference to your own situation?

For your circumstances, I would separate the decision into four questions. This lets you compare parties against the risks you actually face, without relying on general election slogans.

Your concern Policy to look for
Rent rises faster than NZ Super A direct increase to Accommodation Supplement, or a limit on rent increases
Being forced to move Stronger tenancy security and limits on no-cause evictions
No affordable home available More public, community and affordable rental housing for older people
Your income doesn't stretch far enough Protection of NZ Super and additional assistance for essential living costs

Support you may be able to get now

You do not need to wait for the election to check whether you qualify for extra help.

  • Accommodation Supplement: a weekly payment towards private rent, subject to income, assets, accommodation costs and other eligibility conditions. Being on NZ Super does not automatically exclude you. Check eligibility with Work and Income. Accommodation Supplement
  • Temporary Additional Support: additional help may be available if your essential living costs exceed what you can meet from your income and other resources. It is income- and asset-tested. Read the eligibility information. Apply for other benefits
  • Public or community housing: if your current housing is unaffordable or insecure, you can ask about an assessment for social housing. Eligibility and priority depend on your circumstances and housing need.

Where to check the parties' latest commitments

Election policies can change, so these are useful starting points for checking details before voting:

One final point: New Zealand uses MMP, so your party vote helps determine each party's share of seats in Parliament, while your electorate vote chooses your local representative. Both can matter when parties negotiate a government and its housing policies. Policies for Party vote - NZ Election 2026

The key question for you is whether you need more help paying rent each week, or whether your greater concern is having a secure, affordable place to live for the rest of your retirement. Those are related problems, but parties offer different approaches to solving them.

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'm retired and still rent. NZ Super is my main income, and I am worried about rent increases or needing to move again. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. How do parties compare on housing-cost support for older people with limited income?

For older New Zealanders relying on NZ Superannuation who rent in the private market, housing costs are one of the most pressing concerns. Ahead of the 2026 New Zealand general election, political parties have outlined distinct approaches to supporting lower-income renters and seniors.

The primary mechanisms under discussion involve the Accommodation Supplement (AS), social housing supply, targeted senior housing plans, and alternative welfare structures.

How the Major Parties Compare

1. National and ACT (Current Coalition Government)

  • Approach: Focus on broad economic management, boosting overall housing supply to moderate market rents, and adjustments to existing welfare frameworks.
  • Housing Cost Support: Budget 2026 implemented increases to the maximum rates of the Accommodation Supplement (by between $10 and $30 per week across various areas) to better assist lower-income renters. Their philosophy leans toward maintaining and fine-tuning the current targeted supplement model rather than wholesale structural overhauls, alongside tightening social housing management metrics and prioritization.

2. Labour Party

  • Approach: Emphasizes direct cost-of-living relief, strengthening renter protections, and expanding state and affordable housing.
  • Housing Cost Support: Labour's strategy for older renters centers on broader income-relief measures, expanding public and social housing stock tailored for seniors, and implementing stronger protections and regulations for alternative housing arrangements (such as retirement villages, ensuring faster capital repayment timelines for residents). They also target auxiliary living expenses—such as proposed caps on public transport costs—to free up disposable income for fixed-income households.

3. Green Party

  • Approach: Focuses heavily on structural expansion of public and community housing and addressing poverty through income adequacy.
  • Housing Cost Support: The Greens advocate for a significant scale-up in accessible, publicly owned housing stock with integrated care amenities specifically designed for seniors. Their broader welfare platform pushes to lift baseline benefit and superannuation-related settings to ensure housing costs do not consume an unsustainable portion of a fixed income.

4. New Zealand First

  • Approach: Places a strong emphasis on seniors' advocacy, specialized housing strategies, and healthcare integration.
  • Housing Cost Support: NZ First has advanced the concept of a dedicated Seniors Housing Plan alongside expanded options to support "ageing in place". Their focus is on ensuring older citizens have access to secure, age-appropriate housing options that insulate them from the volatility of the private rental market.

5. The Opportunities Party (TOP)

  • Approach: Proposes structural reform of the welfare and housing assistance system.
  • Housing Cost Support: TOP proposes replacing the traditional Accommodation Supplement framework with a universal housing payment, alongside continued backing for increased social housing developments.

Key Summary for Renting Seniors

  • If you prefer targeted tweaks to the existing system: Parties like National support incremental adjustments to the Accommodation Supplement and supply-side housing policies.
  • If you prefer public housing expansion and renter protections: Parties like Labour and the Greens emphasize building more state/community homes suited for older adults and bolstering consumer rights.
  • If you prefer specialized senior infrastructure or structural reform: NZ First focuses on a dedicated seniors housing framework, while TOP proposes replacing the Accommodation Supplement with a universal housing payment model.

Are there particular aspects of housing support—such as eligibility for the Accommodation Supplement or the availability of social housing in your region—that you would like to explore further?

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'm retired and still rent. NZ Super is my main income, and I am worried about rent increases or needing to move again. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. How do parties compare on housing-cost support for older people with limited income?

For retired New Zealanders who rent and rely on NZ Superannuation, housing costs and the threat of rising rent are pressing concerns. Household inflation for superannuitants has outpaced general household inflation, placing strain on fixed retirement incomes.

The major political parties approach housing-cost support, renter protections, and senior living options through distinct lenses:

  • National Party focuses on broad economic management, increasing housing supply through planning reforms, and utilizing existing safety nets like expanding the Accommodation Supplement thresholds and enhancing local council rates rebates (which indirectly assist older homeowners or long-term arrangements). They emphasize market-driven supply to ease rental inflation.

  • New Zealand First emphasizes specific provisions for seniors, proposing a dedicated Seniors Housing Plan to address the rising number of older people stuck in private rentals. They advocate for evaluating and increasing the Accommodation Supplement specifically for SuperGold card holders, alongside retaining entitlements like the Winter Energy Payment and encouraging downsizing/ageing-in-place options.

  • Green Party targets direct interventions in the rental market and public stock. They propose limiting annual rent increases to a maximum of 2%, building thousands of accessible public homes, and establishing a state-owned, not-for-profit retirement village model to offer lower-cost secure housing alternatives for older people. [greypowermag.co.nz]

  • Labour Party centers on broader cost-of-living relief that indirectly helps fixed-income budgets—such as public transport fare caps and energy cost-reduction initiatives—alongside ongoing support for public and social housing infrastructure. [greypowermag.co.nz]

  • The Opportunities Party (TOP) proposes structural shifts, including replacing the Accommodation Supplement with a more comprehensive universal housing payment and significantly expanding social housing supply. [greypowermag.co.nz]

  • ACT Party generally focuses on broader fiscal restraint, tax reduction, and supply-side housing reform, while proposing structural adjustments to the superannuation framework over the longer term rather than targeted renter subsidies.

If you would like to explore this further, would you like to look at how to check your eligibility for the Work and Income Accommodation Supplement right now, or examine a specific party's wider cost-of-living package?

Ask anything

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AI Overviews · No location

I'm retired and still rent. NZ Super is my main income, and I am worried about rent increases or needing to move again. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. How do parties compare on housing-cost support for older people with limited income?

AI Overview

For the 2026 New Zealand general election , major political parties differ significantly in how they propose to support low-income renters, including retirees relying on NZ Super. Their strategies focus on financial subsidies, tenant protections, and the cost of public versus private housing.

The table below compares the core positions of the major parties on support for older renters:

Party Stance on Subsidies (Accommodation Supplement & IRR) Tenancy Protections & Rent Controls Public Housing Strategy
National (Incumbent) Increased Accommodation Supplement for private renters. Raised public housing rent (IRR) from 25% to 30% of income to fund it. Maintains the 90-day no-cause eviction rule. Focuses on increasing supply to naturally stabilize rents. Reforming Kāinga Ora; introduced a granny flat consenting exemption to boost multi-generational living options.
Labour Pledges to reverse the 30% IRR public rent hike. Will scrap planned increases to the Accommodation Supplement. Pledges to ban no-cause evictions to give renters greater stability. $4 billion investment to deliver at least 6,000 additional social housing places over four years.
Greens Critiques existing subsidies; advocates for a broader Income Guarantee to ensure income floor security. Proposes a 2% annual cap on rent increases , an independent Rental Warrant of Fitness, and banning no-cause evictions. Mass construction of 40,000 public homes over 5 years; proposes a state-owned, not-for-profit retirement village scheme.
ACT Strongly backs shifting funding away from state housing toward higher Accommodation Supplement rates for private renters. Opposes rent controls. Supports landlord property rights to increase the private rental supply. Advocates using social housing as a short-term buffer rather than an indefinite entitlement.
NZ First Supports targeted relief for seniors. Focuses on regional housing stability. Proposes a specialized Seniors Housing Plan to support ageing in place.

Key Electoral Trade-Offs for Superannuitants

1. The Cost of Renting Privately vs. Public Housing

  • National and ACT argue that private renters have historically missed out on support. Their framework uses savings from raising state housing rents to directly boost the Accommodation Supplement for those in the private market.

  • Labour counters that the Accommodation Supplement operates as an indirect subsidy for private landlords that drives up prices. They intend to freeze state housing costs at the traditional 25% of a tenant's income.

2. Eviction Policies and Tenant Security

  • For retirees worried about the disruptive stress of moving, Labour and the Greens promise to remove no-cause evictions. This would require landlords to provide a specific, legally defined reason to end a periodic tenancy.

  • National maintains that allowing no-cause evictions gives landlords the confidence to rent out properties, expanding the overall pool of available rentals.

3. Rent Caps

  • If your primary concern is unpredictable, steep rent increases, the Green Party is the only major entity proposing a strict legal limit, aiming to cap rent increases at 2% annually.

If you would like to explore these options further, would it help to look into how your specific region's current average rents compare to the Accommodation Supplement cut-offs, or would you prefer more details on the eligibility criteria for social housing as a superannuitant?

Ask anything

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