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Evidence · NZ Election 2026 · Edition 3

Every question, every answer, every source

All 174 questions and the 793 answers produced on 16 October 2026. The 27 remaining cells produced no AI Overview.

questions
174
answers saved
793
collected
16 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. Parties covers all 17 tracked parties; displayed parties covers the seven charted parties.

    result id, prompt id, draft id, scenario id, platform, region, words, parties, displayed parties, literal url 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

    4,275rows

    Download sources by answer (CSV)

  • Checks against official sources

    nz-election-2026-checks.csv

    One row per reviewed claim and assistant, including cells where the assertion was not stated.

    checkId, claimToTest, category, answerId, questionId, assistant, assertionPresent, assertion, verdict, whatTheSourceSays, checkedOn, evidence

    18rows

    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 in this edition.

    edition, prompt id, platform, city region, national result id, city result id, same party names, same text

    123rows

    Download location and national answers (CSV)

  • Changes between editions

    nz-election-2026-comparisons.csv

    All 17 tracked parties; one row per identical question, assistant and location across the 12 and 16 October collections. Earlier coding restated after the 20 October identity correction.

    earlier edition, prompt id, platform, region, draft id, block, scenario id, scenario, issue, priority, earlier result id, current result id, same party set, added, removed, earlier parties, current parties

    792rows

    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.

    questionId, assistant, collectionSetting, askedFrom, availability

    27rows

    Download no ai overview produced (CSV)

  • Party-identity corrections

    nz-election-2026-party-identity-corrections.csv

    Ten reviewed false matches removed from the restated Edition 2 and current Edition 3 comparisons; original answer text is unchanged.

    edition, result id, party, before present, include, reason, reviewer, reviewed on

    10rows

    Download party-identity corrections (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

For the 2026 New Zealand general election: What would the parties change about electricity prices, fuel costs and the security of energy supply?

New Zealand 2026 election: electricity, fuel and energy security

The key difference between the parties is how they would try to make energy more affordable while keeping New Zealand's electricity and fuel supplies reliable.

There are three related issues to compare:

  • Electricity prices: Would parties change power-market rules, expand renewable generation, subsidise bills or change the role of the state?
  • Fuel costs: Would they reduce fuel taxes, support electric vehicles, change transport policy or encourage domestic energy production?
  • Security of supply: Would they prioritise hydro, wind and solar, retain gas and other backup generation, or invest in alternative fuels and storage?

One important distinction: a policy to increase electricity generation or domestic fuel production does not automatically mean lower household bills. The effect depends on costs, timing, market rules and how the policy is funded.

1. Electricity prices and power bills

Renewable Energies: Wind, Solar, and Hydro Power | AI Art Generator | Easy-Peasy.AI

National

National proposes more generation, faster approvals for energy projects, greater competition and easier connections to the electricity grid. Its Electrify NZ 2.0 plan would let households with solar panels or batteries sell surplus power to whichever retailer offers the best deal. It also wants new data centres to have new firmed generation. Affordable power Kiwis can rely onNZ Political Party Energy Policies — 2026

Approach: increase supply and competition, with private investment.

Solar for your home — Smart Solar

Labour

Labour proposes government-backed, low-interest SolarSaver loans for household solar panels and batteries, additional support of up to $3,000 for low- and middle-income households, and plug-in solar options for renters. It says the average household could save around $1,000 annually. Labour would also make electricity overcharging illegal and require refunds where companies are found to have overcharged. Labour's Cost of Living PlanLabour's Cost of Living Plan

Approach: help households generate their own electricity and strengthen consumer protections.

Aerial View Whakamaru Hydroelectric Power Station and Lake Whakamaru

Green Party

The Greens propose creating Kiwipower, a publicly owned electricity company to fill gaps in supply, support affordable power and improve energy security. Their package includes zero-interest clean-energy loans for solar panels and batteries, community-owned power and expanded home energy-efficiency support. Green Party launches plan to cut power bills and take power back from the big energy companiesSoaring power prices show urgent need for electrification

Approach: stronger public ownership and a faster shift to renewable energy.

The Journey to Going Carbon Zero at Home

ACT

ACT wants more generation and private investment, stronger enforcement of competition rules, and more freedom for households to sell their excess solar electricity to competing buyers. It also proposes opening some electricity-transmission investment to private companies and making network operators demonstrate value for money. ACT New ZealandNZ Political Party Energy Policies — 2026

Approach: market competition, investment and fewer barriers to private enterprise.

Merge Cafe makeover moves closer thanks to $30,000 boost | Transpower

New Zealand First

NZ First wants to separate the big electricity generators from their retail businesses, change the market structure and give new generation projects long-term fixed-price contracts. It also proposes allowing household solar generators to sell electricity back at the same price they pay to buy it. "Power to the People" - Winston Peters - State of the Nation 2026Our Policy

Approach: restructure the electricity market to increase competition and constrain pricing power.

A meeting place - of tradition and technology.⁠Sunergise is delighted to have joined with Tesla in supporting the work of Te Ra at Manurewa Marae.⁠The 100 Trina Honey Black solar PV panels… | Sunergise

Te Pāti Māori

Te Pāti Māori proposes a $1 billion Energy Sovereignty Fund to build Māori- and community-owned energy assets, stronger regulatory powers against excessive pricing and fair compensation for people and communities generating or storing electricity. We Want Cheaper Power And We Want Our People To Own It.Te Pāti Māori is the assertion of our mana motuhake and our liberation

Approach: public-interest regulation and community ownership of energy assets.

2. Petrol, diesel and other fuel costs

Party Main proposal or direction
National The government has proposed fuel-excise increases totalling 22 cents per litre over the next term, according to Labour. National's broader approach also includes developing domestic energy supplies and improving energy security. Release: No increase in fuel taxes under LabourBudget 2026 - Fixing the basics. Building the future
Labour Freeze fuel excise tax for three years, and make it illegal for fuel companies to overcharge for petrol and diesel, with refunds when overcharging is established. Labour estimates the tax freeze would save an average family $520 a year by 2030. Labour's Cost of Living PlanRelease: No increase in fuel taxes under Labour
Greens Reduce dependence on petrol and diesel through electrification, renewable energy and more affordable public transport. The Greens' energy policy focuses more on replacing fossil-fuel dependence over time than on an immediate cut in petrol prices. Soaring power prices show urgent need for electrificationGreen Party launches plan to cut power bills and take power back from the big energy companies
ACT Emphasise private-sector investment, competition and market-led energy supply. I did not find a comparably specific 2026 pledge from ACT to freeze petrol taxes or cut fuel prices directly in the sources reviewed. ACT New ZealandNZ Political Party Energy Policies — 2026
New Zealand First Invest in identifying domestic oil and gas resources, with the stated aim of reducing dependence on overseas supply and eventually lowering local fuel costs. NZ First also advocates examining options to strengthen domestic fuel-refining and supply security. Future Proofing our Fuel Security2023 Election Policies
Te Pāti Māori Its published energy platform focuses on energy sovereignty and community ownership. I did not find a specific petrol-tax reduction or immediate petrol-price cap in the sources reviewed. We Want Cheaper Power And We Want Our People To Own It.Policy

What this means for motorists: Labour's proposed fuel-tax freeze is a direct, defined measure affecting the tax component of the pump price. NZ First's domestic-resource strategy is aimed at changing where fuel comes from, but any resulting price reductions would depend on discoveries, development costs and the time required to bring production online. Neither approach can guarantee a particular retail petrol price, which is also influenced by international oil prices, the exchange rate, refining and distribution costs, and taxes.

3. Security of electricity and fuel supply

This is where the differences become particularly important. New Zealand relies heavily on renewable electricity, especially hydro, but low lake levels can create shortages when wind and solar generation are also weak. Declining domestic natural-gas production adds to the challenge. LNG in New ZealandNew Zealand shortlists two LNG terminal bidders to boost energy security

National: imported gas as a backup

National's current government is progressing a liquefied natural gas (LNG) import facility, proposed for Port Taranaki, to supply gas-fired power stations during dry periods. The facility could be operating by 2028, subject to the procurement process. The government says this should reduce price spikes and improve reliability. It is also supporting renewable generation and has reversed the previous oil and gas exploration ban. LNG in New ZealandNew records show energy policies are delivering

The trade-off is continued reliance on imported fossil fuel, with exposure to international gas prices and infrastructure costs.

Labour: household electrification and consumer protection

Labour's published proposals emphasise solar panels, batteries, reducing fuel costs and protecting consumers from overcharging. These measures could help households reduce their exposure to retail electricity and petrol costs. The policies reviewed here do not set out an alternative dry-year backup programme in comparable detail to National's LNG proposal. Labour's Cost of Living PlanRelease: No increase in fuel taxes under Labour

The key question is how Labour would ensure enough reliable electricity during prolonged dry periods as domestic gas supplies decline.

Greens: renewable electricity and storage

The Greens want Kiwipower to address gaps in the electricity market, expand renewable energy and tackle the dry-year problem. Solar, batteries, community energy and efficiency are central to their approach. Green Party launches plan to cut power bills and take power back from the big energy companiesSoaring power prices show urgent need for electrification

The important implementation question is whether renewable generation and storage can provide enough dependable energy through extended periods of low hydro inflows.

ACT: investment and market-led backup

ACT supports market-led electricity generation and has backed LNG as a near-term option for dry-year security. It also wants private investment in transmission and fewer barriers to new generation and battery services. NZ Political Party Energy Policies — 2026ACT New Zealand

Its emphasis is on allowing investment and competition to deliver the capacity needed, rather than restructuring the sector through a new public electricity company.

New Zealand First: domestic energy resources

NZ First proposes a $1 billion investment over a term of government in surveying New Zealand's subsurface resources, including potential oil, gas and geothermal resources. It aims to develop domestic supplies, reduce dependence on overseas fuel and eventually lower fuel and electricity costs. It also wants to break up the large electricity generators' retail businesses. Future Proofing our Fuel Security"Power to the People" - Winston Peters - State of the Nation 2026

The uncertainty is substantial: surveying and drilling do not guarantee commercially recoverable reserves, and developing production takes time.

Te Pāti Māori: community energy sovereignty

Te Pāti Māori proposes a national energy plan, investment in Māori and rural energy capability, and community-owned generation and storage. Its objective is to make communities less dependent on concentrated ownership and strengthen local energy resilience. We Want Cheaper Power And We Want Our People To Own It.Te Pāti Māori is the assertion of our mana motuhake and our liberation

Its published programme places greater emphasis on ownership, affordability and community capability than on expanding fossil-fuel supply.

4. What are the biggest practical differences?

Issue Main policy divide
Lower power bills now Labour's solar loans and fuel-tax freeze; National's supply and competition measures; Greens' public power company; NZ First's market restructuring.
Reduce petrol costs Labour proposes a three-year fuel-tax freeze. NZ First focuses on potential domestic oil and gas production.
Prevent electricity shortages National and ACT support LNG as a backup option. The Greens emphasise publicly owned renewable generation and storage. NZ First emphasises domestic resources and changes to the electricity market.
Who owns energy infrastructure? National and ACT favour private investment and competition; the Greens propose a public generation company; Te Pāti Māori emphasises Māori and community ownership; NZ First proposes separating generation and retail.
Reduce exposure to overseas energy markets Greens emphasise homegrown renewables and electrification; NZ First emphasises domestic oil and gas exploration; National and ACT combine renewable generation with imported LNG backup.

These are the parties' stated approaches, not guarantees of the outcome. The effects will depend on implementation, funding and the response of energy markets.

5. Questions worth asking before voting

  • For your power bill: Is the party offering direct household assistance, trying to change electricity-market rules, or aiming to increase supply over several years?
  • For your petrol bill: Does it have a specific policy affecting fuel taxes, or is it relying on changes in global prices or future domestic production?
  • For energy security: What will keep electricity flowing during a dry winter, and what happens if imported fuel becomes expensive or unavailable?
  • For the longer term: How will the party pay for new infrastructure, and how will it ensure that savings reach households rather than remaining with generators, retailers or network companies?

The 2026 general election is scheduled for 7 November 2026, so these are campaign commitments and current party positions, not a record of what a future government has delivered. The main parties vying to form New Zealand's next governmentNew Zealand shortlists two LNG terminal bidders to boost energy security

For checking the details directly, the most useful sources are the parties' own National energy plan, Labour cost-of-living plan, Green energy policy, ACT energy announcement, NZ First fuel security plan and Te Pāti Māori energy sovereignty policy.

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Gemini · No location

For the 2026 New Zealand general election: What would the parties change about electricity prices, fuel costs and the security of energy supply?

Energy policy, the cost of living, and security of supply are major focal points of the 2026 New Zealand general election. Rising electricity and fuel costs have intensified political debate over how to balance affordability, decarbonisation, and grid reliability.

The primary political parties propose distinct approaches across electricity prices, fuel costs, and energy security:

1. Electricity Prices and Market Structure

Parties are deeply split on whether high power bills are best addressed by market competition, state intervention, or breaking up major electricity companies (the "gentailers").

  • National: Focuses on regulatory efficiency, network standardisation, and boosting overall supply rather than structural breakups. National promotes household and community solar adoption through low-interest, property-linked loans (such as the Home Energy Fund repaid via council rates) to help households lower their bills. They also propose requiring new data centres to bring new firmed electricity generation online alongside them.
  • Labour: Emphasizes consumer protection and distributed renewable generation. Labour’s policy package includes the SolarSaver initiative—offering zero-interest loans and targeted subsidies for household/community solar, plug-in solar options for renters, and community-battery funding. Labour has also left the door open to fundamental industry changes regarding gentailers, though it has stopped short of mandatory breakups.
  • New Zealand First: Proposes a radical, Telecom-style structural split of the major "gentailers" (separating generation arms from retail arms) to strip away corporate market power and force lower prices for households.
  • The Green Party: Supports a structural separation of gentailers via a member's bill and advocates for a new state-owned clean energy generation company (Kiwipower) to increase competition, address dry-year security, and support independent market participants. They also push for zero-interest solar/battery loans and a legal "right to solar" for renters.
  • ACT: Opposes state intervention, price controls, and structural breakups of power companies. ACT argues that electricity prices will drop naturally through deregulation, reducing resource-management red tape, and unlocking more generation supply rather than relying on government subsidies or loans.

2. Fuel Costs and Liquid Fuels

Transport fuel costs and the security of liquid fuel imports remain contentious, particularly regarding domestic refining and fossil fuel exploration.

  • National / ACT: Favour pro-market solutions. While National criticised the closure of the Marsden Point oil refinery under the previous Labour government, they have focused on boosting domestic fuel storage capacity rather than attempting the multi-billion-dollar cost of reopening the refinery. ACT similarly opposes government intervention or attempts to revive the refinery, arguing private actors made a commercial decision. To lower costs and secure supply, National has actively moved to promote oil and gas exploration (passing the Crown Minerals Amendment Act to shift the statutory purpose from managing to promoting minerals and petroleum). ACT strongly supports restarting offshore oil and gas exploration to increase supply.
  • NZ First: Strongly champions domestic fuel security, having previously pushed for investigations into reopening Marsden Point and proposing major state-backed offshore oil and gas surveys to secure local resources.
  • Labour / Greens / The Opportunities Party (TOP): Generally oppose new fossil fuel exploration and the reopening of oil refining infrastructure, aligning with long-term climate targets. Labour defends the original 2018 oil and gas ban (while honoring existing permits) and frames New Zealand's economic future around becoming a renewable energy superpower. The Greens want to reinstate and tighten exploration bans further, cancelling active permits, and instead target transport costs via expanded public transport support and vehicle electrification.

3. Security of Energy Supply and Dry-Year Risk

Ensuring the country "keeps the lights on" during dry winters—when hydro lakes run low—has triggered diverse strategic responses:

  • The Incumbent / National-led Approach: Relies heavily on regulatory tweaks, encouraging private investment in new generation, exploring potential liquefied natural gas (LNG) import infrastructure options to manage dry-year gas shortages, and streaming fast-track consenting for renewable infrastructure.
  • Alternative Left/Progressive Approaches (Labour, Greens, Te Pāti Māori): Emphasise localized energy resilience, grid storage (batteries), and demand flexibility rather than relying on fossil fuel imports or LNG terminals. Te Pāti Māori and the Greens prioritize community-owned renewable energy security, geothermal expansion, and regional storage networks.
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Google AI Mode · No location

For the 2026 New Zealand general election: What would the parties change about electricity prices, fuel costs and the security of energy supply?

For the 2026 New Zealand general election, political parties have outlined distinct approaches to addressing electricity prices, energy security, and the broader cost of living. According to their official policy platforms and public announcements, the main parties propose the following measures:

National Party

National’s energy strategy (anchored by its "Electrify NZ 2.0" framework) focuses heavily on regulatory changes, expanding private investment, and targeting lines companies to reduce household costs.

  • Electricity Prices: National proposes targeting lines companies and Transpower to lower the cost-of-living impact of power bills. Plans include reviewing Part 4 of the Commerce Act to reassess revenue caps, adding "affordability" as a core objective for the Electricity Authority, and streamlining connections for rooftop solar. [NZ Herald]
  • Security of Supply: National aims to boost overall generation supply by cutting red tape through Resource Management Act (RMA) reforms and requiring new high-demand energy users (like AI data centres) to provide their own firmed power. They also require dry-period back-up generation auctions and disclosures.
  • Fuel Costs & Transport: National favors market-led approaches and infrastructure investment rather than direct consumer fuel subsidies.

Labour Party

Labour’s approach centers on targeted cost-of-living relief, expanding household renewable generation, and strengthening consumer protections against overcharging.

  • Electricity Prices: Labour proposes a headline "$160 million SolarSaver" scheme to offer government-backed, low-interest loans for household solar panels and batteries, including up to $3,000 in extra support for low- and middle-income households. They also propose making it illegal for power companies to "overcharge" or engage in price gouging, requiring refunds where abuse is found.
  • Security of Supply: Labour supports boosting community-level resilience through plug-in solar options for renters and community battery funding, alongside transitioning industrial sectors toward clean energy.
  • Fuel Costs & Transport: Labour has historically focused on encouraging electric vehicle (EV) uptake and active/public transport infrastructure to lower oil dependency. [Public Health Communication Centre]

Green Party

The Greens propose public ownership models and deep market intervention to lower emissions and household living costs.

  • Electricity Prices: The Greens propose establishing a state-owned power company named "Kiwipower," alongside offering zero-interest loans for household solar and batteries and funding community-owned renewable energy projects. [Reuters]
  • Security of Supply: The Greens emphasize moving aggressively away from fossil-fuel sources like coal and LNG, replacing them with decentralized community renewable projects and expanded public generation.
  • Fuel Costs & Transport: The Greens support targeted programs such as e-bike subsidies for low-income households, alongside heavy investment in public transport, walking, and cycling networks to reduce national oil dependence. [Public Health Communication Centre]

ACT New Zealand

ACT advocates for free-market solutions, stripping away regulatory barriers, and expanding infrastructure competition.

  • Electricity Prices: ACT emphasizes opening electricity networks to broader competition and forcing monopoly lines companies to prove consumer value before raising costs. They oppose breaking up the existing market structure or state-directed price controls.
  • Security of Supply: ACT's strategy relies on boosting abundant energy supply by encouraging private investment. They highlight their support for repealing previous oil and gas exploration bans and fast-tracking RMA reforms to make it easier to build new generation and transmission infrastructure.
  • Fuel Costs & Transport: ACT generally opposes targeted climate or transport subsidies, favoring deregulation and lower fuel taxes where feasible.

New Zealand First

NZ First focuses on industry restructuring, consumer pricing fairness, and strict national energy security safeguards. [Power Compare]

  • Electricity Prices: NZ First proposes that households with residential solar should be able to sell power back to the grid at the same price they buy it. They target large electricity companies to curb their market influence.
  • Security of Supply: NZ First advocates for a formal National Energy Strategy, long-term fixed-price contracts for new generation, and market interventions designed to prevent major generators from intentionally withholding supply. They prioritize industrial competitiveness and domestic energy security.
  • Fuel Costs & Transport: NZ First emphasizes regional fuel price monitoring and ensuring affordable transport fuels for the regions. [Power Compare]
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