# PF083: We run a farm and live well outside a main centre. We are weighing operating costs, environmental obligations and access to local services. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. How do parties compare on agricultural policy, farm regulation and biosecurity? Collected 19 October 2026 [NZ Election 2026 · Edition 4 study](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/4) ## ChatGPT Answer ID: 452d1967-970e-4624-acfc-05ba1c54010b # New Zealand 2026 election: farming, regulation and biosecurity For a farm well outside a main centre, the policy differences that matter most are often practical: what you pay to comply with regulations, how much flexibility you have to run your land, how quickly pests and diseases are dealt with, and whether rural communities retain access to essential services. New Zealand's general election is scheduled for Saturday 7 November 2026, with early voting opening on 26 October. The Electoral Commission lists 17 registered parties contesting the party vote. [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/)[Candidate and party lists released](https://elections.nz/media-and-news/2026/candidate-and-party-lists-released) The comparison below focuses on National, Labour, ACT, New Zealand First, the Green Party and Te Pāti Māori, with Opportunity Party included where its positions are relevant. These parties differ in their approach to agricultural emissions, freshwater regulation, environmental protection and the role of government in farming. [Policies for Party vote - NZ Election 2026](https://policy.nz/2026/party-vote/policies/environment)[Compare NZ Political Parties Side by Side](https://policynavigator.neonz.org/compare?topic=agriculture) One important distinction: an existing government policy is not necessarily a new election promise. I'll separate established policy settings from party positions and identify where detailed commitments still need verification. ## 1. Agricultural policy and farm regulation The most visible dividing line is between parties emphasising lower compliance costs and greater land-use flexibility, and parties placing more emphasis on environmental limits, emissions reductions and public accountability. The positions below reflect published policy and announcements available as of 18 October 2026. Party statements describe intended effects; they do not guarantee those outcomes. ![留学におすすめな国8選【簡単にわかるメリット・デメリット】 - 留学thank you!](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/A_BxaiJ3oaPIyn5F1XPHrfbTgFS0FP_16fbAn4ojB9mAONlwnontgIqsGVBTSlsm9O25Tu151_8gSlyZ7jcWJ_jMRsMrV5SxbkLl2tY4WcoVSukGBCpMILvrQm8Aj7_y49Bksrgz9XdCghZyyikbvYlizxr3pJLL7XdpHeYVPTo?purpose=inline) ## National Productivity, investment and regulatory simplification National's current programme emphasises greater land-use flexibility, investment in agricultural innovation and fewer compliance costs. Its government has ruled out introducing a farm-level agricultural emissions pricing system by 2030 and is simplifying freshwater farm plans, with certification focused on higher-risk activities. [New Zealand's second emissions reduction plan 2026–30: Amended January 2026](https://environment.govt.nz/publications/new-zealands-second-emissions-reduction-plan/)[Land Use Flexibility: Improving the environment while producing more](https://www.national.org.nz/news/260610-land-use-flexibility-improving-the-envir)[Decisions on Freshwater Farm Plans released](https://www.national.org.nz/news/20260819-hontoddmacclay) For your farm: relevant if you want more flexibility to make production and investment decisions, and want to reduce the administrative burden of farm plans. Check the actual rules applying to your catchment and property. ![Grant-Wills-Farm-B | Earth Sciences New Zealand | NIWA](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/J9CD-yg_AU_BPcZZNe5uE7afy3ZL1ugd_wv13cvE5ezyb2TOmlSBuVuF8p8CZaWb-sTUodYb7X3nMj9EsZ5ZzQT1inOEA4cu1dvZqI30uw_IebObKfjIVRrIzFR501_2uCEcvVs-a4GmSqc5cQlbHu1_pV_hEXWDTIttAZ7Rh1Q?purpose=inline) ## ACT Deregulation, national standards and property rights ACT opposes what it considers excessive farming bureaucracy and has campaigned against agricultural emissions charges and burdensome freshwater rules. In September 2026, it proposed initial national standards for core farming activities and methods for setting freshwater limits. [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-will-make-farming-fun-again) For your farm: the proposed national standards could make compliance more consistent between regions. The important question is whether they would actually reduce the obligations on your particular property or simply standardise them. ![DairyNZ programme helps Canterbury dairy farmers achieve nitrogen targets | DairyNZ](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/vIid1Ken9Khxc3p7Qvln9RCNcknxj1g1W0BOJ4_y57Rq709veRLH1gTCfaEhUyyGnD344AhbJRvqEptzPbaHXGmYv-b3P7NRr3NjI3JsEeNyhGM3ud76FyODL0qtLArKSe3nqoHu_C71PoemwaiROYskNo_Qq_ft9VBu9Qfg5OE?purpose=inline) ## Labour Environmental outcomes alongside agricultural production Labour's published agricultural policy has supported emissions reductions, sustainable farming research and river clean-up while helping farmers adapt. Its approach to environmental regulation has historically involved a greater role for enforceable standards than ACT's. For the 2026 election, distinguish these established positions from any new, detailed farm-policy commitments. [Agriculture Policy NZ — All Parties Compared](https://policynavigator.neonz.org/topics/agriculture)[Labour's 2026 Election Policies](https://www.labour.org.nz/policy?quicktabs_28=0) For your farm: look closely at proposed freshwater standards, farm-plan requirements, compliance deadlines and whether transition assistance would be available. ![What Is New Zealand Natural Resources? From Gold Mines To Green Energy - The Aotearoa Archive](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/a5haW1PuBezORo5t5z1MoPs5dYSq586e_uPRqucgPoInY2taPTpIw6eJWNsm2fbGDPAeje9rME5MwLtDvczlylAemb7viP0ce3y1Jt0hVnAa2LZOtCTJgPoPWTtYFdgtCUCjs61QZ4iZmuLuPJ4JCfUsfY410J1k_GqO1ZNbDXE?purpose=inline) ## Green Party Climate action, freshwater protection and ecological farming The Greens support pricing agricultural methane emissions, reducing intensive dairy farming on environmentally sensitive land, supporting organic and regenerative agriculture, and rewarding farmers for environmental services. [Agriculture Policy NZ — All Parties Compared](https://policynavigator.neonz.org/topics/agriculture)[Nature and Climate](https://www.greens.org.nz/nature_and_climate) For your farm: investigate how any proposed emissions pricing, land-use restrictions or freshwater obligations would affect your farm system, alongside the availability of payments and assistance for environmental improvements. ![44 Te Rauamoa Road, Otorohanga, Otorohanga District 3900 - Rural Dairy Property for Sale - Welcome to Ray White Te Awamutu](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/7Uk39QfFpJ3nlcACmysVo_dub6_B34422KjtlIyosa1b0OAMUp1Fv0GRWz-hIFLBj3XNu3_MDdvTwYh_X1yEwHsEtJSFMmf8sKXZO92EEt_GSQq8sUQ4v9wc6d4ihZcU039cVgD2li3JrpcxiEgXhMW1oiNmBigSo7yr5fV3qXI?purpose=inline) ## New Zealand First Opposition to burdensome rules and protection of farming interests NZ First has publicly opposed freshwater rules it considers excessively costly, including calling for a pause to Waikato Regional Council's Plan Change 1 in July 2026. It also stresses the economic importance of farming and has opposed agricultural emissions charges. [NZ First will not let Waikato farmers be buried by Plan Change 1](https://www.nzfirst.nz/nz_first_will_not_let_waikato_farmers_be_buried_by_plan_change_1)[Compare NZ Political Parties Side by Side](https://policynavigator.neonz.org/compare?topic=agriculture) For your farm: its position is relevant if regional consent costs and compliance burdens are major concerns. The practical effect depends on which national rules and regional plans the party would change. ![South Island farm](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/dlDvjGgE12NF9f_4iQYwYuCE-AOMX-vcWHUxePser7H6itKAnmO1QxEidkG7WRmelXyorZThdjwT-cK1_EA_Y83l7tqZiogHyF9eBOj8baB6EbfcpuoCq9Er0JoZpmWqL1rmH4QeonBTo5FIhMyQYa8_gnSOhuVk7OWPs8HXBhEqqbxwFPeiNDnI6SGQUxvs?purpose=inline) ## Te Pāti Māori Māori land development, water access and sustainable farming Its published agricultural positions emphasise investment in Māori farming, development opportunities for Māori-owned land, fair access to water and sustainable farming. [Compare NZ Political Parties Side by Side](https://policynavigator.neonz.org/compare?topic=agriculture) For your farm: particularly relevant if your operation involves Māori land, whenua Māori partnerships or access to water. The details of any broader regulatory changes need to be assessed against current election commitments. ## 2. Biosecurity: a separate issue from farm regulation Biosecurity can have a direct impact on farm income, animal health, export access and the cost of operating a remote property. It deserves its own comparison rather than being treated as part of the general debate over red tape. The key distinction is between preventing pests and diseases from entering New Zealand, detecting incursions early, and funding the response once a threat reaches farms. ## How the parties compare on biosecurity Biosecurity policy is less clearly differentiated in the published material I could verify than agricultural regulation. The following is a comparison of the documented emphasis, rather than a claim that any party has a complete or superior biosecurity plan. | Party | What to examine in its biosecurity approach | | --- | --- | | National | The current government's funding and operational plans for border protection, pest and disease responses, and the costs imposed on affected farms. | | ACT | How its regulatory simplification agenda would work alongside enforceable biosecurity requirements and farm-level prevention measures. | | Labour | Its commitments to biosecurity capability, surveillance, research, response funding and support for affected producers. | | Green Party | Its emphasis on ecological protection and preventing the introduction of harmful species. Its environmental policy platform includes tighter biosecurity measures. [Policies for Party vote - NZ Election 2026](https://policy.nz/2026/party-vote/policies/environment/subtopics/conservation)[Complete Party Policy](https://www.greens.org.nz/policy) | | New Zealand First | Specific commitments on border controls, rapid responses to incursions, and financial support for rural industries affected by biosecurity restrictions. | | Te Pāti Māori | How national biosecurity measures would support Māori landowners, growers and primary-sector businesses, including during costly disease responses. | New Zealand's Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) already coordinates border protection and responses to exotic pests and diseases. The Biosecurity Act also provides for compensation in certain circumstances when government response actions cause verifiable financial losses, such as property destruction or restrictions on moving goods. [Biosecurity](https://www.mpi.govt.nz/biosecurity)[Biosecurity Act compensation](https://www.mpi.govt.nz/legal/legislation-standards-and-reviews/biosecurity-legislation/biosecurity-act-compensation) For your farm, I'd look for concrete answers to three questions: - Who pays? How are response costs, industry levies, testing, treatment and compensation shared between the government, industry and individual farmers? - How quickly can help arrive? What surveillance, diagnostic and response resources are available when your property is far from major centres? - What happens during an outbreak? How are livestock movements, feed deliveries, contractors and farm-gate sales managed, and what financial support is available if operations are disrupted? A party's general commitment to protecting primary industries is not a substitute for specific commitments on response times, staffing, funding and compensation. ## 3. Environmental obligations and operating costs Agricultural emissions and freshwater management are particularly important because they can affect both annual compliance expenses and long-term investment decisions. ### Agricultural emissions New Zealand's current government has decided not to introduce an on-farm agricultural emissions pricing system by 2030. Its alternative is a technology-led approach, including more than $400 million over four years for emissions-reduction tools and technology development. [Sector policies and plans](https://environment.govt.nz/publications/new-zealands-second-emissions-reduction-plan/sector-policies-and-plans/)[New Zealand's second emissions reduction plan 2026–30: Amended January 2026](https://environment.govt.nz/publications/new-zealands-second-emissions-reduction-plan/) - National, ACT and NZ First: have opposed direct agricultural emissions charges, although their individual positions on targets, technology and other climate policies are not identical. - Labour: has supported pricing agricultural emissions as part of climate policy, alongside research and assistance for farmers. - Greens: support pricing methane emissions and a stronger transition towards lower-emission farming. - Te Pāti Māori: published agricultural positions emphasise sustainable farming and Māori land development; specific 2026 emissions commitments should be checked before drawing a firm comparison. ### Freshwater and land-use rules The current government's freshwater farm-plan changes focus certification and auditing on higher-risk activities, while ACT has proposed initial national standards for core farming activities and freshwater-limit methodologies. NZ First has publicly challenged regional rules it considers too costly. [Decisions on Freshwater Farm Plans released](https://www.national.org.nz/news/20260819-hontoddmacclay)[ACT New Zealand](https://www.act.org.nz/news/act-to-cut-red-tape-for-everyday-farming)[NZ First will not let Waikato farmers be buried by Plan Change 1](https://www.nzfirst.nz/nz_first_will_not_let_waikato_farmers_be_buried_by_plan_change_1) The Greens place greater emphasis on freshwater protection and reducing intensive dairy farming in environmentally sensitive areas. Labour's historical approach has also favoured stronger environmental standards than the current government's simplification agenda. [Agriculture Policy NZ — All Parties Compared](https://policynavigator.neonz.org/topics/agriculture)[Nature and Climate](https://www.greens.org.nz/nature_and_climate) The practical effect depends on the type of farm you run, your catchment, existing consents and whether you are considering a change in land use. A national policy announcement does not automatically remove an existing regional-plan obligation. ## 4. Rural services and infrastructure For a remote farm, the cost of government is not just the cost of regulation. It is also the cost of getting healthcare, reliable internet, electricity, roads, agricultural supplies and emergency assistance. These issues are not always grouped under agricultural policy, so it is worth examining them separately. | Issue | What to compare in the parties' commitments | | --- | --- | | Rural healthcare | Access to GPs, after-hours care, mobile services and travel to hospital; whether funding addresses distance and staffing shortages. | | Roads and freight | Funding for rural road maintenance, resilience after floods and storms, and reliable access for milk tankers, stock trucks and other heavy vehicles. | | Broadband and mobile coverage | Actual coverage commitments, delivery dates and funding for remote properties, not just general digital-connectivity goals. | | Energy | Electricity affordability, rural network reliability and support for farm energy efficiency or on-farm generation. | | Regional economic development | Agricultural research, veterinary and diagnostic services, workforce training, and support for local businesses. | National's 2026 platform includes an energy plan and commitments relating to regional economic growth. Labour's campaign emphasises healthcare affordability and public services. The Greens have a broader programme for environmental protection and community investment. These are relevant starting points, but the overall platforms do not establish which party would deliver better access to services at a particular rural property. [2026 Election Policy](https://www.national.org.nz/policies)[Labour's 2026 Election Policies](https://www.labour.org.nz/policy?quicktabs_28=0)[Manifesto 2026](https://www.greens.org.nz/manifesto_2026) ## 5. How to assess the trade-offs for your farm Rather than trying to identify a party that is best in every category, consider how each policy would affect your actual costs and risks. ## 6. Where to verify the commitments before voting These resources let you check the detailed policies rather than relying solely on campaign summaries. - [Policy.nz — 2026 party policy comparison](https://policy.nz/2026/party-vote/policies/environment?utm_source=chatgpt.com): compare environmental, freshwater and emissions policies. - [National — 2026 election policies](https://www.national.org.nz/policies?utm_source=chatgpt.com): review the party's published commitments. - [Labour — 2026 election policies](https://www.labour.org.nz/policy?utm_source=chatgpt.com): check its current platform and policy detail. - [ACT — official website](https://www.act.org.nz/?utm_source=chatgpt.com): check current farming and regulatory announcements. - [Green Party — complete policy library](https://www.greens.org.nz/policy?utm_source=chatgpt.com): review agriculture, climate and freshwater policy. - [Ministry for Primary Industries — biosecurity](https://www.mpi.govt.nz/biosecurity?utm_source=chatgpt.com): check the existing national biosecurity system, response processes and farmer obligations. - [Electoral Commission — 2026 election information](https://elections.nz/?utm_source=chatgpt.com): confirm voting dates, candidates and party lists. The key question for your circumstances is what each party would change in practice: your annual compliance bill, your freedom to alter land use, the protection available against a serious biosecurity event, and your access to essential services. Check the detailed commitments in each area, and bear in mind that coalition negotiations can change what a party ultimately implements. ## Gemini Answer ID: f9c69a5b-6347-42d5-9265-8677842f9ba8 Navigating the 2026 general election from a remote rural property means weighing how different political blocs view the balance between farm gate profitability, environmental compliance, and regional resilience. Major political parties approach the primary sector through distinct philosophical lenses—ranging from deregulation and export-led growth to tighter environmental bottom lines and climate-focused transitions. --- ### 1. National, ACT, and New Zealand First (The Center-Right / Coalition Approach) * **Core Philosophy:** Focus heavily on cutting red tape, restoring farmer confidence, boosting export values, and protecting property rights. * **Farm Regulation & Resource Management:** * The current National-led government emphasizes rolling back heavy compliance burdens. They have moved to replace the Resource Management Act (RMA), explicitly writing food and fibre production into the Natural Environment Act as a core goal. * Recent policy platforms include streamlining permissions for on-farm water storage and irrigation, creating national standards for farm-level activities (such as micro-hydro energy generation, battery storage, and localized aggregate/quarry extraction without heavy consenting), and easing restrictions on agrichemical approvals. * ACT focuses heavily on removing regulatory barriers entirely, ensuring settings target actual environmental risks rather than procedural compliance, and easing access to land, water, and labour. * **Emissions & Operating Costs:** * Having previously scrapped the proposed agricultural emissions pricing mechanisms tied to *He Waka Eke Noa* and kept agriculture out of the broader ETS, the right-leaning parties generally favor industry-led solutions or alternative technological pathways for emissions reduction rather than broad-based farm taxes. * **Biosecurity & Regional Services:** * Priority is given to protecting border biosecurity to safeguard export lines, alongside supporting regional infrastructure and rural resilience funds (such as support for Rural Support Trusts and Farmstrong). ### 2. Labour and The Greens (The Center-Left / Progressive Approach) * **Core Philosophy:** Emphasize that long-term farming profitability depends on strict environmental sustainability, climate resilience, and protecting natural capital (freshwater, soil health). * **Farm Regulation & Resource Management:** * Labour acknowledges a "cost-of-farming crisis" driven by global inflation and input costs, but maintains that clear environmental bottom lines (especially concerning freshwater quality and intensive land-use impacts) must be maintained rather than overridden by development. * They support streamlining specific bottlenecks—such as speeding up the sluggish approval timelines for newer, safer agrichemicals and veterinary medicines—while backing local catchment groups ($40.5 million allocated over four years) to let regional communities manage local water pathways. * The Green Party advocates for tighter constraints on intensive farming practices (e.g., restricting intensive winter grazing, phasing out certain factory-farming methods, and regulating agrichemical use strictly to protect water), coupled with targeted financial and R&D support for a transition toward regenerative and low-impact farming. * **Emissions & Operating Costs:** * The left-of-centre block maintains that New Zealand's high-value, green export brand requires credible climate commitments, arguing that delaying emissions pricing or climate adaptation leaves the sector vulnerable to international market and carbon-border adjustment pressures. * **Biosecurity & Regional Services:** * Strong emphasis on robust biosecurity buffering to protect native ecosystems and primary industries from climate-exacerbated pests and diseases, alongside regional development frameworks that tie funding closer to local ecological health. ### 3. The Opportunity Party (TOP) and Minor Parties * **Core Philosophy:** Focus on technological incentives, economic efficiency, and structural support for small business operators (including family farms). * **Key Policies:** TOP highlights the need for regulatory reform where current rules overly burden farmers, but pairs this with incentives for tech adoption—such as offering a 25% tax credit on new on-farm technology investments to drive efficiency and lower environmental footprints. They also target supply-chain fairness, empowering the Commerce Commission to look at fair treatment for growers and producers. --- ### Key Trade-Offs for Remote Rural Properties When casting your vote, the decision often boils down to a few critical trade-offs: 1. **Compliance vs. Environment:** Do you prefer the National/ACT approach of fast-tracking consents, standardising rules for self-reliance (energy/quarries), and removing prescriptive central mandates, or the Labour/Green approach of holding firm environmental bottom lines to protect long-term soil and water health? 2. **Input Costs & Compliance Overhead:** Are your primary pressures coming from administrative compliance costs (favored for reduction by the right), or are you more concerned with long-term climate risks, water security, and maintaining the premium international market access that relies on environmental credentials? ## Google AI Mode Answer ID: 69c58fad-360d-4c8a-8b14-73cd2d84bc0f **New Zealand’s political parties split sharply on how to balance farm profitability, compliance red tape, climate pricing, and environmental limits ahead of the 2026 general election.** The current centre-right coalition (National, ACT, and NZ First) prioritises reducing regulatory burdens, easing freshwater and resource management rules, and keeping agriculture out of carbon pricing. Conversely, opposition and minor parties (Labour, the Green Party, and Te Pāti Māori) advocate for stronger environmental guardrails, targeted limits on land conversion (such as pine afforestation), and closer alignment with domestic and international climate goals. [RNZ] * * * Key Party Approaches to Agriculture and Regulation National Party * * **Farm Regulation:** Focuses on cutting compliance costs, rolling back heavy-handed rules, and replacing prescriptive planning with practical, flexible farm-level management plans. * **Climate & Emissions:** Opposes new agricultural taxes or pricing agricultural emissions under the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), committing to no new taxes for farmers. [RNZ] * **Land & Forestry:** Seeks to curb the conversion of productive sheep and beef country into permanent carbon-farming pine forests. [RNZ] * ACT Party * * **Farm Regulation:** Advocates for deep deregulation, reducing the power of regional councils over private property rights, and scaling back RMA/environmental overlays. [hansard.parliament.nz] * **Climate & Emissions:** Firmly rejects agricultural emissions pricing and carbon taxes, pushing for free-market solutions and property rights protection. [RNZ] * **Biosecurity & Services:** Emphasises lean government, cost-efficiency, and leveraging private enterprise for rural service delivery and infrastructure. * New Zealand First * * **Farm Regulation:** Champions regional and provincial interests, pushing back against urban-centric environmental mandates and supporting practical local compliance. * **Climate & Emissions:** Opposes immediate economic penalties or unachievable emissions targets on primary industries that could impair export competitiveness. * **Biosecurity & Trade:** Maintains a strong focus on strict border biosecurity to protect New Zealand's disease-free status and supports bilateral trade diversification. * Labour Party * * **Farm Regulation:** Proposes a balanced approach that maintains baseline freshwater and environmental standards while reducing administrative duplication. * **Climate & Emissions:** Has committed not to campaign on putting agricultural emissions directly into the ETS, though it plans an urgent review of the ETS and forestry settings to disincentivise wholesale farm-to-pine conversions. * **Rural Services:** Focuses on regional health, rural connectivity, and supporting equitable access to services outside main centres. [RNZ] * Green Party * * **Farm Regulation:** Advocates for strict, legally binding environmental limits on water quality, intensive stocking, and chemical use. * **Climate & Emissions:** Proposes pricing agricultural emissions and removing forestry entirely from the main ETS framework to eliminate carbon-farming distortions. * **Ecosystems:** Focuses heavily on regenerative transition support, biodiversity protection, and phasing out high-emission synthetic inputs. * Te Pāti Māori * * **Farm Regulation:** Ties land and water management to Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations, emphasizing catchment-level iwi-crown-farmer co-governance. * **Climate & Emissions:** Supports aggressive climate targets and a managed transition away from high-emission intensive farming models toward localized, sustainable food systems. * **Rural Communities:** Focuses on papakāinga, rural iwi development, and community-level economic resilience. * * * * Comparative Policy Summary Party Block| Stance on Farm Compliance & Red Tape| Stance on Agricultural Climate/ETS Pricing| Focus on Land Use & Forestry Conversions ---|---|---|--- **National / ACT / NZ First**| High priority on cutting red tape and rolling back prescriptive rules.| Opposed to new agricultural taxes or ETS inclusion.| Concerned about loss of productive land to permanent carbon pine. **Labour**| Balanced baseline standards with administrative streamlining.| Does not support ETS pricing for agriculture; promises an ETS/forestry review.| Seeks to curb whole-farm conversions to exotic forestry. **Green Party**| Strict national environmental and water limits.| Favours agricultural emissions pricing and restructuring the ETS.| Removes forestry from the ETS to stop carbon-farming workarounds. To check where your specific priorities align across detailed candidate statements, you can use interactive tools like WhichParty NZ or review parliamentary records via New Zealand Parliament Hansard.