# PF057: I run a small manufacturing business that exports and employs staff. We are considering new equipment but worry about demand, freight costs and finding skilled workers. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. How do parties compare on business investment, productivity and support for small exporters?

Collected 19 October 2026

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

## ChatGPT

Answer ID: 1f5eaf63-11d9-4135-ae35-ba4c2e24577c

# New Zealand 2026 election: business investment, productivity and exporters

For a small New Zealand manufacturer that exports and employs staff, three questions are particularly important when comparing party policies:

- Investment: Which tax rules or incentives would make buying new machinery and automation more affordable?
- Productivity and staffing: Which policies address skills shortages, training costs, wages and the ability to hire?
- Export competitiveness: Which parties offer practical help to find overseas customers, manage cash flow and reduce the burden of getting products to market?

The 2026 general election is scheduled for Saturday 7 November. The parties have proposed different approaches to business investment, tax relief, workforce policy and export support. The comparison below uses published policies available as of October 2026, distinguishing announced proposals from measures already in place. [Tax Tips: 2026 General Election](https://www.pwc.co.nz/insights-and-publications/regular-publications/tax-tips/2026-general-election-tax-policy-update.html)[The main parties vying to form New Zealand's next government](https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/main-parties-vying-form-new-zealands-next-government-2026-10-12/)

## 1. How the main parties compare

| Party | Business investment and productivity | Small exporters and market access |
| --- | --- | --- |
| National | Retain the Investment Boost tax deduction for 20% of eligible new productive assets. Proposes less compliance and a more business-friendly regulatory environment. | Proposes intensive support for the next 200 high-potential exporters through New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE). [National’s plan to support Small Businesses](https://www.national.org.nz/policies/47-point-plan-small-businesses)[The business and innovation policies of Election 2026, explained](https://thespinoff.co.nz/business/19-10-2026/the-business-and-innovation-policies-of-election-2026-explained) |
| Labour | Replace Investment Boost with a full immediate write-off for eligible assets costing up to $10,000 for businesses with revenue under $10 million. | Proposes faster payment of small suppliers by large businesses and expanded support for apprentices. These could help cash flow and workforce capacity, although they do not directly reduce freight rates. [Labour's Small Business Action Plan](https://www.labour.org.nz/election-policy-pages/small-business-action-plan/)[Labour's 2026 Election Policies](https://www.labour.org.nz/policy/) |
| ACT | Proposes simpler employment and regulatory rules, a freeze in the adult minimum wage for three years, and clearer tax treatment for software and digital investment. | Its approach focuses on lowering business costs and regulation rather than a comparable, newly announced exporter-support programme. [ACT New Zealand](https://www.act.org.nz/news/act%E2%80%99s-small-business-policy-package-to-clear-red-tape)[The business and innovation policies of Election 2026, explained](https://thespinoff.co.nz/business/19-10-2026/the-business-and-innovation-policies-of-election-2026-explained) |
| Green Party | Proposes targeting investment incentives towards decarbonisation, industry objectives and decent work, alongside increased science and research funding. | Proposes $125 million in annual funding for a scheme to help early-stage businesses grow and access export markets. [The business and innovation policies of Election 2026, explained](https://thespinoff.co.nz/business/19-10-2026/the-business-and-innovation-policies-of-election-2026-explained)[Green Party to abolish training wage and provide more support for apprentices](https://www.greens.org.nz/green_party_to_abolish_training_wage_and_provide_more_support_for_apprentices) |
| New Zealand First | Proposes reducing company tax from 28% to 20% for SMEs with annual turnover under $30 million. | Its broader economic agenda includes regional development, trade and infrastructure; check the latest detailed commitments for direct support relevant to your export markets. [The business and innovation policies of Election 2026, explained](https://thespinoff.co.nz/business/19-10-2026/the-business-and-innovation-policies-of-election-2026-explained)[Budget 2026: Common sense wins for NZ First](https://www.nzfirst.nz/budget_2026_common_sense_wins_for_nz_first) |
| Opportunity | Proposes expanding R&D tax credits for high-tech investment and increasing national research and development spending targets. | Proposes more research funding and business mentoring, with particular emphasis on innovation and businesses with social or environmental objectives. [The business and innovation policies of Election 2026, explained](https://thespinoff.co.nz/business/19-10-2026/the-business-and-innovation-policies-of-election-2026-explained) |
| Te Pāti Māori | Proposes a $4.5 billion fund for Māori businesses, land and marae. | Proposes allocating 25% of government procurement to wholly Māori-owned businesses or organisations, which may create opportunities for eligible suppliers. [The business and innovation policies of Election 2026, explained](https://thespinoff.co.nz/business/19-10-2026/the-business-and-innovation-policies-of-election-2026-explained) |

These are not equivalent types of support: a tax deduction, a lower company tax rate, an export mentoring programme and a research grant affect businesses in different ways. The table summarises announced positions, not guaranteed outcomes or an overall ranking.

## 2. What the investment policies could mean for your machinery purchase

The key distinction is between the current Investment Boost and Labour's proposed small-business write-off.

## Illustrative comparison: $50,000 of eligible new machinery

Assuming a 28% company tax rate and a fully taxable business profit sufficient to use the deduction. This illustrates the first-year tax deduction only, not total lifetime tax savings.

National's Investment Boost

# $10,000

20% immediate deduction

Illustrative immediate tax reduction: $2,800, with depreciation potentially applying to the remaining $40,000.

Labour's proposed write-off

# $0

Immediate deduction for this $50,000 item: not eligible under the proposed $10,000 per-asset limit

The proposal is more targeted at smaller equipment purchases; it is not a full write-off for a $50,000 machine.

Sources: National's small-business policy and Labour's Small Business Action Plan. Eligibility, depreciation rules and implementation dates matter. [National’s plan to support Small Businesses](https://www.national.org.nz/policies/47-point-plan-small-businesses)[Labour's Small Business Action Plan](https://www.labour.org.nz/election-policy-pages/small-business-action-plan/)[Tax Tips: 2026 General Election](https://www.pwc.co.nz/insights-and-publications/regular-publications/tax-tips/2026-general-election-tax-policy-update.html)

For a larger equipment purchase, this difference is important. National's policy gives an immediate deduction on part of an eligible investment, while Labour's proposed measure would give a full immediate deduction on qualifying individual assets costing up to $10,000 for eligible businesses from 1 July 2027. Labour says its package would be funded by refocusing Investment Boost. [Labour's Small Business Action Plan](https://www.labour.org.nz/election-policy-pages/small-business-action-plan/)[Tax Tips: 2026 General Election](https://www.pwc.co.nz/insights-and-publications/regular-publications/tax-tips/2026-general-election-tax-policy-update.html)

New Zealand First's proposed reduction in company tax is a separate approach: its benefit depends on your taxable profits, eligibility and whether the proposed policy is implemented. A lower tax rate is not the same as an upfront deduction on a particular machine.

## 3. Freight costs: a significant difference to examine

Freight is a slightly different issue from business tax. Your costs depend on fuel, port and shipping charges, domestic transport links, and the reliability of supply chains. A policy that improves export marketing won't necessarily reduce the cost of sending a container overseas.

The parties' published transport positions show some differences:

- National: Emphasises road maintenance, a pipeline of infrastructure investment, freight resilience and regulatory changes for freight operators. Its transport policy also outlines a staged approach to future fuel excise and road-user-charge increases. [Where the parties stand on transport | The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport](https://cilt.co.nz/magazine/where-the-parties-stand-on-transport/)
- Labour: Proposes freezing fuel excise and road-user charges for three years, while committing to existing contracted and funded transport projects. Its position on the overall infrastructure programme differs from National's. [Where the parties stand on transport | The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport](https://cilt.co.nz/magazine/where-the-parties-stand-on-transport/)[The sizzling final transport election debate of 2026](https://www.transporting.nz/the-sizzling-final-transport-election-debate-of-2026/)
- Greens: Emphasise rail freight, coastal shipping, electrification and public investment in logistics services to reduce the cost of moving goods domestically. [Where the parties stand on transport | The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport](https://cilt.co.nz/magazine/where-the-parties-stand-on-transport/)
- ACT, New Zealand First and Opportunity: Their representatives have discussed road maintenance, more efficient infrastructure and alternative funding arrangements. The October transport debate suggested broad agreement on maintenance, but relatively little detail on freight-specific measures. [The sizzling final transport election debate of 2026](https://www.transporting.nz/the-sizzling-final-transport-election-debate-of-2026/)

For your business, ask each party a concrete question: What will your policies do to the total cost of getting one unit of my product from my factory to my overseas customer? That makes it easier to distinguish a general infrastructure promise from a measure likely to affect your freight bill.

## 4. Skilled workers and productivity

A new machine can increase output per employee, but only if you can recruit, train and retain people who can operate and maintain it.

| Party | Relevant workforce or productivity policy |
| --- | --- |
| National | Proposes a First Employee Support Package to help small businesses manage payroll, employment agreements, ACC, tax and leave requirements. |
| Labour | Proposes extending Apprenticeship Boost payments, a $1,000 toolbox grant and adding five trades to the programme from July 2027. |
| ACT | Proposes a lower training wage for under-20s and a three-year freeze on the adult minimum wage, arguing this would reduce the cost of entry-level hiring. |
| Greens | Propose abolishing the training wage and increasing the apprentice toolbox allowance to $2,000. |
| New Zealand First | Has highlighted additional Trades Academy places and training for young people, alongside a more restrictive approach to skilled-work visas. |
| Opportunity | Its broader focus includes research, innovation and mentoring business owners; verify its latest detailed commitments on manufacturing apprenticeships and recruitment. |

Sources: party policy announcements and election reporting. [National’s plan to support Small Businesses](https://www.national.org.nz/policies/47-point-plan-small-businesses)[Labour's 2026 Election Policies](https://www.labour.org.nz/policy/)[ACT New Zealand](https://www.act.org.nz/news/act%E2%80%99s-small-business-policy-package-to-clear-red-tape)[Green Party to abolish training wage and provide more support for apprentices](https://www.greens.org.nz/green_party_to_abolish_training_wage_and_provide_more_support_for_apprentices)[Budget 2026: Common sense wins for NZ First](https://www.nzfirst.nz/budget_2026_common_sense_wins_for_nz_first)[New Zealand First proposes replacement of AEWV with stricter skilled work visa](https://www.financialexpress.com/immigration/new-zealand-first-proposes-new-work-visa-tied-to-occupation-region-and-skills-shortage/4360468/)[The business and innovation policies of Election 2026, explained](https://thespinoff.co.nz/business/19-10-2026/the-business-and-innovation-policies-of-election-2026-explained)

The practical trade-off is between the cost of hiring and the cost of developing skills. Lower entry-level wages may reduce immediate payroll costs, while apprenticeship support may offset some training expenses. Changes to immigration rules could also affect how easily you fill genuine skills shortages.

## 5. What to investigate before deciding how to vote

For your particular business, I'd examine these five tests across the parties, without assuming that any single policy determines the overall result.

Machinery investment

Calculate the after-tax cost of your intended equipment under each party's proposal, including eligibility, timing and depreciation. Check whether the tax relief changes the decision to invest or simply changes when you pay tax.

Export assistance

Look for practical services such as overseas-market research, introductions to buyers, export finance, insurance and help meeting international standards. National's proposed support for 200 high-potential exporters is one specific commitment to examine.

Freight and energy

Compare proposed fuel charges, road and rail investment, port connectivity and energy costs. Separate measures that change your costs directly from long-term infrastructure proposals.

Hiring and training

Check apprenticeship funding, training wages, employment compliance, immigration settings and any assistance for adopting automation.

Demand and financial risk

Tax incentives cannot guarantee orders. Examine how each party's broader economic approach might affect business confidence, investment, customer demand and public finances, and stress-test the equipment purchase against a slower export-sales scenario.

For a broader cross-check, [Policy.nz's 2026 election policy comparison](https://policy.nz/2026/party-vote/policies/economy?utm_source=chatgpt.com) lets you explore party positions, while [Deloitte and Chapman Tripp's 2026 election survey](https://www.deloitte.com/nz/en/about/governance/content/election-survey.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com) provides business-sector perspectives. [Policies for Party vote - NZ Election 2026](https://policy.nz/2026/party-vote/policies/economy)[The 2026 Deloitte and Chapman Tripp Election Survey](https://www.deloitte.com/nz/en/about/governance/content/election-survey.html)

## Bottom line

The central policy choice is how much emphasis to place on broad investment incentives and reducing business costs, targeted support for smaller firms, or public investment in skills, research, infrastructure and export development. Each approach has different implications for a manufacturer, and the benefits depend on your firm's size, profitability, equipment costs, workforce needs and export routes.

No party can remove uncertainty about global demand or international freight prices. The most useful comparison is the one that connects each published policy to your own expected cash flow, productivity gains and export margins.

If you'd like to take this further, I can  compare the parties' machinery tax policies or  compare export and freight policies in detail.

## Gemini

Answer ID: 3240d498-5482-42cd-bf39-2fa74a82705f

Running a small manufacturing and exporting business involves balancing tight margins, supply chain and freight pressures, finding and retaining skilled hands, and keeping up with compliance. 

As the **2026 New Zealand general election** approaches, political parties have put forward distinct policy platforms focusing on business investment, productivity, regulatory burdens, and small-to-medium enterprise (SME) support. 

---

### **Overview of Party Approaches**

#### **1. National Party**
* **Investment & Productivity:** Focuses heavily on cutting red tape and compliance costs. Policies include the "Tell Government Once" initiative, reviews of the GST threshold, and plain-English updates to health and safety regulations.
* **Exporters & Growth:** Emphasizes export value growth (such as targeting primary and secondary sector expansion) and features the "Next 200" program designed to help high-potential firms scale up into international export markets. They also support targeted technical/AI adoption assistance for businesses.
* **Labor & Skills:** Generally favors flexible employment frameworks and streamlining compliance for employers.

#### **2. Labour Party**
* **Investment & Productivity:** Centers its economic approach on cashflow and direct investment incentives for smaller firms. Key proposals include a **$10,000 instant asset write-off** for business investments and an increased **$80,000 GST threshold**.
* **Exporters & Supply Chain:** Focuses on prompt-payment protections, including mandating 15-day payment terms for large businesses interacting with small suppliers to ease cashflow constraints. They also look to broaden small business access to government procurement contracts.
* **Labor & Skills:** Focuses on worker support alongside industry training initiatives, though with tighter frameworks around employment standards compared to right-of-centre alternatives.

#### **3. ACT Party**
* **Investment & Productivity:** Focuses primarily on aggressive labor market deregulation and tax/depreciation updates (such as easing software and IT system investment deductions).
* **Labor & Skills:** Proposes a **three-year minimum wage freeze** and a lower training minimum wage for workers under 20 (moving from 80% to 60% of the adult minimum) to reduce entry-level labor costs. 
* **Compliance:** Advocates for streamlined consenting and restricting employment grievance timeframes (such as a 90-day limit for standard personal grievances) to lower perceived hiring risks for small businesses.

#### **4. New Zealand First**
* **Investment & Productivity:** Features a headline corporate tax cut proposal, reducing the company tax rate **from 28% to 20%** for businesses with an annual turnover below $30 million, specifically aimed at encouraging reinvestment, local expansion, and job creation.
* **Exporters:** Historically protective of domestic manufacturing capabilities, supply chain security, and sovereign manufacturing resilience.

#### **5. Green Party & Te Pāti Māori**
* **Investment & Sustainability:** The Green Party's business policies lean toward local commercial environments, supporting high street/town centre retail, commercial rent reviews, and competition reforms to lower overhead costs. Their broader economic focus relies heavily on green technology transitions, sustainable industry incentives, and low-emissions logistics.
* **Te Pāti Māori:** Focuses heavily on Māori enterprise support, localized procurement, and alternative innovation funding frameworks.

---

### **Comparing Policies Against Your Core Concerns**

| Concern | Parties Offering Specific Mechanisms | What They Propose |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| **Capital & Equipment Investment** | Labour, New Zealand First, ACT | • **Labour:** $10,000 instant asset write-off.<br>• **NZ First:** Lower company tax rate (20%) for SMEs under $30m turnover to free up capital.<br>• **ACT:** Easier deductions for software and digital/IT investments. |
| **Finding & Employing Skilled Workers** | ACT, National, Labour | • **ACT:** 3-year minimum wage freeze, lower youth/training wage, shortened grievance timeframes.<br>• **National/Labour:** Focus on industry training alignment, workplace productivity grants, and reducing administrative overhead for hiring. |
| **Export & Demand Support** | National, Labour | • **National:** "Next 200" export growth target assistance and general trade/bureaucracy reduction.<br>• **Labour:** 15-day prompt payment rules from large enterprises and broader access to government supply contracts. |

### **Next Step for Your Decision**
When weighing your vote, consider which lever matters most to your immediate survival and growth over the next parliamentary term: **cashflow and asset write-offs** (Labour), **broad company tax relief for reinvestment** (NZ First), **labor market cost controls and regulatory ease** (ACT), or **targeted export scaling and compliance reduction** (National). 

Are you looking to prioritize immediate cashflow and equipment write-offs, or are labor costs and finding staff your primary bottleneck?

## Google AI Mode

Answer ID: 04eb7724-5bbd-406b-bd1b-ba415a54f10d

Navigating manufacturing, freight costs, and skills shortages in _New Zealand_ involves weighing distinct approaches from the political parties. As the 2026 general election unfolds, the major parties offer varying frameworks for business investment, productivity, and export support.

**National**

 * * **Investment & Productivity:** Focuses on reducing compliance and regulatory burdens through initiatives like "Tell Government Once," plain-English health and safety guidance, and a 50% government subsidy for an AI Advisory pilot to help businesses access expert tech consultants.

 * **Exporters & Skills:** Proposes an NZTE mentorship scheme (the "Next 200" programme) targeting high-potential small- and medium-sized enterprises to scale into export markets, alongside faster Employment Relations Authority dispute resolution.

 *

**Labour**

 * * **Investment & Productivity:** Focuses heavily on cashflow and direct asset support via a $10,000 instant asset write-off, raising the GST registration threshold to $80,000, and enforcing 15-day payment terms for large businesses dealing with smaller suppliers. [www.businesscentral.org.nz]

 * **Exporters & Skills:** Aims to boost domestic commercial opportunities by expanding small business access to government procurement contracts and leveraging traditional industry-backed workforce development frameworks. [www.businesscentral.org.nz]

 *

**ACT**

 * * **Investment & Productivity:** Centers on aggressive labour market and regulatory flexibility to lower operational overhead.

 * **Exporters & Skills:** Proposes a three-year minimum wage freeze and a lower training wage for workers under 20 to address labour availability and reduce hiring costs for entry-level roles, alongside streamlined resource management and sector consenting. [www.businesscentral.org.nz]

 *

**New Zealand First**

 * * **Investment & Productivity:** Proposes a major tax cut for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), dropping the company tax rate from 28% to 20% for businesses with a turnover under $30 million.

 * **Exporters & Skills:** Frames this targeted tax relief as a direct vehicle to free up capital for private equipment investment, business expansion, and domestic job creation. [www.businesscentral.org.nz]

 *

**Green Party**

 * * **Investment & Productivity:** Proposes rescoping the Investment Boost tax deduction scheme to tie incentives directly to decarbonisation, industry policy goals, and fair-work principles, alongside scaled-up public funding for science and R&D fellowships.

 * **Exporters & Skills:** Focuses support on sustainable transition funding and $125m dedicated to helping early-stage enterprises scale and access green-aligned export markets. [The Spinoff]

 *

Would you like to explore how a specific policy (such as **tax relief vs. instant asset write-offs**) impacts your specific capital expenditure, or dive deeper into **workforce and labour regulations** proposed by these parties?

## AI Overviews

Answer ID: 27c8b950-96f0-4613-8a8f-fc3c0a7a7f11

For the **2026 New Zealand general election** , the major political parties offer distinctly different pathways to address business investment, productivity, and export growth. Your options fundamentally contrast large-scale asset incentives and labor deregulation against targeted small-business cash flow relief and specialized export funding.

Business Investment & Capital Equipment

If you are looking to purchase new manufacturing machinery or equipment, the parties differ significantly on tax deductions and incentives:

 * **National:** Campaigns on retaining its signature **Investment Boost** scheme (introduced in Budget 2025). This allows your business to immediately deduct **20% of the cost** of newly purchased productive assets, including machinery, commercial premises, and IT systems.
 * **Labour:** Pledges to scrap National's Investment Boost. Instead, through its **Small Business Action Plan** , Labour will allow businesses with turnovers under $10 million to **instantly write off 100%** of new equipment purchases up to **$10,000**.
 * **New Zealand First:** Focuses on tax relief rather than direct asset depreciation, proposing to slash the company tax rate from **28% to 20%** for small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) with a turnover under $30 million.
 * **ACT:** Focuses on updating depreciation rules specifically to make it easier to deduct investments in **software and IT systems**.
 * **Green Party:** Plans to downsize the Investment Boost scheme, rescoping it strictly to incentivize investments that align with **decarbonization and industry policy objectives**.

Productivity, Compliance & Finding Skilled Workers

To address labor constraints and the complexities of employing staff, the parties approach workplace productivity from alternative angles:

 * **National & ACT:** Emphasize reducing the regulatory burden to lower overheads. Both back the retention of 90-day trials for all business sizes. National has introduced a **47-point small business plan** featuring a "Tell Government Once" central service and faster channels for resolving minor employment disputes. ACT proposes a **three-year freeze on the adult minimum wage** and a lower training wage (set at 60% of the minimum wage) for workers under 20 to encourage entry-level hiring.
 * **Labour:** Focuses on productivity through vocational backing. Their policies include expanding the **Apprenticeship Boost** program, offering extended employer training payments, and providing a **$1,000 toolbox grant** to support incoming tradespeople.
 * **New Zealand First:** Targets the immigration system directly, aiming to replace the accredited employer work visa with a **shortage-led skilled work visa** to streamline filling critical talent gaps.

Support for Small Exporters & Overhead Costs

While macro factors like global freight rates are largely outside domestic political control, parties aim to safeguard small exporters through domestic cost reductions and market expansion assistance:

Party| Core Export & Small Business Policies
---|---
**National**| • **"Next 200" program** to actively help high-potential firms expand into export markets.
• Reducing cross-border friction by streamlining supply chain regulations.
**Labour**| • **Small Business First initiative** , targeting a 15% share of government contracts for local small businesses.
• Mandatory **15-day invoice payment terms** for large corporations to improve your cash flow.
• Raising the GST registration threshold from $60,000 to $80,000.
**Green Party**| • Ringfencing **$125 million** for a dedicated scheme helping early-stage businesses scale up and access international export markets.
**ACT**| • Focuses on easing supply-chain issues by recognizing **trusted overseas standards and certifications** , lowering import costs for parts and manufacturing components.

* * *

If you would like to explore a specific angle further, let me know:

 * Your approximate **annual business turnover** (to see which specific tax thresholds apply to you)
 * Whether your hiring challenges are primarily for **unskilled entry-level roles** or **highly specialized technical trade roles** Election 2026: Act to campaign on threeElection policy tracker: what the parties are promisingThe business and innovation policies of Election 2026