Search studies, brands and more…⌘ KExplore research

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 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 are parties proposing about GP costs and access for working people who struggle to afford an appointment?

2026 New Zealand election: GP costs and access

For a couple renting and working rostered hours, the difficulty is that your income can change from week to week, while the cost of seeing a GP is due when you need care. A consultation can be affordable in a good pay week and difficult in a bad one, even if your annual income looks reasonable.

For the 2026 New Zealand general election, the key differences between parties are whether they would make GP visits free, target help at people who need it, or focus on increasing the number of appointments available.

The election is scheduled for Saturday 7 November 2026. The comparison below reflects policies and announcements available as of 11 October 2026; some parties' detailed plans may still be emerging. Vote 2026Policies for Party vote - NZ Election 2026Election 2026 and health: promises, priorities and delivery

What the main parties are proposing

National policies and public announcements available as of 11 October 2026.

Labour — three free GP visits a year

Labour proposes a Medicard giving everyone eligible for publicly funded healthcare three free GP visits each year at their enrolled practice. It also promises free prescriptions from 1 July 2027 and loans of up to $500,000 to help doctors buy into or establish practices, with a view to improving access. Its proposed funding changes include a targeted capital gains tax on investment property. Labour's 2026 Election PoliciesLabour's Family Doctor Loan SchemeElection 2026 and health: promises, priorities and delivery

What this could mean for you: Three consultations without a fee could provide some protection in a low-pay week. The published policy does not promise unlimited free visits, so check how extra visits and any other charges would work.

Green Party — move towards free GP care

The Greens propose moving towards free publicly provided GP and dental care. Their wider health programme also emphasises stronger staffing and funding, more community-based services, mobile health services in rural areas, and increased funding for medicines. Manifesto 2026Health policies offer a mixed bag of solutions

What this could mean for you: The direction is towards reducing the cost barrier to primary care, rather than limiting relief to a set number of GP visits. The precise implementation and timing matter when assessing how soon you might benefit.

National — focus on access and workforce capacity

National's approach centres on improving access to appointments, increasing the health workforce, reducing waiting times and expanding the services that community pharmacists can provide. A government-funded programme is also helping overseas-trained doctors already living in New Zealand complete registration and enter general practice. Expanded role for community pharmacistsBuilding the future GP workforce with overseas-trained doctorsHealth policies offer a mixed bag of solutions

What this could mean for you: More appointment options and pharmacy-based treatment may help if getting seen is the problem. The policies identified here do not establish a new universal entitlement to free GP visits.

ACT — expand treatment through pharmacies

ACT wants pharmacists to treat a wider range of everyday illnesses and help manage stable conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol. This is part of a broader approach to changing how healthcare is delivered. Health policies offer a mixed bag of solutionsPolicies for Party vote - NZ Election 2026

What this could mean for you: For conditions covered by pharmacy services, you may have another option besides paying for a GP consultation. This is not the same as making GP visits free, and pharmacy services will not replace a GP for every concern.

Te Pāti Māori — Māori-led and whānau-centred healthcare

The party emphasises rebuilding Māori-led health services, prevention, whānau wellbeing and culturally safe care. Its published health proposals are broader than a specific plan for GP fees, and the available reporting does not establish a comparable, detailed entitlement to free GP visits. Health policies offer a mixed bag of solutionsParty people face five questions on their policy for the future of primary care

What this could mean for you: Its approach puts emphasis on how care is organised and delivered, but you would need to check its latest detailed commitments for a direct answer on fees.

New Zealand First — prevention and earlier intervention

New Zealand First has emphasised preventing illness, including nutrition and metabolic health, and proposes health coaches working alongside GPs. Its wider health policy details are still developing. Health policies offer a mixed bag of solutionsParty people face five questions on their policy for the future of primary care

What this could mean for you: Prevention may help people manage their health earlier, but the proposals identified here do not specify a new universal free-GP entitlement.

The Opportunity Party (TOP) — long-term primary care investment

TOP proposes a 10-year health plan, lifting health funding from around 7.4% to 9% of GDP and directing a greater share towards primary care, including GP clinics. It places particular emphasis on prevention. Health policies offer a mixed bag of solutions

What this could mean for you: More sustained funding for general practice could support access over time, but the proposals identified here do not specify a comparable number of free GP visits.

What matters most for someone with an unpredictable payslip?

The distinction is between reducing the price you pay personally and making it easier to obtain an appointment.

Question to ask Why it matters
Is the visit free, or merely subsidised? A reduced fee can still be unaffordable in a bad pay week.
How many visits are covered? A small annual allowance may run out if you or your partner need several appointments.
Does eligibility depend on income? Your annual earnings may not reflect the money available between paydays.
Can you get an appointment when you need one? Free care has limited practical value if appointments are unavailable.
Are prescriptions and follow-up tests covered? The GP consultation is only one part of the cost of getting well.
When would the policy start? An election promise is not an immediate change to your current GP bill.

One important limitation: I haven't identified a published commitment among these parties that specifically adjusts GP charges according to week-to-week income fluctuations or the timing of your pay. Labour's proposed free visits and the Greens' broader direction towards free care address the consultation charge more directly; National and ACT emphasise other ways of improving access. That is a description of their announced approaches, not a ranking of which party you should vote for. Policies for Party vote - NZ Election 2026Health policies offer a mixed bag of solutionsLabour's Family Doctor Loan Scheme

Where to check the details before voting

The key question for your situation is: Would you prefer a set number of free GP visits each year, or a system designed to make GP care free more broadly, even if you need to go more often? That distinction is useful when comparing the actual policy details, alongside each party's plans for appointment availability and the costs of prescriptions and follow-up care.

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 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 are parties proposing about GP costs and access for working people who struggle to afford an appointment?

Navigating rostered, fluctuating income while fixed costs like rent and bills stay the same is a significant financial strain, and unexpected GP fees can make seeking healthcare feel out of reach. In the 2026 New Zealand general election, health costs and primary care access are major political dividing lines, with starkly different approaches from the various parties.

The primary proposals regarding GP costs and access for working people include:

1. Centre-Left and Progressive Parties (Universal Subsidies & Free Access)

  • Labour Party: Their flagship health policy is the introduction of a "Medicard," which would provide three free general practitioner (GP) consultations each year for every person entitled to publicly funded healthcare. This is proposed to be funded via a 28% capital gains tax on certain residential and commercial investment properties. Labour also promises to permanently remove the $5 prescription charge (slated to return for some under current settings) and streamline clinical phone triage to free up appointment capacity.
  • Green Party: Proposes going further by offering unlimited free GP visits alongside free dental care for everyone, funded through a wealth tax. They focus heavily on establishing community care clinics first in highest-need areas.
  • Te Pāti Māori: Advocates for free primary care and dental for all whānau earning under $60,000, alongside a Māori Health Card linking funding directly to the patient.
  • The Opportunities Party (TOP): Proposes free primary healthcare, dental, and mental health care for under-30s through a Teal Card programme.

2. Governing and Centre-Right Parties (Targeted Funding & System Efficiency)

  • National / ACT / New Zealand First (Coalition Government parties): The current government parties generally oppose universal free GP schemes, with National previously criticizing broad-brush subsidies as untargeted (arguing they benefit higher-income earners too).
    • Instead of universal free visits, their approach centers on making existing health funding go further, boosting primary care capacity, expanding Pharmac's medicines budget, and reducing hospital waitlists through funding injections and increased use of private-sector outsourcing.
    • ACT takes a more market-driven view, proposing models like health savings accounts or private-cover incentives rather than expanding state-provided universal subsidies.

Summary for Households with Fluctuating Income

If out-of-pocket cash flow at the exact moment of illness is your primary barrier:

  • Parties favoring free/subsidized models (Labour, Greens, Te Pāti Māori) aim to eliminate or heavily reduce upfront co-payments at the clinic, directly easing the tension of a tight pay week.
  • Parties favoring current settings or structural reform (National, ACT) focus more on long-term capacity, Pharmac funding, and overall system efficiency rather than dropping direct consultation co-payments across the board.

Would you like to explore how other election issues, such as cost-of-living support or working-for-families changes, align with your household situation?

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 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 are parties proposing about GP costs and access for working people who struggle to afford an appointment?

Navigating fluctuating rostered hours and tight household budgets while worrying about sudden medical costs is a stressful position to be in. In the lead-up to the 2026 New Zealand general election , political parties have staked out distinct approaches to addressing general practitioner (GP) affordability, ranging from universal targeted caps to comprehensive structural overhauls of primary care funding.

The primary proposals from the major political parties regarding GP costs and access include:

  • New Zealand Labour Party: Labour’s headline health policy features a "Medicard" system that proposes providing three free GP consultations each year for every person entitled to publicly funded healthcare. To address the risk of increased pressure on clinics and wait times, they have also proposed a "Family Doctor Loan Scheme" to support doctors and nurse practitioners entering practice ownership and expand capacity.

  • New Zealand National Party: The National-led government has focused on expanding funding into primary care capacity and after-hours/urgent online services through budget allocations rather than making universal free visits. Ministers have critiqued broad universal subsidies like Labour's Medicard as untargeted (describing it as subsidising visits for higher-income earners), preferring to direct government investment into general capacity building, staffing, and managing waitlists.

  • Green Party: The Greens advocate moving progressively toward fully publicly funded primary care and dental care. Their platform prioritises removing user charges entirely as part of a broader structural shift toward prevention, equity, and funding support for primary care staff and community hauora providers. [The New Zealand Medical Journal]

  • Te Pāti Māori: Te Pāti Māori proposes free primary care and dental care for all whānau earning under $60,000, alongside a dedicated Māori Health Card framework to directly tie funding to community needs. [WhichParty NZ]

  • New Zealand First & Other Parties: NZ First has historically expressed sympathy for lowering primary care costs, but their 20th-term focal points center heavily on direct waitlist and operational funding. Smaller entities like the Opportunity Party propose targeted free primary healthcare for specific groups (such as under-30s via a "Teal Card"). [WhichParty NZ]

Aside from party policies, standard general practice consultation fee increases are currently bound by a government stable-fees framework (holding standard fees at baseline levels) via Health New Zealand to limit immediate inflationary jumps in out-of-pocket costs at the clinic door.

If you'd like, I can help you look into:

  • How the Community Services Card or SuperGold Card might currently lower your immediate GP visit fees based on your household income bracket.
  • Specific details on prescription co-payments or local After-Hours/Urgent Care subsidies available in your region.

Let me know how you would like to proceed.

Ask anything

Captured 12 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 are parties proposing about GP costs and access for working people who struggle to afford an appointment?

AI Overview

Ahead of the November 7, 2026 New Zealand General Election , political parties have sharply contrasting views on how to address General Practice (GP) costs and access for working people facing financial pressure:

New Zealand Labour Party

  • Free GP Visits ("Medicard"): Proposes giving every New Zealander three free GP visits per year through a new "Medicard" system, which is estimated to cover routine visits for about 4 in 5 New Zealanders.

  • Free Prescriptions: Plans to remove the $5 prescription charge for people entitled to public healthcare.

  • Funding & Capacity: Aims to back family doctors with a "Family Doctor Loan Scheme" (low-interest loans to set up or buy into practices) and work with providers to free up more appointments.

  • How it is funded: Tied to a targeted 28% capital gains tax on the profit of sold investment property and commercial assets (excluding the family home and farms).

Green Party

  • Unlimited Free Care: Proposes moving toward unlimited free GP visits and free adult dental care for everyone, prioritizing community care clinics in the highest-need areas first.

  • How it is funded: Backs a wealth tax across the economy to pay for expanded public healthcare.

Te Pāti Māori

  • Targeted Free Access: Proposes free GP and primary healthcare for individuals and families earning under $60,000, alongside re-establishing a dedicated Māori Health Authority.

National Party / Current Governing Parties

  • Focus on Capacity & System Efficiency: The National Party has criticized broad free-visit policies (such as Labour's Medicard) as untargeted, instead focusing on health funding efficiency, expanding the scope of work for pharmacists and physician associates, and investing in primary care capacity rather than universal blanket subsidies.

ACT Party

  • Private / Opt-Out Models: Disagrees with government-funded universal free GP models and instead proposes a $6,000 incentive for New Zealanders to opt out of the public health system in favor of private health cover, while expanding pharmacists' powers to treat minor ailments to free up GP queues.

New Zealand First

  • Waitlist Reduction & Prevention: Proposes a $925 million annual GP-controlled "Waitlist Reduction Fund" allowing general practices to purchase approved specialist consultations, alongside a 15-point health plan emphasizing nutrition, metabolic health, and reducing GP burnout.

Would you like to compare how these policies impact prescription costs , or look up how your local enrolled practice currently handles casual/visiting fees?

Ask anything

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