---
title: "Small exporter planning investment"
publisher: "Onsomble Limited"
publication: "NZBrands.ai"
edition: 2
collected_on: "2026-10-12"
html_url: "https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/2/voters/s11/"
---

# Small exporter planning investment

Edition 2 · answers collected 12 October 2026.

[Read on NZBrands.ai](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/2/voters/s11/)

I run a small manufacturing business that exports and employs staff. We are considering new equipment but worry about demand, freight costs and finding skilled workers.

This is a designed voter situation, not a representative sample or a finding about everyone in that group.

## What they asked

### PF057 · Economy

I run a small manufacturing business that exports and employs staff. We are considering new equipment but worry about demand, freight costs and finding skilled workers. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. How do parties compare on business investment, productivity and support for small exporters?

Study-assigned priority: Major. This is a design assumption, not a measured preference. Reason: Investment depends on demand and operating conditions.

[Read the captured answers (Markdown)](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/2/questions/91b36a04-9b98-43b4-b0af-5957145b3a9a.md)

### PF058 · Foreign affairs and defence

I run a small manufacturing business that exports and employs staff. We are considering new equipment but worry about demand, freight costs and finding skilled workers. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. What do parties propose about trade access, international relationships and risks to New Zealand exports?

Study-assigned priority: Major. This is a design assumption, not a measured preference. Reason: Trade relationships affect this business directly.

[Read the captured answers (Markdown)](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/2/questions/c0652968-50ca-4bc4-b476-06d4a4e46c1c.md)

### PF059 · Jobs and unemployment

I run a small manufacturing business that exports and employs staff. We are considering new equipment but worry about demand, freight costs and finding skilled workers. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. What plans do parties have for vocational skills, training and the availability of skilled workers?

Study-assigned priority: Major. This is a design assumption, not a measured preference. Reason: Skill shortages constrain stated expansion plans.

[Read the captured answers (Markdown)](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/2/questions/f61c1e75-be45-4492-b364-e753cc9a3fad.md)

### PF060 · Immigration

I run a small manufacturing business that exports and employs staff. We are considering new equipment but worry about demand, freight costs and finding skilled workers. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. How would party immigration policies affect hiring skilled staff from overseas?

Study-assigned priority: Major. This is a design assumption, not a measured preference. Reason: Skilled recruitment is an explicit workforce constraint.

[Read the captured answers (Markdown)](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/2/questions/b0fd1b26-8bbe-4d5c-8ee4-ddac28bb943c.md)

### PF061 · Infrastructure and local services

I run a small manufacturing business that exports and employs staff. We are considering new equipment but worry about demand, freight costs and finding skilled workers. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. Which parties address freight, ports and transport infrastructure in their plans for business?

Study-assigned priority: Secondary. This is a design assumption, not a measured preference. Reason: Freight routes and ports affect delivery costs.

[Read the captured answers (Markdown)](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/2/questions/7c2059ed-af87-42b2-b21c-5544acdffcb8.md)

### PF062 · Fuel and energy

I run a small manufacturing business that exports and employs staff. We are considering new equipment but worry about demand, freight costs and finding skilled workers. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. How do parties' energy and fuel policies affect businesses making and moving goods?

Study-assigned priority: Secondary. This is a design assumption, not a measured preference. Reason: Freight and equipment running costs affect margins.

[Read the captured answers (Markdown)](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/2/questions/329da0c8-78c0-4824-b542-0c1efdf693dc.md)

## Which parties AI put in front of this voter

Of the 24 answers this voter received, 21 left out at least one of the six parties in Parliament. Te Pāti Māori was named least often, in 4 of 24.

| Party | Answers naming party | Answers collected |
| --- | --- | --- |
| National | 22 | 24 |
| Labour | 22 | 24 |
| Greens | 21 | 24 |
| ACT | 21 | 24 |
| NZ First | 21 | 24 |
| Te Pāti Māori | 4 | 24 |
| Opportunity | 2 | 24 |

## Issue by issue

## Economy

| Party | Answers naming party | Answers on issue | Share | Positive claims | Neutral claims | Negative claims | Mixed claims |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| National | 4 | 4 | 100.0% | 21 | 22 | 0 | 0 |
| Labour | 4 | 4 | 100.0% | 19 | 22 | 1 | 1 |
| Greens | 4 | 4 | 100.0% | 7 | 19 | 0 | 0 |
| ACT | 4 | 4 | 100.0% | 14 | 17 | 1 | 0 |
| NZ First | 4 | 4 | 100.0% | 14 | 12 | 2 | 0 |
| Te Pāti Māori | 1 | 4 | 25.0% | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Opportunity | 1 | 4 | 25.0% | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 |

## Foreign affairs and defence

| Party | Answers naming party | Answers on issue | Share | Positive claims | Neutral claims | Negative claims | Mixed claims |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| National | 4 | 4 | 100.0% | 10 | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| Labour | 4 | 4 | 100.0% | 8 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| Greens | 4 | 4 | 100.0% | 1 | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| ACT | 3 | 4 | 75.0% | 5 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| NZ First | 3 | 4 | 75.0% | 4 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| Te Pāti Māori | 1 | 4 | 25.0% | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Opportunity | 0 | 4 | 0.0% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

## Jobs and unemployment

| Party | Answers naming party | Answers on issue | Share | Positive claims | Neutral claims | Negative claims | Mixed claims |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| National | 3 | 4 | 75.0% | 7 | 14 | 1 | 0 |
| Labour | 3 | 4 | 75.0% | 9 | 12 | 1 | 0 |
| Greens | 3 | 4 | 75.0% | 3 | 10 | 1 | 0 |
| ACT | 3 | 4 | 75.0% | 4 | 9 | 0 | 1 |
| NZ First | 3 | 4 | 75.0% | 3 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| Te Pāti Māori | 1 | 4 | 25.0% | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Opportunity | 0 | 4 | 0.0% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

## Immigration

| Party | Answers naming party | Answers on issue | Share | Positive claims | Neutral claims | Negative claims | Mixed claims |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| National | 4 | 4 | 100.0% | 7 | 7 | 0 | 1 |
| Labour | 4 | 4 | 100.0% | 2 | 9 | 0 | 3 |
| Greens | 3 | 4 | 75.0% | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| ACT | 4 | 4 | 100.0% | 4 | 7 | 4 | 1 |
| NZ First | 4 | 4 | 100.0% | 0 | 7 | 8 | 0 |
| Te Pāti Māori | 1 | 4 | 25.0% | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Opportunity | 0 | 4 | 0.0% | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |

## Infrastructure and local services

| Party | Answers naming party | Answers on issue | Share | Positive claims | Neutral claims | Negative claims | Mixed claims |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| National | 4 | 4 | 100.0% | 9 | 20 | 0 | 1 |
| Labour | 4 | 4 | 100.0% | 9 | 20 | 0 | 0 |
| Greens | 4 | 4 | 100.0% | 5 | 10 | 0 | 1 |
| ACT | 4 | 4 | 100.0% | 5 | 10 | 1 | 0 |
| NZ First | 4 | 4 | 100.0% | 3 | 18 | 0 | 0 |
| Te Pāti Māori | 0 | 4 | 0.0% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Opportunity | 0 | 4 | 0.0% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

## Fuel and energy

| Party | Answers naming party | Answers on issue | Share | Positive claims | Neutral claims | Negative claims | Mixed claims |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| National | 3 | 4 | 75.0% | 10 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Labour | 3 | 4 | 75.0% | 8 | 8 | 0 | 1 |
| Greens | 3 | 4 | 75.0% | 5 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| ACT | 3 | 4 | 75.0% | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| NZ First | 3 | 4 | 75.0% | 8 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Te Pāti Māori | 0 | 4 | 0.0% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Opportunity | 1 | 4 | 25.0% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

## How the assistants handled this voter’s main question

A specific tax attribution changes while some cash-flow detail is lost.

5 October: The answer attributed a 25% SME tax proposal to National and described Labour’s prompt-payment and $10,000 equipment write-off measures.

12 October: National is described as retaining 28% company tax and Investment Boost; a 20% small-company proposal is attributed to NZ First. Opportunity is omitted and Labour’s earlier figures disappear.

The altered tax attribution should be checked against party documents rather than described as a proven party-policy change. The exporter also loses the earlier detailed cash-flow explanation.

Gemini · 5 October 2026 · Earlier answer

> National proposes a lower SME tax rate (e.g., 25% for businesses under $30M turnover)

[Full captured answer](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/1/questions/91b36a04-9b98-43b4-b0af-5957145b3a9a/#answer-69d7041e-0b71-482e-995d-45f1baf740db)

Gemini · 12 October 2026 · Refreshed answer

> keeping corporate tax at 28% while avoiding new taxes

[Full captured answer](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/2/questions/91b36a04-9b98-43b4-b0af-5957145b3a9a/#answer-13cbd1b4-6add-4522-8318-5d99dd6c83f5)

## Sources recorded against the answers

## ChatGPT

| Answers collected | Answers with sources recorded | Answers showing a link |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 6 | 5 | 5 |

| Website | Answers with this website recorded |
| --- | --- |
| greens.org.nz | 3 |
| labour.org.nz | 3 |
| national.org.nz | 3 |
| nzfirst.nz | 3 |
| policy.nz | 3 |
| act.org.nz | 2 |
| cilt.co.nz | 1 |
| hud.govt.nz | 1 |
| immigration.govt.nz | 1 |
| livinginnz.co.nz | 1 |

Publisher counts sum recorded website/answer associations; one answer can contribute to several websites and publisher types.

| Publisher type | Recorded associations |
| --- | --- |
| Party websites | 14 |
| Government | 2 |
| News | 1 |
| Comparison sites | 3 |
| Advocacy groups | 2 |
| Businesses | 1 |
| Social media | 0 |
| Other | 0 |

## Gemini

| Answers collected | Answers with sources recorded | Answers showing a link |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 6 | 6 | 1 |

| Website | Answers with this website recorded |
| --- | --- |
| nzvotecheck.com | 3 |
| national.org.nz | 2 |
| waateanews.com | 2 |
| whichparty.nz | 2 |
| 1news.co.nz | 1 |
| ammlaw.co.nz | 1 |
| electrification.co.nz | 1 |
| kiwicoaches.co.nz | 1 |
| opportunity.org.nz | 1 |
| policy.nz | 1 |

Publisher counts sum recorded website/answer associations; one answer can contribute to several websites and publisher types.

| Publisher type | Recorded associations |
| --- | --- |
| Party websites | 3 |
| Government | 0 |
| News | 3 |
| Comparison sites | 7 |
| Advocacy groups | 1 |
| Businesses | 2 |
| Social media | 0 |
| Other | 0 |

## Google AI Mode

| Answers collected | Answers with sources recorded | Answers showing a link |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 6 | 6 | 1 |

| Website | Answers with this website recorded |
| --- | --- |
| policy.nz | 3 |
| rnz.co.nz | 3 |
| en.wikipedia.org | 2 |
| national.org.nz | 2 |
| nzherald.co.nz | 2 |
| stories.theconversation.com | 2 |
| businessnz.org.nz | 1 |
| facebook.com | 1 |
| greens.org.nz | 1 |
| kiwicoaches.co.nz | 1 |

Publisher counts sum recorded website/answer associations; one answer can contribute to several websites and publisher types.

| Publisher type | Recorded associations |
| --- | --- |
| Party websites | 4 |
| Government | 0 |
| News | 9 |
| Comparison sites | 5 |
| Advocacy groups | 1 |
| Businesses | 1 |
| Social media | 1 |
| Other | 2 |

## Google AI Overviews

| Answers collected | Answers with sources recorded | Answers showing a link |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 6 | 6 | 2 |

| Website | Answers with this website recorded |
| --- | --- |
| rnz.co.nz | 6 |
| nzherald.co.nz | 5 |
| labour.org.nz | 4 |
| national.org.nz | 4 |
| act.org.nz | 3 |
| en.wikipedia.org | 2 |
| greens.org.nz | 2 |
| policy.nz | 2 |
| stories.theconversation.com | 2 |
| 1news.co.nz | 1 |

Publisher counts sum recorded website/answer associations; one answer can contribute to several websites and publisher types.

| Publisher type | Recorded associations |
| --- | --- |
| Party websites | 13 |
| Government | 2 |
| News | 19 |
| Comparison sites | 4 |
| Advocacy groups | 5 |
| Businesses | 6 |
| Social media | 3 |
| Other | 2 |

## Interpretation limits

Authored situations are not a representative population sample. Consumer answers can vary across reruns, retrieval conditions, interface versions and timing. One collection per edition records snapshots rather than isolating causes. The report makes no statistical-significance claim, infers no voter persuasion and does not convert presence into support. Verified developments are distinguished from altered AI descriptions.

A design change should be recorded as a new catalogue version. Preserved gaps prevent missing coverage from becoming an apparent substantive shift.

[Read the complete methodology](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/2/method.md)

## 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/)