# PF137: For the 2026 New Zealand general election: How do parties differ on farming, biosecurity and access to services in rural New Zealand?

Collected 19 October 2026

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

## ChatGPT

Answer ID: d9234249-a5ba-477b-a7b9-713c875b1056

# New Zealand 2026 election: farming, biosecurity and rural services

For the 2026 New Zealand general election, the key differences between parties are likely to centre on three questions: how much flexibility farmers should have, how New Zealand should protect its primary industries and environment from biological threats, and how reliably people in rural communities can access essential services.

These issues overlap. For example, freshwater and emissions rules affect farm operating costs; biosecurity affects the livelihoods of farmers, growers and rural businesses; and access to healthcare, schools, transport and telecommunications affects whether rural communities can retain workers and families.

An important distinction when comparing parties is between their current policies for the 2026 election, their record in government, and their longer-term principles. The comparison below focuses on those differences rather than predicting an election result.

## 1. Farming and environmental regulation

The central divide is between parties that emphasise reducing regulatory costs and increasing production, and parties that place greater emphasis on environmental limits, climate obligations and changes to farming practices.

![Nation of Debt: High dairy prices drive sharp fall in NZ farm debt - NZ Herald](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/WEl3ehRfWDCFCzqoDZ6dCSZuUcqykq8yn3u11vnmBU1U88WuXqSQdiVixTDXwgwN09MQMG0jiJUgC9mEeZSQFH5Hekm57D1XTeRhYRXLSLA4tx2d9z4DxJp_lZrJcamu5pEatec4Qqsv65kATfi4Uv32L8giOhF8sQ42UPFIqjE?purpose=inline)

### National

Focuses on export growth, farm profitability, simpler rules and greater flexibility over land use. Its published programme includes national farming standards, simpler consenting for activities such as water storage, and support for agricultural innovation. National says production can grow while meeting environmental obligations. [Land Use Flexibility: Improving the environment while producing more](https://www.national.org.nz/news/260610-land-use-flexibility-improving-the-envir)[National sets out plan to double exports by 2034](https://www.national.org.nz/policies/double-exports)[Election 2026: What Parties Promise the Primary Sector](https://www.ruralnewsgroup.co.nz/rural-news/rural-general-news/election-2026-party-policies-primary-sector-farmers)

![Farm Tours | Beresford Heights & Rise Farm, Owaka, New Zealand](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/tt-u8GXS0eu40xMqiH4Zlj5UhG-z51PaZc0vLFxsLag92NGKHquiLGhDuPZucNJRD_JMcrdfdW40Qng7uFZ7KazwdzpBEnojYApt9Bb4IVfPTuQwAgLBe-mH6idw2ZSSJz0lv4E7ndeDhETGIyz0RdBVKY1JjYSmg69PcLyBbUA?purpose=inline)

### ACT

Emphasises property rights, reducing compliance costs and limiting climate-related burdens on farmers. Its 2026 rural policies include cutting carbon-tax and net-zero requirements, introducing national standards for everyday farming, and providing greater certainty around freshwater limits. It has also proposed a rural workforce visa. [ACT New Zealand](https://www.act.org.nz/policies/rural)[ACT New Zealand](https://www.act.org.nz/news/act-to-cut-red-tape-for-everyday-farming)[ACT New Zealand](https://www.act.org.nz/news/act-unveils-rural-workforce-visa-to-solve-farm-worker-shortage)

![Fencing waterways - DairyNZ | DairyNZ](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/74refXcaUNisUEu5OblwON0NLyBfpl2ur6nnkBHwYYSLrrl_ZL_1yfo4Ej-PCCj7GGrsOtZdbT3BfO3BO0KSuzCJVuQH7ri6alvA4Id95QngUYY66-1gaue5-8EU2iXN0GCpiYe0OAbXn3l90LvOKn59gE527qyUR7qX3t0LgzM?purpose=inline)

### Labour

Emphasises farm profitability and practical, predictable policy, while acknowledging pressures from costs, biosecurity risks and extreme weather. Labour says it would not restore the controversial 2020 freshwater rules in their previous form, so its approach should not simply be equated with returning to its earlier policies. [Election 2026: What Parties Promise the Primary Sector](https://www.ruralnewsgroup.co.nz/rural-news/rural-general-news/election-2026-party-policies-primary-sector-farmers)

![Grant-Wills-Farm-C | Earth Sciences New Zealand | NIWA](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/XVfi9d2jSjfCEFj1X-9PflLfIU0shGAusYN_x86Thk3evK77A5Q1NpZXP6y9SkNu1FuaQWXN8_CZhpa3NBG_Dghrtzc9_wbxnuGFIGRcolEdiQ74VwGL2ugzWh29xVyiNnyE4Xzer0oex3eJisRaq1Hm3JDmAv-PGTAusde0wdQ?purpose=inline)

### Green Party

Puts stronger environmental protection at the centre of its farming policy. Its 2026 manifesto supports sustainable and regenerative food production, healthier freshwater, nature restoration and stronger action on agricultural climate pollution. This implies greater emphasis on changing high-impact farming practices than the National–ACT approach. [Manifesto 2026](https://www.greens.org.nz/manifesto_2026)[Manifesto 2026](https://www.greens.org.nz/manifesto_2026)[Policies for Party vote - NZ Election 2026](https://policy.nz/2026/party-vote/policies/environment/subtopics/conservation)

![Community meeting - Methven | Draft Long Term Plan 2024-34 | Our place - Tōtātou Wāhi](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/c2AW287UZLaeDXarYbQOsFMyC66TKvW9Zkk429HbB3RQ3rBak8sZiCkfmUegDLWtY5EqZfLVFQtoiVx8wYvQ3ZdLHbHU0n0RhJDX0zy9dMGAAhBVGCdOtB81DOXxQbSPpO72nmOBflnsxGKRST91qbWyyaSfCbreri-peM6oaEA?purpose=inline)

### New Zealand First

Emphasises the economic contribution of farming, forestry, fishing and other primary industries, alongside regional investment. It highlights water storage, irrigation, flood protection, port upgrades and returning more economic benefits to the regions. [Election 2026: What Parties Promise the Primary Sector](https://www.ruralnewsgroup.co.nz/rural-news/rural-general-news/election-2026-party-policies-primary-sector-farmers)[NZFirst Campaign Announcement: The Plan to “Make NZ Healthy”](https://www.nzfirst.nz/nzfirst_campaign_announcement_the_plan_to_make_nz_healthy)

### What this means for farmers

- Compliance and operating costs: National and ACT focus on simplifying rules and giving farmers more discretion. Labour stresses practical, predictable rules. The Greens give more weight to environmental outcomes that may require changes to current practices.
- Water and land use: National emphasises national consistency and productive land use; ACT emphasises property rights and certainty around limits; the Greens prioritise freshwater health. Labour says it would develop a different approach from its 2020 freshwater policy.
- Emissions: National has removed agriculture from the Emissions Trading Scheme under its current programme. ACT proposes broader changes to climate policy. The Greens advocate stronger emissions reductions, while Labour's precise 2026 commitments should be checked against its detailed policy releases. [Election 2026: What Parties Promise the Primary Sector](https://www.ruralnewsgroup.co.nz/rural-news/rural-general-news/election-2026-party-policies-primary-sector-farmers)[ACT New Zealand](https://www.act.org.nz/policies/rural)[Manifesto 2026](https://www.greens.org.nz/manifesto_2026)

## 2. Biosecurity: protecting farms, exports and native species

Biosecurity is especially important in New Zealand because an incursion can damage farm productivity, disrupt exports and threaten native ecosystems. The Ministry for Primary Industries' biosecurity action plan covers border protection, surveillance, research, pest management and cooperation between government, industry and communities. [The biosecurity system action plan](https://www.mpi.govt.nz/biosecurity/about-biosecurity-in-new-zealand/an-action-plan-to-strengthen-new-zealands-biosecurity-system/the-biosecurity-system-action-plan)[Proposed amendments to the Biosecurity Act](https://www.mpi.govt.nz/consultations/proposed-amendments-to-the-biosecurity-act)

The main distinction is not necessarily whether a party supports biosecurity—protecting the country is a shared objective—but how it prioritises funding, responsibilities, research and responses to threats.

| Party | Relevant emphasis |
| --- | --- |
| National | Supporting the primary sector, innovation and export growth, alongside the existing government-led biosecurity system. |
| Labour | Identifies biosecurity risks as one of the pressures on farm businesses and rural communities; stresses resilience and practical support. |
| ACT | Emphasises practical tools, reduced regulatory burdens and productive land management, including pest-control approaches such as targeted grazing on eligible conservation land. |
| Greens | Emphasises tighter prevention of invasive species, biodiversity protection and the restoration of ecosystems. |
| New Zealand First | Emphasises primary-sector resilience and agricultural innovation, including research into soil health and sustainable production. |

Sources: [Election 2026: What Parties Promise the Primary Sector](https://www.ruralnewsgroup.co.nz/rural-news/rural-general-news/election-2026-party-policies-primary-sector-farmers)[ACT New Zealand](https://www.act.org.nz/news/act-backs-targeted-grazing-to-tackle-pests-and-fire-risk-on-doc-land)[Policies for Party vote - NZ Election 2026](https://policy.nz/2026/party-vote/policies/environment/subtopics/conservation)[The biosecurity system action plan](https://www.mpi.govt.nz/biosecurity/about-biosecurity-in-new-zealand/an-action-plan-to-strengthen-new-zealands-biosecurity-system/the-biosecurity-system-action-plan)[NZFirst Campaign Announcement: The Plan to “Make NZ Healthy”](https://www.nzfirst.nz/nzfirst_campaign_announcement_the_plan_to_make_nz_healthy) These are broad policy emphases, not a claim that each party has published a fully specified, comparable biosecurity funding package.

### Questions worth checking in each party's detailed policy

- Who pays for surveillance, eradication and long-term pest management: taxpayers, affected industries or a shared arrangement?
- How quickly would the government respond to a serious incursion, and how would it compensate affected businesses?
- What investment is promised for border checks, diagnostic laboratories, research and regional response teams?
- How will policy protect both agricultural production and native plants, animals and ecosystems?

These details matter because a general pledge to support biosecurity does not necessarily guarantee faster responses or more resources for a particular industry.

## 3. Access to services in rural New Zealand

For rural households, access means more than having a service somewhere in the country. It means being able to see a GP without a long trip, get an ambulance when needed, keep children connected to school, access reliable mobile coverage and broadband, and travel on safe roads.

The parties differ in how they approach affordability, public investment and service delivery.

![Munro Road Resilience Project: Lessons learned and our commitment to improvement](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/AaQZQoouFFxN0j-QKdJzocFNWnVbL6-nmyCf15Xfh2JdNWTNTdhk4EqtNoBY0kYRPykHKXYvBP-yneagAnsZPegickRozIjOacyLCID-YpLtSm0v0i6GBfYUEJsME3s5qyRHk4ZcdtypSDtJj_t3Z0HWq1d6enNTjMjaqP2nTPI?purpose=inline)

### National

Emphasises infrastructure, economic growth and making existing services work more efficiently. Its broader approach includes investment in transport infrastructure and changes to planning rules. For rural voters, the key question is which local roads, bridges, water projects and connectivity improvements receive funding. [A more practical planning system for food and fibre production](https://www.national.org.nz/news/20260819-hontoddmacclay-honchrisbishop)[Policies for Party vote - NZ Election 2026](https://policy.nz/2026/party-vote/policies/transport-and-infrastructure)

![Rural health in Coromandel under pressure | New Zealand Doctor](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/uX39rQaYGHojwmVIo0eJ8LIftq7Xm5txmx-DOagBbr1vOnlwpmMHWAu67ewNU1whJT7w3EmMdANQJBBjcwfODvfhMPRqKnlcLfLTlN4r9O-nlquwXTAzWbXfv-bVdGN-LPJVRELHeTJEmw0j5Pr7j4-e13_8Zc90wFAhMo063fs?purpose=inline)

### Labour

Has announced three free GP visits per person each year through its proposed Medicard, removal of prescription charges from July 2027, and a weekly public transport fare cap. It also proposes jobs for eligible New Zealand-trained graduate nurses. These measures target healthcare costs and affordability, although they do not by themselves ensure that a GP or public transport service is available nearby. [Labour's Cost of Living Plan](https://www.labour.org.nz/election-policy-pages/2026-election-policy-summary-pages/cost-of-living-plan/)[Labour's 2026 Election Policies](https://www.labour.org.nz/policy/)

![Relief for parents and students as Ministry of Education pauses school bus reviews | RNZ News](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/9oJx0uEr1AzQJkZeqAXNcO--Kk5FTWbuBq2gVUp-ubJ0Q2WB6hGCZiRW0qBqBux8qDrL5FryBpdLJS7KgleIaZ1F8qRApilAg-ZIVmokL2jbthXHF_dVcWLZ1hKC-Cv-7BA-vGy7wFgBvc1vZPIqhW6hU0l3b3SZWZ2QKmClHg4?purpose=inline)

### ACT

Has explicitly proposed allowing children to take any passing school bus, rather than only a bus designated for their own school. It also emphasises rural workforce access and lower compliance costs. The practical impact would depend on eligibility, capacity and implementation. [ACT New Zealand](https://www.act.org.nz/policies/rural)[Policies for Party vote - NZ Election 2026](https://policy.nz/2026/party-vote/policies/education)

![Community | Raetihi](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/_jjs1VtO-uIe_AUzF2Rkx5W6R-QJNxbP0WapQ9VSRDv79gi2kao-e6gtX1kzzK2RBHzRmIoMdnIgEf5_5q9YHe-4BGScYFcFXeCP3idAjwgqE4i05hDBiH6YyFgr70wGgOwvgR_e3chiSo3_Ow72VIINL1yTMT0QA5I57roPl6o?purpose=inline)

### Green Party

Emphasises accessible, properly supported healthcare and public investment in essential services. Its manifesto also stresses affordable transport, energy and housing. For rural communities, the relevant test is how national commitments translate into staffing, outreach services and reliable transport outside the main centres. [Manifesto 2026](https://www.greens.org.nz/manifesto_2026)[Manifesto 2026](https://www.greens.org.nz/manifesto_2026)

![Hawke's Bay residents outraged over council's proposed water rate hike | RNZ News](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/_cON-HBWaoO7WCUFPDfWHYcIhBL3kL771ms2ozIMAzWZdwJBFdBj8tp45rsYX-yBKvRgtM7qEGEe2rV_8-nLp8vnQ7ACNwcZbHPEyw-0rcQiKTwZ1e3zq0UGNCNYf2H84o4_mNVlsGWVMVEn-pexOCxKCnFI588F4BSQKu_PdJk?purpose=inline)

### New Zealand First

Makes regional development a central theme, highlighting regional infrastructure funding, flood protection, water storage and irrigation. Its 2026 health announcements also emphasise prevention, primary care and reducing administrative burdens for GPs. [Election 2026: What Parties Promise the Primary Sector](https://www.ruralnewsgroup.co.nz/rural-news/rural-general-news/election-2026-party-policies-primary-sector-farmers)[NZFirst Campaign Announcement: The Plan to “Make NZ Healthy”](https://www.nzfirst.nz/nzfirst_campaign_announcement_the_plan_to_make_nz_healthy)

### Rural service issues to compare closely

| Issue | What to look for in party commitments |
| --- | --- |
| Healthcare | Rural GP and nurse recruitment, after-hours care, ambulance coverage, hospital travel and telehealth |
| Schools | Rural school viability, teacher recruitment, school buses and access to trades training |
| Roads and transport | Rural road maintenance, bridge upgrades, public transport and access to essential services |
| Broadband and mobile | Coverage gaps, reliability, resilience during emergencies and the cost of rural connections |
| Energy and water | Affordable electricity, dependable supply, drinking-water infrastructure, irrigation and drought resilience |

A distinction worth keeping in mind is that lower healthcare costs and better healthcare access are not the same thing. A free appointment is of limited practical value if there is no local clinician available. Similarly, funding for roads does not necessarily address mobile black spots or limited public transport.

## 4. At-a-glance comparison

This table summarises the broad policy direction, rather than rating parties or implying that every policy has been fully costed and implemented.

| Party | Farming | Biosecurity and nature | Rural services |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| National | Productivity, exports, simpler rules | Support for primary industries and the existing biosecurity system | Infrastructure and economic development |
| ACT | Property rights, reduced regulation, flexibility | Practical pest control and productive land management | School-bus access, workforce flexibility and reduced barriers |
| Labour | Farm viability, cost pressures, practical regulation | Farm resilience and protection against incursions | Lower healthcare costs, prescriptions and transport fares |
| Greens | Sustainable farming and stronger environmental safeguards | Prevention, biodiversity and ecosystem restoration | Accessible healthcare and investment in essential services |
| New Zealand First | Primary industries, regional economic development | Agricultural innovation and resilient production | Regional infrastructure and a greater focus on prevention in healthcare |

Sources: party policy announcements and manifestos, plus Rural News' October 2026 comparison of primary-sector commitments. [Election 2026: What Parties Promise the Primary Sector](https://www.ruralnewsgroup.co.nz/rural-news/rural-general-news/election-2026-party-policies-primary-sector-farmers)[ACT New Zealand](https://www.act.org.nz/policies/rural)[Manifesto 2026](https://www.greens.org.nz/manifesto_2026)[Labour's 2026 Election Policies](https://www.labour.org.nz/policy/)[NZFirst Campaign Announcement: The Plan to “Make NZ Healthy”](https://www.nzfirst.nz/nzfirst_campaign_announcement_the_plan_to_make_nz_healthy)

## 5. Where to verify the details before voting

Because the election is approaching and policy announcements are still being released, these sources are useful for checking the actual commitments and any updates.

- [Policy.nz — 2026 party policy comparison](https://policy.nz/2026/party-vote?utm_source=chatgpt.com) — compare policies on health, the environment, education, transport and infrastructure.
- [National Party — export growth and farming standards](https://www.national.org.nz/policies/double-exports?utm_source=chatgpt.com) — farming rules, water storage and production.
- [ACT — rural policy](https://www.act.org.nz/policies/rural?utm_source=chatgpt.com) — farming, climate policy, rural workers and school transport.
- [Labour — 2026 election policies](https://www.labour.org.nz/policy?utm_source=chatgpt.com) — healthcare, transport and cost-of-living measures.
- [Green Party — 2026 manifesto](https://www.greens.org.nz/manifesto_2026?utm_source=chatgpt.com) — food production, freshwater, biodiversity and public services.
- [New Zealand First](https://www.nzfirst.nz/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) — regional development and primary-sector announcements.
- [Ministry for Primary Industries — biosecurity action plan](https://www.mpi.govt.nz/biosecurity/about-biosecurity-in-new-zealand/an-action-plan-to-strengthen-new-zealands-biosecurity-system/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) — the national biosecurity system and its priorities.

## The key questions for rural voters

When comparing the parties, three questions can help cut through campaign language:

1. Will the policy improve the viability of your farm or rural business? Look at the actual rules, compliance costs, labour availability, water security and biosecurity response arrangements.
2. Will it protect the land and natural resources that rural livelihoods depend on? Consider freshwater quality, soil health, climate resilience and the control of invasive pests and diseases.
3. Will it make essential services more accessible where people live? Look for specific commitments on local healthcare staffing, school transport, connectivity, roads and emergency services.

The most important distinction is that parties can share the same stated goal—thriving rural communities—while proposing quite different ways to achieve it. Comparing the specific commitments, funding and delivery arrangements is more informative than relying on party labels alone.

## Gemini

Answer ID: c4e3db01-fc11-478e-9fb0-d53d28a75b82

In New Zealand, political parties approach rural issues through distinct philosophical lenses—balancing primary sector productivity and economic growth against environmental bottom lines, biosecurity protection, and equitable delivery of regional and social services. 

The major political parties differ across farming, biosecurity, and rural access to services in the following ways:

---

### 1. Farming and Environmental Regulations
* **National and ACT:** Focus heavily on deregulation, reducing compliance costs, and boosting export profitability. National emphasizes replacing the Resource Management Act (RMA) with frameworks that explicitly recognize food and fibre production goals, cutting red tape, supporting on-farm water storage, and keeping agriculture out of direct livestock pricing mechanisms. ACT pushes for even deeper structural reform, arguing for the removal of what it views as unnecessary regulatory barriers, process-heavy environmental rules, and bans on practices like live animal exports.
* **New Zealand First:** Adopts a "back-to-basics" approach for the primary sector, prioritizing land-use flexibility, reliable water and irrigation infrastructure, and protecting productive land from widespread conversion into carbon forestry. They also champion regional development initiatives, such as returning a portion of mining royalties directly to the regions.
* **Labour, Greens, and The Opportunity Party (TOP):** Emphasize a more cautious balance between agricultural productivity and environmental preservation. 
  * **Labour** argues for maintaining strict environmental bottom lines (such as freshwater quality protections) alongside supporting farmers, while acknowledging administrative bottlenecks—such as long wait times for approving modern, safer agricultural chemicals. 
  * **The Greens** advocate for transition support toward sustainable and regenerative farming practices, stricter regulation of agrichemicals to safeguard waterways, and curbing whole-farm conversions to exotic forestry. 
  * **TOP** targets technology adoption and innovation via targeted tax incentives (like investment tax credits for small businesses and farms) alongside evidence-based environmental regulations.

---

### 2. Biosecurity
* **Primary Sector Alignment:** Across the political spectrum, parties recognize biosecurity as a vital shield for New Zealand’s export economy, though they differ on resourcing and execution.
* **National and ACT** lean toward streamlining regulatory frameworks and easing the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) bottlenecks so that farmers and growers can access newer, safer crop protection tools and veterinary medicines faster.
* **New Zealand First and Labour** emphasize strengthening border protections and biosecurity surveillance, viewing biosecurity investment as essential infrastructure to insulate primary industries from exotic pests, diseases (like Mycoplasma bovis or fruit fly incursions), and climate-driven risks. 

---

### 3. Access to Services in Rural New Zealand
* **Regional Infrastructure and Healthcare:** Rural health, education, telecommunications, and transport services are major flashpoints. 
* **National and Right-Leaning Parties** tend to focus heavily on economic enablers—such as investing in roading, local infrastructure, and cutting compliance costs for rural enterprises—while supporting community-led wellbeing initiatives (like funding for Rural Support Trusts and Farmstrong). They argue that economic growth and lower taxes are the best ways to sustain provincial towns.
* **New Zealand First** strongly advocates for provincial and regional equity, arguing that regions generating export wealth must retain a fairer share of revenue (e.g., via regional royalties) to fund local infrastructure and services.
* **Labour, Greens, and Left/Centrist Parties** place a greater emphasis on direct government funding for public services in the regions. This includes safeguarding rural healthcare access, supporting regional schools, maintaining public transport connectivity, and backing localized community health and mental health funding to counteract isolation and economic volatility in remote farming districts.

---

*Are there specific aspects of these rural policies—such as freshwater management or regional health funding—that you would like to explore further?*

## Google AI Mode

Answer ID: ebcc53a3-8532-49a7-b8d8-b98b052cc58c

Ahead of the 2026 New Zealand general election, political parties diverge significantly on how they approach the primary sector, environmental regulations, biosecurity, and the viability of regional and rural communities.

1\. Farming and Regulatory Approach

 * * **The National Party** focuses on reducing compliance costs and "getting Wellington out of farming". As outlined by agriculture spokesperson Todd McClay, National emphasizes standardizing rules via 19 new national standards covering areas like vegetable growing, fertiliser application, and on-farm water storage, while keeping agriculture out of the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) and promoting land-use flexibility.

 * **The ACT Party** similarly emphasizes property rights, deregulation, and practical risk-based rules. ACT highlights its work in government via figures like Andrew Hoggard, pushing for simpler freshwater farm plans, recognizing existing industry assurance schemes, and expanding access to seasonal labour such as RSE workers.

 * **The Labour Party** takes a mixed approach, balancing support for primary producers with climate and environmental accountability. Commentary indicates Labour has stated it would not campaign on putting agricultural emissions directly into the ETS, though the stringency of its environmental positions remains tied to potential coalition dynamics with the Green Party.

 * **The Green Party** prioritizes strict environmental safeguards, climate action, and transitioning toward regenerative farming. The Greens advocate for fair regulation of agrichemicals to protect freshwater quality alongside targeted financial and research support for farmers shifting to low-impact, regenerative practices. [NZKGI]

 * **New Zealand First** positions itself as a staunch advocate for traditional primary industries (farming, fishing, forestry, and mining), emphasizing that export-driven sectors must be protected from excessive bureaucracy and valued as the backbone of the national economy. [Rural News Group]

 *

2\. Biosecurity and Pest Management

 * * **ACT and National** emphasize practical, industry-aligned biosecurity implementation and operational efficiency, aiming to reduce duplication and costs for growers while maintaining strict border protection alongside industry partners.

 * **New Zealand First** strongly emphasizes robust border biosecurity and domestic pest/disease management as a matter of national security and economic protection for primary producers.

 * **Labour and the Greens** generally support robust, science-led biosecurity systems funded adequately by the Crown, with the Greens placing additional emphasis on ecological protection and managing environmental vectors that interact with biosecurity risks.

 *

3\. Access to Services and Regional Infrastructure

 * * **New Zealand First** highlights its track record of utilizing coalition leverage to secure dedicated regional funding pools—such as historical Provincial Growth Funds and the Regional Infrastructure Fund—to support local infrastructure, connectivity, and community resilience.

 * **The National Party** points to targeted support for rural mental health and wellbeing through funding streams like Farmstrong, Rural Support Trusts, and the Rural Wellbeing Fund, alongside investments in local catchment groups.

 * **Labour, the Greens, and Te Pāti Māori** place a heavier focus on public service accessibility in rural areas, including regional healthcare, local transport, education, and social infrastructure, framing rural service delivery as an equity issue for remote and provincial populations. [Rural News Group]