Choosing who to vote for in New Zealand's 2026 election

If you're undecided, you don't need to start by knowing which party you support. A better starting point is to work out what matters most to you, what you want the next government to change, and which parties' policies align with your priorities.

New Zealand's MMP electoral system also means there are two decisions to understand:

• The party vote: helps determine each party's share of seats in Parliament and is generally the more important vote for deciding the overall balance of power.
• The electorate vote: chooses your local electorate's MP.

You can vote for a party with your party vote and a candidate from a different party with your electorate vote.

Rather than choose a party for you, I'll help you compare the options using their policies, records and proposals, so you can make an informed decision.

1. Start with the main parties

For the election on Saturday, 7 November 2026, there are 17 registered parties seeking the party vote. You don't need to investigate all 17 at once. Start with the main parties and broaden your search if their policies don't fit your views. The Electoral Commission has published the official party and candidate lists. elections.nz, elections.nz

Here's a neutral introduction to six parties worth understanding.

Party	Broad political orientation	Key themes to investigate
National	Centre-right	Economic growth, business, tax, public services and the current government's direction
Labour	Centre-left	Living costs, healthcare, public services, infrastructure and workers' interests
ACT New Zealand	Right-wing, liberal on some economic issues	Smaller government, individual choice, regulation, taxation and law and order
Green Party	Left-wing, environmentalist	Climate action, environmental protection, inequality, public services and wealth taxation
New Zealand First	Populist, generally conservative on social and national identity issues	Immigration, national sovereignty, regional interests and changes to government policy
Te Pāti Māori	Māori-centred, broadly progressive on many economic and social issues	Māori self-determination, Te Tiriti o Waitangi, housing, health and Māori representation

These are broad descriptions, not complete summaries of each party's platform. Individual policies can be more nuanced, and a party's proposals may change during an election campaign.

Reuters' October 2026 overview discusses the major parties' current priorities, while Policy.nz's 2026 election guide provides a way to compare their specific policies. reuters.com, policy.nz

You can also explore smaller parties, including the Opportunity Party, particularly if you find that the larger parties don't address your priorities.

2. Identify the issues that matter most to you

Rather than asking which party is best overall, consider what you most want the next government to accomplish.

Here are some questions worth thinking about.

The economy and cost of living

• Do you prioritise lower taxes, business growth and reducing government expenditure?
• Or do you favour greater public investment in services, even if it requires additional taxation?
• How important are wages, inflation, interest rates and job security?

Housing

• Should the government focus on increasing housing supply and making construction easier?
• Do you favour more public and affordable housing?
• How important are renters' rights, homeownership affordability and property taxes?

Healthcare

• Do you want more funding for the public health system?
• Are waiting times, access to GPs, mental health services or hospital capacity your biggest concerns?
• Would you support more private-sector involvement in delivering healthcare?

Crime and public safety

• Do you favour tougher sentencing and more policing?
• Or do you place greater emphasis on rehabilitation, prevention and addressing the causes of crime?

Climate and the environment

• How quickly should New Zealand reduce emissions?
• How should the country balance environmental protection with farming, energy production, housing and economic growth?

Immigration and national identity

• Should immigration be reduced, maintained or increased?
• How important are the Treaty of Waitangi, Māori representation and the role of te reo Māori in public life?

You don't need to have a fully formed opinion on every issue. It's perfectly reasonable to have strong views on two or three subjects and be undecided about the rest.

For a more detailed breakdown of policy proposals, Policy.nz's topic-by-topic comparison covers the economy, education, environment, health, housing, incomes and employment, immigration, and other areas. policy.nz

3. Compare policies, not just party slogans

Once you've identified your priorities, there are three things worth checking for each party.

• What does it promise? Look for specific policies rather than general statements about wanting a stronger economy or better healthcare.
• How would it achieve its goals? Consider the proposed costs, funding, implementation and potential trade-offs.
• What has it done before? If the party has been in government, compare its record with its promises. If it hasn't, examine its previous votes, proposals and experience.

It's also worth remembering that New Zealand uses MMP. A party's ability to implement its proposals depends partly on the seats it wins and the agreements it can reach with other parties. A party's election promises aren't a guarantee that every policy will become law. elections.nz

For an independent starting point, visit Policy.nz. You can compare policies by subject and identify the proposals you support without having to commit to a party first.

---

4. Let's narrow it down to your priorities

I'd like to help you work through this without assuming you're left-wing, right-wing, or anything else.

Let's start with one question:

If you could improve just three things about New Zealand over the next three years, what would they be?

For example, you might choose:

• Cost of living and the economy
• Housing affordability
• Healthcare and waiting lists
• Crime and public safety
• Immigration
• Climate change and the environment
• Tax and government spending
• Wages, jobs and workers' rights
• Education
• The Treaty of Waitangi and Māori rights
• Government competence and accountability

You can choose from this list or name completely different issues.

Tell me your top three, and I'll compare the relevant parties' 2026 policies and explain their differences, including the trade-offs to consider. That way, you'll have a clearer picture of where the parties stand before deciding how to cast your vote.