ChatGPT · No location
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?
New Zealand election 2026: What the parties propose for manufacturers and exporters
For a small New Zealand manufacturer that exports and employs staff, the key election question is how each party would affect three things: the cost of investing in equipment, the ability to raise productivity, and the cost and difficulty of reaching export markets and finding skilled workers.
The general election is scheduled for Saturday 7 November 2026. Party policies announced during the campaign are still subject to change, and what is implemented will depend partly on coalition negotiations. 2026 General Election Policies: What they could mean for businesses | New Zealand2026 Election Q&A - Science
Here is a comparison of the main parties' published proposals, focusing on your business rather than household tax or spending policies.
1. Business investment and equipment
This is where the parties have some of their clearest differences. In particular, compare the existing Investment Boost scheme with proposals to change how equipment purchases are treated for tax purposes.
National
Retain the existing investment incentive
- Keep Investment Boost, which allows an immediate deduction for 20% of the cost of eligible new productive assets, alongside normal depreciation on the balance.
- Oppose new taxes and focus on reducing compliance costs.
- Retain existing incentives for businesses buying equipment, technology and premises. National’s plan to support Small Businesses2026 General Election Policies: What they could mean for businesses | New Zealand
Labour
A targeted write-off for smaller purchases
- Replace Investment Boost with a scheme allowing eligible small businesses to immediately write off equipment costing up to $10,000 from 1 July 2027.
- Raise the compulsory GST registration threshold from $60,000 to $80,000 from 1 July 2028.
- The party says its $1.56 billion, four-year Small Business Action Plan would be funded by refocusing Investment Boost. Labour's Small Business Action PlanLabour's 2026 Election Policies
ACT
Lower compliance costs and encourage private investment
- Emphasise reducing regulation, red tape and government costs to encourage investment and productivity.
- Support the current Investment Boost settings as part of the governing coalition's policy direction.
- Propose further changes to small-business employment rules and dispute resolution. ACT New ZealandACT New ZealandElection 2026: What the parties are promising for business and tech
New Zealand First
Lower business taxes and faster depreciation
- Propose reducing company tax from 28% to 20% for companies with turnover below $30 million.
- Propose 100% depreciation for eligible business equipment costing up to $20,000 per item.
- Also advocate expanded R&D incentives and support for high-value manufacturing. NZFirst to Campaign on 20% Tax Rate for SMEs2026 Election Q&A - Science
Green Party
Redirect incentives toward innovation and productive industries
- Propose reshaping Investment Boost into an Innovation Boost targeting productive investment, decarbonisation and decent work.
- Seek to increase research and development spending towards 3% of GDP.
- Support public investment in innovation, industrial capability and commercialising New Zealand-developed products. Greens’ economic development plan will create 284,000 jobsManifesto 2026
What this means for your equipment decision
The practical difference is the size, timing and type of your planned investment.
- A machine costing $8,000: Labour's proposed small-business write-off could be relevant if you meet the eligibility rules and buy after its proposed start date.
- A machine costing $18,000: NZ First's proposed full depreciation allowance could be relevant, whereas Labour's proposed $10,000 threshold would not cover the entire purchase.
- A machine costing $100,000: National's Investment Boost could provide an additional deduction equal to $20,000, if the asset qualifies. NZ First's proposed $20,000-per-item allowance would not, by itself, provide a full immediate write-off for this purchase.
These are illustrations of the proposed tax rules, not estimates of your actual tax savings. The value depends on your taxable profit, eligibility, timing and the final legislation. National’s plan to support Small BusinessesLabour's Small Business Action PlanNZFirst to Campaign on 20% Tax Rate for SMEs
2. Productivity, technology and manufacturing growth
Productivity means producing more saleable output for each hour of labour or dollar of capital. For a manufacturer, that could mean faster machine changeovers, less scrap, automated quality control, shorter lead times or more value added to each export.
| Party | Main policy direction | Potential relevance to your business |
|---|---|---|
| National | Private investment incentives, lower compliance burdens, infrastructure and energy reforms | Useful to examine if you want to modernise machinery without adding administrative complexity. National’s plan to support Small Businesses2026 General Election Policies: What they could mean for businesses | New Zealand |
| Labour | A New Zealand Future Fund, support for innovation and small-business investment, and expanded apprenticeship support | Relevant if your growth depends on developing products, accessing skilled workers or improving the domestic innovation pipeline. Labour's 2026 Election Policies2026 Election Q&A - Science |
| ACT | Less regulation, a smaller government and greater scope for private-sector investment and technology adoption | Relevant if regulatory costs and uncertainty are holding back investment or expansion. ACT New ZealandACT New Zealand |
| Green Party | Redirect investment incentives towards R&D, clean production and industrial innovation; strengthen science and technical capability | Relevant if you are considering energy-efficient machinery, process innovation or developing higher-value products. Greens’ economic development plan will create 284,000 jobsGood Jobs For All of Us |
| NZ First | High-value manufacturing, R&D tax incentives, accelerated depreciation and a lower SME company tax rate | Relevant if you want to expand domestic production, develop proprietary products or increase the value of your exports. 2026 Election Q&A - ScienceNZFirst to Campaign on 20% Tax Rate for SMEs |
The important distinction is that buying equipment and improving productivity are not the same thing. An equipment tax deduction can lower the after-tax cost of investment, but it does not guarantee that a new machine will increase output enough to justify its cost. Research support, technical skills, energy prices and the ability to sell the additional production matter too.
3. Support for small exporters and freight costs
For an exporting manufacturer, the relevant policies go beyond tax. They include access to overseas customers, customs paperwork, export development support, transport infrastructure and energy costs.
National: export-market access and trade facilitation
National proposes pursuing additional trade agreements, expanding paperless trade and digital customs, improving exporter support through New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE), and providing intensive assistance to the next 200 high-potential exporters. Its stated aim includes doubling export value by 2034. New Zealand's Next Billion CustomersNational’s plan to support Small Businesses
Relevance: Potentially useful if you need to enter new markets, reduce customs administration or develop overseas sales channels.
Labour: cash flow and small-business growth
Labour proposes requiring large businesses to pay small suppliers within 15 days for invoices under $25,000, with reporting and penalties for repeated late payment. It also proposes a 15% target for government contracts, according to the independent election policy tracker. Labour's Small Business Action PlanElection policy tracker: what the parties are promisingThe business and innovation policies of Election 2026, explained
Relevance: Better payment timing could help you finance raw materials, wages and freight while waiting for customers to pay. The procurement target could create opportunities where your products meet government needs, although it is not an export subsidy.
ACT: reduce operating and compliance costs
ACT emphasises deregulation, lower compliance burdens and encouraging private investment. Its published small-business policies focus more on operating conditions and employment rules than on a dedicated export-development grant. ACT New ZealandACT New Zealand
Relevance: Worth examining if paperwork, employment disputes and regulatory delays are major costs. Do not assume this means freight rates themselves will fall.
Green Party: innovation and export commercialisation
The Greens propose an Idea to Export pathway to coordinate support from experimentation and research through commercialisation and scaling, alongside increased science funding and a reorientation of investment incentives. Greens’ economic development plan will create 284,000 jobsThe business and innovation policies of Election 2026, explained
Relevance: Potentially relevant if your export growth depends on proprietary technology, product development, specialised manufacturing or low-emissions production.
New Zealand First: export-led manufacturing
NZ First promotes high-value manufacturing, domestic processing, lower SME company tax and faster depreciation. Its broader economic approach emphasises adding value to New Zealand resources before exporting them. 2026 Election Q&A - ScienceOur PrinciplesNZFirst to Campaign on 20% Tax Rate for SMEs
Relevance: Relevant if your business can increase the value of its products through more processing or specialised manufacturing in New Zealand.
What about freight specifically?
None of these headline measures should be treated as a guaranteed reduction in your freight bill. Freight prices are affected by shipping capacity, fuel, exchange rates, port and inland transport charges, destination, shipment size and global disruptions.
When assessing the parties, distinguish between:
- Direct freight relief: a specific subsidy or reduction in a charge you actually pay.
- Logistics improvements: better transport infrastructure, customs systems and port or supply-chain efficiency.
- Export growth assistance: help to find customers, meet market requirements or establish distribution overseas.
The published National trade plan is particularly explicit about digital customs and export-market development. The other approaches place more emphasis on business operating costs, innovation or domestic production. New Zealand's Next Billion CustomersThe business and innovation policies of Election 2026, explained
4. Finding and retaining skilled workers
For a manufacturer, the relevant question is not only whether a party supports training, but whether the policies help you fill vacancies, train apprentices and retain experienced workers without making payroll costs harder to manage.
| Party | Published direction | Consider for your workforce |
|---|---|---|
| National | Make it easier to hire a first employee, recruit seasonal workers and take on apprentices; streamline employment administration. | Could matter if you need to expand headcount or spend less time on compliance. National’s plan to support Small Businesses2026 General Election Policies: What they could mean for businesses | New Zealand |
| Labour | Extend Apprenticeship Boost employer payments to two years at $500 per month, add a $1,000 toolbox grant and expand eligible trades, subject to the proposed start dates. | Could help offset some of the cost of training eligible new workers. Labour's 2026 Election Policies2026 General Election Policies: What they could mean for businesses | New Zealand |
| ACT | Proposes a three-year freeze in the adult minimum wage and a training wage set at 60% of the adult minimum wage for eligible under-20s during their first 12 months with an employer. | Relevant if your concern is wage costs and entry-level hiring; consider the implications for recruitment, retention and training. ACT New ZealandThe business and innovation policies of Election 2026, explained |
| Green Party | Proposes abolishing the training wage, a $2,000 apprentice equipment grant, and a $2,000 employer completion bonus for apprentices whose training is actively supported. | Relevant if developing and retaining skilled tradespeople is a priority, although the proposed changes could increase some upfront training costs. Green Party to abolish training wage and provide more support for apprentices |
| NZ First | Proposes replacing the Accredited Employer Work Visa model with a shortage-led Skilled Work Visa. | Relevant if you rely on overseas workers for specialist roles; the final eligibility rules and implementation would matter. Our Policy |
These policies address different parts of the problem. Apprenticeship subsidies help with training costs, employment-rule changes affect the cost and flexibility of hiring, and immigration settings affect access to workers who may not be available locally.
Also consider whether any changes to employer KiwiSaver contributions would affect your wage bill. National proposes compulsory KiwiSaver or an equivalent scheme with combined default contributions rising to 12% by 2032, while Labour proposes changes including employer contributions for contributing workers over 65. These are longer-term payroll considerations, not just recruitment policies. 2026 General Election Policies: What they could mean for businesses | New ZealandLabour's 2026 Election Policies
5. Other parties worth checking
Two additional parties have proposals that may be relevant depending on your business model.
- The Opportunity Party: Proposes expanding R&D tax credits, including a proposed 25% credit for qualifying high-tech investment, and increasing support for science and innovation. It also proposes a land value tax, which would be relevant if your business owns significant land. Check the detailed eligibility and tax design before assuming either measure would benefit you. The business and innovation policies of Election 2026, explainedElection 2026: What Do the Parties' Fiscal Plans Mean for Business?
- Te Pāti Māori: Proposes a fund to invest in Māori businesses, land and marae, alongside a higher company tax rate and other tax changes. The investment fund may be relevant to eligible Māori-owned businesses, while the proposed tax settings could have different implications for other firms. The business and innovation policies of Election 2026, explainedElection 2026: What Do the Parties' Fiscal Plans Mean for Business?
6. A practical framework for your voting decision
Rather than treating any one policy as decisive, you could assess each party against your own business priorities.
Set your business priorities
Adjust the importance of each issue. This is a personal decision aid, not a party rating or voting recommendation.
Equipment investment
5/5
Tax deductions, depreciation and access to investment capital
Low
Medium
High
Low
Medium
High
Low
Medium
High
Freight and export markets
5/5
Shipping-related costs, customs, trade deals and export assistance
Low
Medium
High
Low
Medium
High
Low
Medium
High
Skilled workers
4/5
Apprenticeships, wage costs and access to specialist workers
Low
Medium
High
Low
Medium
High
Low
Medium
High
Productivity and innovation
4/5
Automation, R&D support, energy efficiency and technical skills
Low
Medium
High
Low
Medium
High
Low
Medium
High
Policy stability
3/5
Whether tax, employment and regulatory settings are predictable
Low
Medium
High
Low
Medium
High
Low
Medium
High
Compare policies against my priorities
Before committing to a major equipment purchase, there are three particularly useful checks:
- Calculate the after-tax cost under the current rules and each relevant proposal, including whether you expect to make a taxable profit.
- Stress-test the investment against higher freight costs, weaker overseas demand and delays in hiring skilled operators.
- Verify implementation details in the parties' full policies, including commencement dates, eligibility, funding and any coalition-dependent changes.
The central trade-off is between different ways of supporting business growth: immediate investment incentives and lower compliance costs; targeted assistance for small businesses; or more active public investment in skills, R&D and industrial development. The value of each approach to your company depends on which constraint is currently holding back growth.
For a fuller reference, BDO's 2026 election business-policy comparison summarises announced measures across tax, investment, trade and employment, while The Conversation's election policy tracker provides a cross-party view of other proposals. Both are useful for checking the details as the campaign progresses.
ChatGPT can make mistakes. Check important info.
Captured 23 October 2026 · shown as ChatGPT gave it, not a verified account