New Zealand 2026 election: disability support and independent living

For someone with a mobility impairment who rents and wants to remain independent, the key election question is not just how much a party promises to spend on disability. It is whether you can get the support you need, qualify for it without unreasonable barriers, and decide how that support is used in your own life.

I would compare parties across five practical areas:

• Funding and reliability: Will disability support, equipment, home modifications and personal assistance be adequately funded and available when needed?
• Eligibility and assessments: Who qualifies, how needs are assessed, and whether changing needs or household circumstances affect access.
• Individual choice and control: Can you choose your support workers, arrange assistance around your schedule and direct your own support?
• Accessible transport: Is there reliable funding and access for public transport, Total Mobility, mobility parking and other transport needs?
• Renting and housing: Can you obtain home modifications, accessible housing and support to stay in a rental without having to move into institutional or more restrictive living arrangements?

One important distinction: a party's published policy, its voting record in Parliament and the practical results of government decisions are three different kinds of evidence. They should be considered separately, particularly because the 2026 general election is still ahead.

1. How the main parties compare

The following comparison draws on 2026 election coverage and a disability-policy review published by the Deafblind Association New Zealand. It distinguishes announced commitments from broader policy direction; some parties have not published a full disability manifesto. How do the different parties fare on disability issues this election?Disability Policies of NZ Political Parties

Election context: New Zealand general election scheduled for 7 November 2026. Policies may change before polling day.

National

Funding and eligibility

National's approach has emphasised financial stability, consistent nationwide assessments and funding for disability support services. Its government committed $1.1 billion over five years in Budget 2024, with additional funding for residential care in Budget 2025. It has not published a standalone disability manifesto for this election.

Choice and control

Following the 2024 controversy over flexible-funding restrictions, the government announced some restored flexibility in 2026. Individualised funding remains available within eligibility rules, budgets and purchasing conditions.

Transport and renting

The current published platform does not set out a specific new disability transport or accessible-rental commitment. How do the different parties fare on disability issues this election?Disability Policies of NZ Political Parties

Labour

Funding and eligibility

Labour has promised to repeal the Disability Support Services legislation passed by the current government and develop replacement legislation with disabled people and disability organisations.

Choice and control

Its stated direction is rights-based, with greater participation by disabled people in decisions affecting them and an approach informed by Enabling Good Lives. The practical funding rules and future eligibility criteria would depend on the replacement legislation and implementation.

Transport and renting

Labour's published election commitments on these specific issues need to be checked for concrete funding, accessible-housing requirements and transport targets. How do the different parties fare on disability issues this election?Disability Policies of NZ Political Parties

Green Party

Funding and eligibility

The Greens propose more accessible and timely income support for disability-related costs, including reform of the Disability Allowance and benefit rules.

Choice and control

Their platform supports Enabling Good Lives, more individualised funding, fewer bureaucratic barriers and moving away from rigid, deficit-focused assessments.

Transport and renting

Specific proposals include restoring the Total Mobility subsidy to 75%, increasing accessible-vehicle availability, strengthening accessibility legislation, expanding accessible housing and introducing universal-design standards. The 75% figure is a proposed policy, not a guarantee of what every passenger would pay. How do the different parties fare on disability issues this election?Disability Policies of NZ Political Parties

ACT

Funding and eligibility

ACT's wider policy approach stresses public-spending accountability, clearer rules and less bureaucracy. It has not published a detailed standalone disability manifesto for this election.

Choice and control

Its general philosophy favours individualised, direct funding and personal autonomy. However, flexibility in how money is spent is not the same as a guarantee of adequate funding or broader eligibility.

Transport and renting

A specific new package for accessible transport or accessible rental housing has not been identified in the policy review. Disability Policies of NZ Political Parties

New Zealand First

Funding and eligibility

There is no clear standalone disability-support manifesto identified in the election review.

Choice and control

One relevant parliamentary initiative was an Accessibility Standards Bill introduced by NZ First, intended to incorporate accessibility into new schools, transport hubs and public buildings. It was not selected from the members' ballot, so it did not progress to a reading.

Transport and renting

The proposed bill is relevant to accessibility, but it should not be treated as a current commitment to a funded, comprehensive transport or housing programme. How do the different parties fare on disability issues this election?Disability Policies of NZ Political Parties

Te Pāti Māori

Funding and eligibility

Its disability-policy direction emphasises tāngata whaikaha Māori, whānau hauā, equitable access and Māori-led services.

Choice and control

Self-determination and tino rangatiratanga are central themes. When comparing its commitments, look for the proposed eligibility rules, funding levels and mechanisms for disabled people to direct their own support.

Transport and renting

The policy review identifies less technical detail on specific transport funding and accessible-housing implementation than on the party's broader vision. Disability Policies of NZ Political Parties

The Opportunities Party (TOP)

Funding and eligibility

TOP proposes a universal citizen's income of up to $370 a week, alongside a disability allowance projected at about $6,000 a year and needs-based top-ups.

Choice and control

A universal payment would reduce reliance on some existing income-support eligibility tests, but it would not automatically guarantee access to disability services or personal assistance.

Transport and renting

TOP says its proposed income reform would not replace specific disability funding for transport or assistive technology. Check how it would interact with existing benefits and supplements before comparing the headline payment with your current entitlements. How do the different parties fare on disability issues this election?Disability Policies of NZ Political Parties

2. What matters most for your circumstances?

Here is how to translate party promises into questions about your day-to-day independence.

Your priority	What to examine in each party's policy
Keeping support workers	Will funding rise with costs, and will approved hours be predictable?
Qualifying for support	Will eligibility be based on your actual needs, and can you appeal an assessment?
Choosing your own assistance	Can you choose who helps you, when they come and how funding is spent?
Getting around independently	What happens to Total Mobility subsidies, accessible public transport and mobility-vehicle availability?
Staying in your rental	Are accessible homes more available, and is there funding for necessary home modifications?
Managing disability-related costs	Will the Disability Allowance and other income support cover your additional expenses?

These distinctions are important because individualised funding and adequate funding are not the same thing. A system may give you freedom to manage your budget while still allocating too little to meet your needs. Equally, a well-funded service may leave you with limited control over the timing or type of assistance you receive.

The current system is a useful baseline

New Zealand's Disability Support Services programme already offers Individualised Funding to eligible people assessed as needing certain home and community support or respite services. It can allow you to choose support workers and have more control over when and how support is used, subject to the rules attached to your allocation. Individualised Funding

The election question is whether parties would preserve, expand or restrict this kind of choice, and what they would do about the amount of support available in the first place.

3. Where the clearest policy differences appear

Based on the published policies reviewed, the differences fall into several broad areas rather than a single overall ranking.

• Rights and enforceable standards: Labour proposes replacing the current disability support legislation with a framework developed alongside disabled people. The Greens propose stronger disability rights and enforceable accessibility standards. Te Pāti Māori also supports stronger accessibility legislation and Māori-led decision-making. How do the different parties fare on disability issues this election?Disability Policies of NZ Political Parties

• Individual choice and funding flexibility: ACT emphasises direct, individualised funding and less bureaucracy. The Greens support individualised funding alongside broader rights protections and less restrictive assessments. National has announced some restoration of flexibility within its existing system. Disability Policies of NZ Political PartiesHow do the different parties fare on disability issues this election?

• Income security: The Greens propose substantial benefit reform and changes to partner-income testing. TOP proposes a citizen's income plus disability-specific support. These proposals would need to be assessed against your actual entitlements, disability costs and the treatment of existing supplements. Disability Policies of NZ Political PartiesHow do the different parties fare on disability issues this election?

• Accessible housing and transport: The Greens have specific proposals on Total Mobility and universal design. Te Pāti Māori emphasises accessible housing and Māori-led solutions. TOP has housing-related proposals, while the reviewed platforms of National, ACT and NZ First contain less explicit disability-specific detail in these areas. Disability Policies of NZ Political PartiesHow do the different parties fare on disability issues this election?

A lack of a published commitment does not necessarily mean a party would oppose a policy. It means you should seek clarification rather than assume it will be implemented.

4. Questions worth putting directly to candidates

The Disabled Persons Assembly NZ, CCS Disability Action and Your Way Kia Roha have asked seven main parties about disability rights, eligibility, funding, income support and accessibility. Their election scorecard is intended to record party responses, including where parties decline to respond or remain undecided. Disability Scorecard for 2026 General Election » Disabled Persons Assembly NZ

You can follow this through the Disabled Persons Assembly's 2026 election page.

I would prioritise these five questions when contacting your local candidates or comparing party manifestos:

1. Funding: Will you commit to predictable, needs-based funding that keeps pace with the cost of support workers and essential disability services?
2. Eligibility: Will you guarantee transparent assessment criteria, review rights and access to support when a person's needs change?
3. Choice: Will you protect my ability to choose my own support workers and manage assistance around my daily routine?
4. Transport: Will you maintain or increase the Total Mobility subsidy and improve the availability and reliability of accessible transport?
5. Renting: What specific measures will help disabled renters find accessible homes and obtain necessary home modifications without losing their independence?

Ask candidates to identify the proposed funding, implementation timetable and accountability mechanism, not just express support for the principle.

5. A practical way to make your decision

Rather than relying on a single party label or headline promise, compare the commitments against what would make the biggest difference to your independence.

Your voting priorities

Select the issues that matter most to your independence. You can use this list to compare each party's published commitments.

Reliable support fundingPredictable assistance and enough hours to meet assessed needs

Individual choice and controlControl over support workers, schedules and spending

Fair eligibility and review rightsTransparent assessments and a way to challenge decisions

Accessible transportAffordable, dependable trips and mobility services

Accessible rental housingSuitable homes, modifications and security of tenure

Adequate disability incomeHelp with extra living costs without unfair eligibility barriers

Copy my priorities

For each party, check whether it has made a specific commitment, whether the commitment is costed, and whether it would require legislation, a funding increase or changes to existing eligibility rules.

My central takeaway: For your situation, the most consequential differences may be the interaction between funding adequacy, the right to direct your own support, accessible transport and the ability to remain in suitable rental housing. Those are connected issues, but parties can take quite different approaches to each of them. Comparing them separately will give you a clearer basis for deciding how to vote.