# PF140: For the 2026 New Zealand general election: Compare parties' positions on foreign relationships, defence, trade and regional security.

Collected 19 October 2026

[NZ Election 2026 · Edition 4 study](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/4)

## ChatGPT

Answer ID: ec481c69-e8db-4b86-a7a2-be7a6343d9a1

# New Zealand 2026 general election: Foreign policy, defence, trade and regional security

New Zealand's major parties differ in how they balance relationships with traditional security partners, economic ties with China, military spending, and the country's role in the Pacific.

A useful way to compare their positions is across four connected questions:

- Foreign relationships: How should New Zealand work with Australia, the United States, China, the United Kingdom and other international partners?
- Defence: How much should New Zealand spend on its armed forces, and what capabilities should it develop?
- Trade: How should the country protect export access and economic prosperity while managing strategic risks?
- Regional security: What role should New Zealand play in the Pacific, including climate resilience, maritime security and competition among major powers?

One important distinction for the 2026 election is between a party's established policy direction, its record in government, and any new commitments it has made specifically for this election. Those are not necessarily the same.

## 1. At-a-glance comparison

The table below distinguishes published 2026 positions from longer-standing party directions. Where a party has not published a clear, current commitment on a specific issue, that is noted rather than assumed.

| Party | Foreign relationships | Defence and security | Trade and economic relationships |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| National | Emphasis on established international partnerships and economic diplomacy | The current government's strategy prioritises Australia, security partners and collective security | Export growth, new markets and doubling exports by 2034 [2026 Election Policy](https://www.national.org.nz/policies)[Defence strategy](https://www.defence.govt.nz/our-work/plan-and-assess/defence-policy-review/defence-strategy/) |
| Labour | Its precise new 2026 foreign-policy commitments need to be distinguished from its previous record in government | No sufficiently detailed new defence commitment identified in the sources reviewed | Its 2026 policy platform emphasises domestic economic priorities; a new, detailed trade strategy was not verified [Labour's 2026 Election Policies](https://www.labour.org.nz/policy) |
| Green Party | Independent foreign policy, peace, international law, democracy and climate cooperation | Greater emphasis on peace and human security; its detailed defence position should be read alongside its foreign-affairs policies | Trade should be consistent with environmental protection, fairness and international cooperation [Manifesto 2026](https://www.greens.org.nz/manifesto_2026) |
| ACT New Zealand | Stronger integration with Western security partners is part of its established policy direction | Supports stronger defence capability and closer security cooperation; its current detailed 2026 commitments require checking [ACT New Zealand Policies 2026 — NZ Election](https://policynavigator.neonz.org/parties/cmr1y24qj00039skd3l77uqh2)[ACT New Zealand](https://www.act.org.nz/policies) | Generally market-oriented, with emphasis on economic freedom and international commercial links |
| New Zealand First | Independence, national sovereignty and a wider range of international partners | Its published 2023 platform proposed increasing defence spending to 2% of GDP by 2030 | Diversification, supply-chain resilience, Commonwealth economic ties and a US free-trade agreement featured in its 2023 platform [2023 Election Policies](https://www.nzfirst.nz/2023_policies)[Our founding principles](https://www.nzfirst.nz/our_founding_principles) |
| Te Pāti Māori | Independent foreign policy centred on Pacific and Indigenous relationships | Explicitly proposes declaring New Zealand militarily neutral and reviewing military alignments | Supports economic sovereignty and Māori-led prosperity; a comprehensive new international trade programme was not verified [Military neutrality](https://www.maoriparty.org.nz/military_neutrality)[Policy](https://www.maoriparty.org.nz/policy) |

Important qualification: the level of detail differs between parties. National and Labour's current policy pages do not establish a complete, directly comparable set of new 2026 commitments across all four subjects. For NZ First, the specific defence and trade measures above come from its 2023 manifesto, not a verified 2026 manifesto. ACT's security direction is based partly on its previously published positions. These distinctions matter when assessing what a party is actually promising voters this year.

## 2. Foreign relationships: where the differences lie

![Australia's Prime Minister Visits New Zealand](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/Utnm910IgDAn2rF9wWObugPEIu8jEh-_5iua0VCEbLAc5TH0lLkTQ8sWqWoUCJ2ZmwMUOwcTLXPRtx0LtCZ97omS_9_685dsRIpCBidCr6mgKc8r6L_oRZ1qwO3eNF_UJpp-HCHBEoMoj6Cod53Qz2umGg78yARvNWND1apAmY6bARMWOFfevK94W27P17d6?purpose=inline)

### National and ACT: close security partnerships

Both sit within a political tradition that values close relationships with Australia and Western security partners. The current government's defence strategy explicitly prioritises the Australia relationship, important security partnerships and collective security. ACT has historically advocated deeper integration with Five Eyes partners and exploring participation in AUKUS-related security arrangements. [Defence strategy](https://www.defence.govt.nz/our-work/plan-and-assess/defence-policy-review/defence-strategy/)[ACT New Zealand Policies 2026 — NZ Election](https://policynavigator.neonz.org/parties/cmr1y24qj00039skd3l77uqh2)

The key distinction is how far New Zealand should go in deepening defence cooperation and aligning with partners on strategic competition.

![Analysis: Tensions and timing test Luxon on first official China visit | RNZ News](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/pTh1B6_Yj9nFuV2SggAJcg7amgvTjWKcSDudqCauF-X_1I4FQUFWo39F9YMkFryK_TzmwBfxEbOtOyyQb9NaHaRS1Cfsm2JM3goAen02KRZ85ansO_m4175w9fsK9sVuKFXRm4Z4bgr5LG--tRbdjtj-vcIvo2xE3A2npS5v3XM?purpose=inline)

### China: economic opportunity versus strategic risk

China is a major trading partner, so any government must weigh commercial ties against concerns about regional security, foreign interference and strategic dependence.

National's export-growth agenda makes international market access important. ACT's established approach is more explicitly security-focused on China's regional influence. NZ First emphasises independence and diversified relationships. These differences do not, by themselves, establish that any of these parties proposes ending trade with China. [2026 Election Policy](https://www.national.org.nz/policies)[ACT New Zealand Policies 2026 — NZ Election](https://policynavigator.neonz.org/parties/cmr1y24qj00039skd3l77uqh2)[2023 Election Policies](https://www.nzfirst.nz/2023_policies)

![Pacific leaders wrapped up the Pacific Islands Forum, so what happened?](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/_wQn8zIdMsufE7CV__ZF1B_1vi9xpukaj-82JW_IS8NWfYsCMFAHz_2jqxh7QiKGZ35agh4-AkVurfIY3iYjiw3wF1TAkU6bYjVEsyOxi-cv8p3XcvH-BPh0PvZbCXk_XDWICU3L0Uq6vM1FHxtKll_Dfr1j9-nxP_nz9-J7Ng8?purpose=inline)

### Greens and Te Pāti Māori: Pacific-centred diplomacy

The Greens emphasise peace, international law, climate cooperation and respectful Pacific partnerships. Te Pāti Māori goes further on the question of military independence, proposing formal military neutrality and a review of alignments it considers inconsistent with New Zealand's sovereignty. [Manifesto 2026](https://www.greens.org.nz/manifesto_2026)[Military neutrality](https://www.maoriparty.org.nz/military_neutrality)

The central question is whether New Zealand should primarily strengthen existing security partnerships or put greater emphasis on independent diplomacy and Pacific-led approaches.

![NZ at the UN (@NZUN) on X](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/Kzc13GtfZhc5QFRjdrLvD8CKT9vx1cSB2XzZVYmpqLOJLCjUc7laoZ9bQ_TVqQqnd3AtPUWNQ-yCO6FoiJZ982qP3xZKUoGu8d-4CgRoAmsdtpjD6nOUEjuEC2lFkiyGH9DGV9Ik0eYEygJgWf0SYvfknsnky9PT6vfYA-ae0NU?purpose=inline)

### Labour: assess its record separately from new pledges

Labour's current 2026 policy page focuses on domestic economic and social measures. The sources reviewed do not establish a sufficiently detailed new foreign-policy platform to make a fair, issue-by-issue comparison of its latest commitments with those of the Greens or Te Pāti Māori. [Labour's 2026 Election Policies](https://www.labour.org.nz/policy)

Its position on particular alliances, sanctions, recognition of states and defence commitments should therefore be checked against specific current announcements, rather than inferred from the party's name or its past governments.

## 3. Defence: spending, alliances and military neutrality

Three questions help explain the differences between parties.

### Defence spending and military capability

- National-led government: The current defence strategy seeks stronger capability, a closer defence relationship with Australia and greater contributions to collective security. It frames the deteriorating strategic environment as a reason for a more proactive approach. [Defence strategy](https://www.defence.govt.nz/our-work/plan-and-assess/defence-policy-review/defence-strategy/)
- ACT: Its established policy direction supports stronger defence spending and closer Western security integration. However, the specific target and timing of any new 2026 spending commitment need to be verified against its latest policy documents. [ACT New Zealand Policies 2026 — NZ Election](https://policynavigator.neonz.org/parties/cmr1y24qj00039skd3l77uqh2)[ACT New Zealand](https://www.act.org.nz/policies)
- New Zealand First: Its 2023 manifesto proposed progressively raising real defence spending to 2% of GDP by 2030, alongside a ring-fenced capital fund for defence equipment and infrastructure. This is a historical published commitment, not confirmation of a new 2026 pledge. [2023 Election Policies](https://www.nzfirst.nz/2023_policies)
- Greens: Their foreign-affairs framework emphasises peace, international law and collective action. Those principles are relevant to defence choices, but they should not be mistaken for a specific spending target.
- Te Pāti Māori: Explicitly proposes military neutrality and refocusing the Defence Force on territorial protection, disaster response and Pacific support. [Military neutrality](https://www.maoriparty.org.nz/military_neutrality)
- Labour: A directly comparable new 2026 defence-spending target was not established by the sources reviewed.

### The AUKUS question

AUKUS is the security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States. Its implications for New Zealand extend beyond submarines to possible technology sharing, intelligence, defence industrial cooperation and strategic alignment.

ACT has historically supported exploring AUKUS participation. By contrast, Te Pāti Māori's neutrality proposal calls for reviewing and withdrawing from military alignments it considers to undermine sovereignty. The Greens' independent foreign-policy principles provide another perspective on military alignment. [ACT New Zealand Policies 2026 — NZ Election](https://policynavigator.neonz.org/parties/cmr1y24qj00039skd3l77uqh2)[Military neutrality](https://www.maoriparty.org.nz/military_neutrality)[Manifesto 2026](https://www.greens.org.nz/manifesto_2026)

For voters, the practical questions are:

- Should New Zealand deepen its participation in Western security arrangements?
- Would closer integration improve access to intelligence, technology and deterrence, and at what financial or diplomatic cost?
- How much independence should New Zealand preserve when its security partners take part in conflicts or strategic competition?

Neutrality also needs careful definition: declaring neutrality would not automatically resolve existing treaty obligations, intelligence arrangements, or decisions about sanctions and military assistance.

## 4. Trade: exports, China and diversification

Trade policy matters especially to New Zealand because the country depends on access to overseas markets for agricultural products, food, services, tourism and other exports.

![Northland port to ship dairy products out of region for the first time - NZ Herald](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/f-xRz247mXzvEELLyQOhB5RDjUOdDN735DfLAFCPib5NBNRZ6pBORTg8XlJ12stpbUYOfSMUqhq19FMDHVCXwdXAHKaVaXeELafAKfqVNGmRkcjvRGIUSnktPhKz1dV_b4ezyLNVxTxQIsueq2sJpL2dG28hExoSVfLJxez_fR4?purpose=inline)

### National: expand export earnings

National has explicitly committed to doubling the value of New Zealand's exports by 2034. Its approach centres on helping businesses sell more internationally and supporting export-led economic growth. [2026 Election Policy](https://www.national.org.nz/policies)

A useful question is how the party would achieve that growth while reducing exposure to trade disruptions or over-reliance on individual markets.

![Work begins on Bledisloe North wharf under $200m Auckland port upgrade](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/e8r0LHC6ojPACDKMWfnv2iWOONm0NjUC9bGGbt5lb8l2OVjnidF45fI6EA5s9FmLGhyvN0QnUO2J5DdXTSghQiSpHf-uxV90I51-Tdm5FSyXZv02ITDOhJogS1zUE6AEMUnE1zDXg5P-Uc8pa7Q75VM-20WuHHjixL8114CsvEg?purpose=inline)

### New Zealand First: diversification and resilience

NZ First's 2023 policy proposed deeper Commonwealth economic relationships, work towards a comprehensive US free-trade agreement, and stronger supply-chain resilience. It also proposed reviewing the role of New Zealand Trade and Enterprise. [2023 Election Policies](https://www.nzfirst.nz/2023_policies)

This combines support for international trade with a focus on economic independence and reducing vulnerability to overseas disruptions.

![First shipment of record Zespri SunGold Kiwifruit crop sets sail for Japan and Korea - NZ Herald](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/pajX0Q3t0n3oKrX90D1xcuH_DQIFgJG0pP1oQ2L8df23UT6dXhGQXrE93_pdc-zUm9Km7Kioi6pTQSaiV3O96M1j5dg-bGKs1GlsN3tjejk4wut2DxNpYEslCGHz_A012AHgNgNSRLAVYBUNbz1ini9Q6L50tsMxi0U0y9CjWEo?purpose=inline)

### Greens: trade alongside environmental and social objectives

The Green Party's 2026 manifesto presents global affairs and trade within a wider agenda of climate action, international justice and cooperation. [Manifesto 2026](https://www.greens.org.nz/manifesto_2026)

When examining its detailed proposals, look at how environmental protections, labour standards and climate obligations would interact with market-access opportunities.

![Australia's Prime Minister Albanese Vists New Zealand](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/ZZQ5TWDv0xWjnJRHdrtSc7ldQneUU0ojZctmREiBlBRjbg-Qj-rUyMnA5lONvklljWcdsSz9Qtr1g4-f7IEznuTUojC39fSNekbdOx-Z4nxUvy2bvSPx9hDAfFuK8M6tlUz7-djrPqsnIra2iAH3FdNpaCxeGJ2YTEjs5dj_k-GNmoT2agxq_DSp2AWB5yx6?purpose=inline)

### Labour and ACT: examine specific current commitments

The available 2026 policy sources do not provide enough detail to assign either party a fully verified new trade strategy comparable with National's export target or NZ First's published 2023 proposals. Their current trade agreements, market-access commitments and approaches to strategic dependence should be assessed from their detailed announcements.

### The trade-offs to examine

| Issue | What to look for in party policies |
| --- | --- |
| China and export access | How would the party protect exporters if diplomatic tensions disrupted trade? |
| New markets | Which countries or trade agreements would it prioritise, and how? |
| Supply chains | Would it encourage domestic production of strategically important goods or rely primarily on international markets? |
| Trade and climate | What environmental and labour conditions would it seek in trade agreements? |
| Economic security | How would it balance commercial opportunities with foreign investment screening and national security? |

A party's stated commitment to growing exports is not, on its own, evidence that it has a detailed plan to diversify markets or reduce strategic risk.

## 5. Regional security: the Pacific and the wider Indo-Pacific

For New Zealand, regional security includes more than military conflict. It also covers maritime surveillance, illegal fishing, transnational crime, cyber threats, disaster response, climate-related emergencies and the resilience of Pacific Island states.

## Four policy approaches to compare

1. Collective security

Work with Australia and other established partners, invest in military capability, and contribute to a stable regional order. This is explicit in the current government's defence strategy. [Defence strategy](https://www.defence.govt.nz/our-work/plan-and-assess/defence-policy-review/defence-strategy/)

2. Pacific-led diplomacy and resilience

Give Pacific countries greater influence in regional priorities, strengthen partnerships, and address shared risks such as climate change and disaster response. This aligns with the Greens' Pacific partnership framework. [Manifesto 2026](https://www.greens.org.nz/manifesto_2026)

3. Independent regional relationships

Diversify partnerships and protect New Zealand's ability to make its own decisions. NZ First's published approach emphasises regional engagement, independence and resilience. [2023 Election Policies](https://www.nzfirst.nz/2023_policies)

4. Neutrality and non-military security

Reduce dependence on military alignments and prioritise protection, disaster response and Pacific support. This is the explicit proposal of Te Pāti Māori's military-neutrality policy. [Military neutrality](https://www.maoriparty.org.nz/military_neutrality)

These approaches are not necessarily mutually exclusive. For example, a government could invest in maritime surveillance and disaster relief while maintaining close defence partnerships. The main disagreements concern the extent of military alignment, the allocation of resources, and who should lead regional security decisions.

## 6. Where to verify the latest 2026 commitments

Because the election is approaching, the parties' latest published policies are more useful than relying exclusively on older manifestos.

- [National — 2026 election policies](https://www.national.org.nz/policies?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
- [Labour — 2026 election policies](https://www.labour.org.nz/policy?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
- [Green Party — 2026 manifesto](https://www.greens.org.nz/manifesto_2026?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
- [ACT — party policies](https://www.act.org.nz/policies?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
- [New Zealand First — policy and manifesto archive](https://www.nzfirst.nz/2023_policies?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
- [Te Pāti Māori — policy platform](https://www.maoriparty.org.nz/policy?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
- [Policy.nz — 2026 defence and foreign affairs comparison](https://policy.nz/2026/party-vote/policies/defence-and-foreign-affairs?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
- [Ministry of Defence — defence strategy](https://www.defence.govt.nz/our-work/plan-and-assess/defence-policy-review/defence-strategy/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

Policy.nz is particularly useful for checking individual proposals across parties. For any policy that could materially change New Zealand's international relationships, it is worth checking whether the proposal is a firm election commitment, an established principle, or a position published in an earlier election cycle.

## Bottom line

The central foreign-policy choice is how New Zealand should balance security partnerships, independent decision-making, economic opportunity and Pacific responsibilities.

- If you are examining closer Western security cooperation, focus on the current government's defence strategy and ACT's security proposals.
- If you are examining export growth and trade diversification, compare National's 2034 export target with NZ First's published proposals on new markets and supply-chain resilience.
- If you are examining peace, climate diplomacy and Pacific-led cooperation, read the Greens' 2026 manifesto.
- If military neutrality and a fundamental reset of defence relationships are central concerns, Te Pāti Māori has an explicit published proposal.
- For Labour, check its latest specific announcements before drawing conclusions about its 2026 defence, trade and foreign-policy commitments.

The most revealing comparison is not simply which party favours international cooperation, but which partnerships it would prioritise, what it would commit to spending, and what trade-offs it is prepared to make to protect New Zealand's long-term interests.

## Gemini

Answer ID: ad6e65a1-68d1-4fe5-b993-7913cab5541b

For the 2026 New Zealand general election, political parties diverge significantly in their approaches to foreign relationships, defence, trade, and regional security. These stances generally reflect their broader ideological alignments, ranging from traditional Western-aligned security and export-driven internationalism to independent foreign policy, economic nationalism, and strong advocacy for international law and climate diplomacy.

---

### 1. Foreign Relationships and Sovereignty
* **National, ACT, and NZ First (Current Coalition / Centre-Right to Nationalist):** 
  * **National & ACT** generally support maintaining strong, traditional diplomatic and security partnerships with traditional Western allies (such as Australia, the US, the UK, and members of the Five Eyes intelligence network), while balancing these with vital economic relationships in the Indo-Pacific, including China.
  * **New Zealand First** emphasizes **economic nationalism** and a strict **"national interest test"** for international agreements. They advocate for ensuring that international bodies—such as United Nations agencies—do not override New Zealand’s domestic sovereignty or law.
* **Labour (Centre-Left Opposition):** 
  * Focuses on an independent, stable foreign policy tradition, supporting multilateralism through the United Nations, traditional Pacific partnerships, and constructive diplomatic engagement across the Indo-Pacific without unnecessarily inflaming regional tensions.
* **Green Party and Te Pāti Māori (Left / Progressive):** 
  * The **Green Party** campaigns on an independent foreign policy grounded firmly in peace, international law, human rights, self-determination of peoples, and collaborative international climate action. 
  * Minor progressive and anti-war alignments (such as the Alliance or specific policy platforms) advocate for a more detached stance from major Western military alliances.

---

### 2. Defence and Security Policy
* **National and the Coalition Partners:** 
  * Focused on maintaining and upgrading New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) capabilities to meet increasing geopolitical competition in the Indo-Pacific. There is an emphasis on interoperability with traditional allies like Australia and supporting regional maritime security. However, specific domestic trade-offs exist; for instance, National's fiscal plans include trimming foreign aid growth (while protecting Pacific aid) to fund domestic priorities like health.
* **Labour:** 
  * Generally aligns with steady investment in defense personnel and operational readiness, maintaining a focus on humanitarian assistance, disaster relief (HADR) in the Pacific, and fulfilling peacekeeping mandates.
* **Green Party:** 
  * Emphasizes pivoting the primary focus of the Defence Force toward civil protection, domestic and regional disaster response, and Pacific climate-security partnerships, rather than alignment with broader great-power military buildups.

---

### 3. Trade and Regional Economic Strategy
* **National, ACT, and the Centre-Right:** 
  * Strongly pro-free trade, viewing trade diversification, bilateral free trade agreements (FTAs), and export-led growth as vital to New Zealand's economic recovery. They focus on reducing regulatory burdens on primary exporting industries and expanding commercial ties globally.
* **Labour and Progressive Parties:** 
  * Support international trade but place stronger emphasis on ensuring that trade agreements incorporate robust environmental protections, labor standards, and adherence to Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles. 
* **New Zealand First:** 
  * Adopts a more protectionist stance on trade and foreign investment, promoting domestic supply chain security, safeguarding local strategic assets, and exercising heightened caution regarding foreign land and corporate acquisitions.

<FollowUp label="Want to look closer at how specific parties approach Pacific regional security and climate diplomacy?" query="How do the major New Zealand political parties differ in their approach to Pacific regional security and climate change diplomacy for the 2026 election?"/>

## Google AI Mode

Answer ID: dfca912f-912b-4f5e-9b78-5255b9562c0e

For the **2026 New Zealand general election** (held on 7 November 2026), political parties represented in Parliament—**National, Labour, the Green Party, ACT, New Zealand First, and Te Pāti Māori** —offer distinct approaches to foreign policy, defence spending, trade alignment, and regional security in the Indo-Pacific.

* * *

Comparative Overview of Party Positions

Party| Foreign Relationships & Diplomacy| Defence & Security Approach| Trade Strategy| Regional Security & Alliances
---|---|---|---|---
**National (Incumbent/Govt)**| Strengthen traditional Western and Anglosphere ties (US, Australia, UK) while maintaining pragmatic economic engagement with China.| Support increased investment in New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) capabilities and interoperability with traditional allies.| Expand free trade agreements (FTAs) and diversify export markets across Southeast Asia, India, Europe, and the Middle East.| Deepen cooperation with partners like Australia and US-led or regional dialogues while emphasizing Indo-Pacific stability.
**Labour**| Champion independent, rules-based multilateralism, Pacific regionalism, and climate diplomacy alongside traditional allies.| Maintain balanced defence modernization with focus on humanitarian assistance, Pacific disaster relief, and core NZDF readiness.| Support rules-based global trade frameworks, climate-conscious trade provisions, and deepening Indo-Pacific economic ties.| Prioritize Pacific Islands Forum partnerships, peaceful diplomatic resolution, and caution regarding military blocs.
**Green Party**| Prioritize independent peace diplomacy, human rights, anti-nuclear/independent stance, and international climate justice.| Oppose military alignment with aggressive blocs (e.g., AUKUS Pillar 2 skepticism), redirecting resources toward climate and humanitarian aid.| Criticize trade deals that compromise environmental or labor standards; emphasize ethical and sustainable supply chains.| Focus on demilitarisation, international law, and peaceful regional cooperation rather than hard-power alliances.
**ACT**| Emphasize strong alignment with traditional Western democratic allies (Five Eyes, US, Australia, UK) and free-market security ties.| Advocate for modernizing and boosting defence spending to meet strategic threats and pull New Zealand's weight in alliances.| Aggressively pursue bilateral free trade deals, reduce tariff/non-tariff barriers, and build tighter commercial ties with Western partners.| Strongly support closer strategic and defense interoperability with traditional democratic partners and Western security frameworks.
**New Zealand First**| Champion a fiercely independent "independent foreign policy" focused first on New Zealand's sovereign national interest.| Support boosting NZDF presence, border protection, and domestic security capabilities while remaining wary of entangling military pacts.| Pragmatic, diversified trade approach focusing on sovereign interest, food security, and securing reliable market access globally.| Emphasize sovereign decision-making, strong ties with Australia and the Pacific, and skepticism of supranational security commitments.
**Te Pāti Māori**| Ground foreign policy in _Tikanga Māori_ , mana motuhake (self-determination), and solidarity with Indigenous peoples globally.| Critique Western militarization and imperial alliances; reallocate defense spending toward social, ecological, and Pacific-led wellbeing.| Prioritize ethical, Indigenous-to-Indigenous trade frameworks and reject exploitative global corporate trade agreements.| Advocate for independent, anti-war, pro-Pacific stances that reject foreign military bases or entanglements in major power conflicts.

* * *

Detailed Breakdown by Party

1\. New Zealand National Party

 * **Foreign Relationships:** Focuses heavily on revitalizing and upgrading diplomatic and security ties with core traditional democracies—the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, and the European Union—while managing a mature, pragmatic economic relationship with China.
 * **Defence:** Advocates for reinvestment in the New Zealand Defence Force, addressing personnel retention, equipment upgrades, and operational readiness to match evolving regional challenges.
 * **Trade:** Pursues a relentless commercial-diplomacy agenda, seeking to open new markets, expand existing FTAs, and reduce trade friction across Asia-Pacific and Western economies.
 * **Regional Security:** Favors active participation with traditional security partners in the Indo-Pacific, emphasizing maritime security, freedom of navigation, and collective resilience.

2\. New Zealand Labour Party

 * **Foreign Relationships:** Promotes an independent foreign policy tradition that balances traditional Western friendships with active engagement in multilateral forums (like the United Nations) and strong advocacy for Pacific Island neighbors.
 * **Defence:** Supports steady modernization of the NZDF, emphasizing capability for Pacific disaster response, search and rescue, maritime surveillance, and peacekeeping.
 * **Trade:** Backs the global rules-based trading system through the WTO and bilateral/regional FTAs, integrating sustainability and climate considerations into trade dialogue.
 * **Regional Security:** Centers regional security through the **Pacific Islands Forum (PIF)** and the Boe Declaration, prioritizing climate change as the primary security threat to the Pacific.

3\. Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand

 * **Foreign Relationships:** Centers foreign policy on human rights, international law, demilitarisation, and climate diplomacy, frequently critiquing major-power militarization.
 * **Defence:** Opposes New Zealand joining security arrangements like AUKUS Pillar 2, arguing for an independent, non-aligned peace posture and shifting funds from military build-ups to climate and aid work.
 * **Trade:** Opposes free trade agreements that lack enforceable labor and environmental protections or allow investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) clauses.
 * **Regional Security:** Promotes a nuclear-free, independent South Pacific that addresses climate-induced displacement and regional cooperation through diplomacy rather than military deterrence.

4\. ACT New Zealand

 * **Foreign Relationships:** Strongly champions closer alignment with Western liberal democracies and free-market economies, viewing foreign policy through the lens of shared political and economic values.
 * **Defence:** Argues that New Zealand has underfunded its defence forces for too long and must scale up defence expenditure and strategic interoperability with allies like Australia and the US.
 * **Trade:** Advocates for broad, unhindered free trade, reducing regulatory burdens on exporters, and fast-tracking bilateral deals.
 * **Regional Security:** Supports closer integration with Western defense architectures to deter authoritarian expansion in the Indo-Pacific.

5\. New Zealand First

 * **Foreign Relationships:** Operates under a nationalist "independent foreign policy" framework, insisting that New Zealand must not become a junior partner to any single superpower.
 * **Defence:** Emphasizes national sovereignty, border security, maritime patrol capability, and strengthening the readiness of the NZDF to protect New Zealand’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
 * **Trade:** Supports pragmatic trade diversification to protect domestic industries and food/energy security.
 * **Regional Security:** Prioritizes close bonds with Australia and Pacific nations while maintaining a cautious stance on foreign entanglements or external pressures.

6\. Te Pāti Māori

 * **Foreign Relationships:** Frames international relations through Indigenous solidarity (_whanaungatanga_ with global Indigenous peoples) and opposition to global imperialism.
 * **Defence:** Calls for a fundamental re-evaluation of military budgets, redirecting resources away from foreign military alliances and toward domestic and Pacific social/ecological needs.
 * **Trade:** Rejects corporate-led neo-liberal trade deals, pushing instead for ethical, fair-trade practices that honor Indigenous sovereignty.
 * **Regional Security:** Advocates for a pacifist, anti-war stance in the Pacific, free from nuclear vessels, foreign military bases, or great-power proxy conflicts.

* * *