# Question 111: I migrated to New Zealand, have recently become a citizen and am eligible to vote. I work here, use English as a second language and want to understand both my options and the system. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. How do parties compare on settlement support and rules affecting migrants who want family members to join them?
Collected 23 October 2026
[NZ Election 2026 · Edition 5 study](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/5)
## ChatGPT
Answer ID: faafabdc-8591-4126-8265-a5106d367a4d
# New Zealand’s 2026 election: migration, settlement and family reunification
As a new New Zealand citizen, you can look at this election from two connected perspectives: how well migrants are supported to build a life here, and how easily they can bring close family members to join them.
These are related, but they are not the same policy issue. A party might support English-language learning and employment services while favouring tighter immigration rules. Another might emphasise family reunification while taking a different approach to settlement funding or migrant-worker protections.
I'll compare the main political parties on these issues, explain what their policies mean in everyday terms, and distinguish current government rules from proposals for the 2026 general election. The election is scheduled for 2026, and it is important not to mistake a party's general position or an earlier policy for a confirmed election commitment.
## 1. The main parties compared
The table below focuses on published policies available as of 23 October 2026. It is a comparison of proposals, not a prediction of what will become law. [Release: Labour to ensure an immigration system that works for New Zealand](https://www.labour.org.nz/news/release-labour-to-ensure-an-immigration-system-that-works-for-new-zealand/)[Immigration Reform Policies](https://www.nzfirst.nz/immigration_reform_policies)[ACT New Zealand](https://www.act.org.nz/news/making-immigration-work-for-new-zealand)[2026 Election Policy](https://www.national.org.nz/policies)
| Party | Settlement and migrant support | Family reunification and immigration rules |
| --- | --- | --- |
| National | Emphasis on economic growth, attracting needed skills and employer-led immigration. Its current settings provide pathways for eligible skilled workers to gain residence. | Broadly continues its immigration programme and skilled-residence reforms. I did not verify a specific new National commitment to make parent reunification easier. [2026 Election Policy](https://www.national.org.nz/policies)[NZ Election 2026: Immigration Policy by Party](https://www.livinginnz.co.nz/blog/2026-election-immigration-policy/) |
| Labour | Proposes stronger protection against migrant exploitation, better access to community support, and orientation and civic education. | Proposes reviewing parent-visa rules, including health and English-language requirements. It also proposes extending the time before eligibility for permanent residence from two years to four. [Release: Labour to ensure an immigration system that works for New Zealand](https://www.labour.org.nz/news/release-labour-to-ensure-an-immigration-system-that-works-for-new-zealand/)[Immigration](https://www.labour.org.nz/immigration) |
| Green Party | Its wider political approach emphasises social inclusion and public services. I could not verify a sufficiently specific, current 2026 commitment on migrant settlement services to give a precise comparison here. | I could not verify a specific current 2026 proposal changing parent, partner or dependent-child visa criteria from the sources checked. This does not mean the party has no position. |
| ACT | Emphasises employment, contribution, English-language requirements and enforcement. | Proposes a five-year stand-down from specified income-tested benefits for residence-class visa holders, a daily infrastructure charge for temporary work-visa holders, and tighter controls on some work-visa categories. [ACT New Zealand](https://www.act.org.nz/news/making_immigration_work_for_nz)[ACT New Zealand](https://www.act.org.nz/news/making-immigration-work-for-new-zealand) |
| New Zealand First | Emphasises lower immigration numbers, infrastructure capacity, stricter enforcement and a stronger distinction between citizens and non-citizens. | Proposes a 20,000-per-year resident-visa cap referendum, a ten-year stand-down from specified benefits for non-citizens, and longer qualifying periods for permanent residence and citizenship. [Immigration Reform Policies](https://www.nzfirst.nz/immigration_reform_policies)[NZ First Announces Immigration Reform Policies](https://www.nzfirst.nz/nz_first_announces_immigration_reform_policies) |
An important distinction: National, ACT and New Zealand First are not proposing identical approaches. ACT's published proposal is a five-year benefit stand-down, whereas New Zealand First proposes ten years. Labour's proposal focuses more on settlement support and reviewing family-visa rules, but it also proposes a longer wait for permanent residence. [ACT New Zealand](https://www.act.org.nz/news/making-immigration-work-for-new-zealand)[Immigration Reform Policies](https://www.nzfirst.nz/immigration_reform_policies)[Immigration](https://www.labour.org.nz/immigration)
These differences can affect migrants at different stages of their lives. Because you have become a citizen, however, some policies aimed at non-citizens would affect you differently than they would affect a person on a work or resident visa.
## 2. What the parties' positions could mean for your family
The first question is which family members you hope to bring to New Zealand. The rules differ considerably for a partner, dependent children and parents.
Partner or spouse
New Zealand citizenship can help your partner qualify for a visa based on your relationship. For a partner's resident visa, Immigration New Zealand generally requires evidence that you have lived together in a genuine and stable relationship for at least 12 months. Other eligibility requirements apply. [Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa » Immigration New Zealand](https://www.immigration.govt.nz/visas/partner-of-a-new-zealander-resident-visa/)[Partnership and how to prove it :: Immigration New Zealand](https://www.immigration.govt.nz/process-to-apply/once-you-have-a-visa/bringing-family-to-new-zealand/partnership-and-how-to-prove-it/)
The election question is whether a party would change the requirements, costs or processing arrangements—not simply whether it supports family unity in principle.
Parents
This is an especially important policy area to examine if your parents live overseas. The Parent Resident Visa allows eligible parents of New Zealand citizens or residents to live here indefinitely, but it requires sponsorship, sufficient sponsor income, an invitation to apply, and health and English-language requirements. The published annual allocation is 2,500 visas. [Parent Resident Visa » Immigration New Zealand](https://www.immigration.govt.nz/visas/parent-resident-visa/)
Labour specifically proposes reviewing parent-visa health, English-language and other rules. That is a proposal to review the requirements, not a guarantee that eligibility will be expanded. [Release: Labour to ensure an immigration system that works for New Zealand](https://www.labour.org.nz/news/release-labour-to-ensure-an-immigration-system-that-works-for-new-zealand/)[Immigration](https://www.labour.org.nz/immigration)
Dependent children
A New Zealand citizen living here may sponsor an eligible dependent child for residence. The resident-visa category generally covers single dependent children aged 24 or younger, subject to additional conditions depending on age and circumstances. [Dependent Child Resident Visa » Immigration New Zealand](https://www.immigration.govt.nz/visas/dependent-child-resident-visa/)[Bringing children :: Immigration New Zealand](https://www.immigration.govt.nz/process-to-apply/once-you-have-a-visa/bringing-family-to-new-zealand/bringing-children/)
When comparing parties, look for commitments about dependent-child eligibility, application processing, fees and family members who do not fit the standard definition of a dependent child.
### What about other relatives?
Siblings, adult independent children and extended family members generally do not qualify for residence simply because you are a citizen. They may need to qualify through their own work, study, partnership or other visa category.
You can check the relevant current categories through [Immigration New Zealand's official visa website](https://www.immigration.govt.nz/?utm_source=chatgpt.com).
## 3. What counts as settlement support?
For someone who works in New Zealand and uses English as a second language, settlement support can mean more than help finding a job. It can include access to English classes, recognition of overseas qualifications, fair treatment at work, community connections and help understanding public services.
New Zealand already has a government Migrant Settlement and Integration Strategy, covering employment, education and English, housing, health, and participation in the community. Some services are free and are delivered by government agencies and community organisations. [Migrant Settlement and Integration Strategy :: Immigration New Zealand](https://www.immigration.govt.nz/about-us/our-strategies-and-programmes/supporting-people-from-overseas-to-settle-in-new-zealand/migrant-settlement-and-integration-strategy/)[Settlement services :: Immigration New Zealand](https://www.immigration.govt.nz/about-us/our-strategies-and-programmes/supporting-people-from-overseas-to-settle-in-new-zealand/settlement-services/)
Here is how to compare party proposals in practical terms:
Employment and protection from exploitation
Labour proposes allowing eligible migrant workers on Accredited Employer Work Visas to change accredited employers after three months, alongside stronger worker protections. ACT focuses on matching work visas to demonstrated skills shortages and enforcing visa conditions. [Immigration](https://www.labour.org.nz/immigration)[ACT New Zealand](https://www.act.org.nz/news/making-immigration-work-for-new-zealand)
English and integration
Labour proposes community-based orientation and civic education. ACT proposes extending basic English-language requirements across its specified Accredited Employer Work Visa categories. These proposals have different purposes: one provides support, while the other sets an entry or eligibility requirement. [Release: Labour to ensure an immigration system that works for New Zealand](https://www.labour.org.nz/news/release-labour-to-ensure-an-immigration-system-that-works-for-new-zealand/)[ACT New Zealand](https://www.act.org.nz/news/making-immigration-work-for-new-zealand)
Inclusion and family connections
The Green Party's immigration policy explicitly supports family reunification, fair treatment of migrant workers and greater refugee support. It also advocates a Pacific Passport arrangement to facilitate movement between New Zealand and Pacific island countries. These are policy directions, not automatic changes to existing family-visa eligibility. [Manifesto 2026](https://www.greens.org.nz/manifesto_2026)[Green on Immigration](https://politika.nz/policies/immigration/green)
Financial security
ACT proposes a five-year stand-down from specified income-tested benefits for residence-class visa holders, while New Zealand First proposes a ten-year stand-down for non-citizens. The exact impact depends on the policy's final wording and who is covered. These proposals should not be confused with the rules currently in force. [ACT New Zealand](https://www.act.org.nz/news/making-immigration-work-for-new-zealand)[Immigration Reform Policies](https://www.nzfirst.nz/immigration_reform_policies)
One practical resource is [Immigration New Zealand's settlement services directory](https://www.immigration.govt.nz/about-us/our-strategies-and-programmes/supporting-people-from-overseas-to-settle-in-new-zealand/settlement-services/?utm_source=chatgpt.com). It includes information on adult English-language learning, migrant information services and community support. You can also ask government agencies for a free telephone or video interpreter in your preferred language. [Settlement services :: Immigration New Zealand](https://www.immigration.govt.nz/about-us/our-strategies-and-programmes/supporting-people-from-overseas-to-settle-in-new-zealand/settlement-services/)[Settlement information :: Immigration New Zealand](https://www.immigration.govt.nz/about-us/our-strategies-and-programmes/supporting-people-from-overseas-to-settle-in-new-zealand/settlement-information/)
## 4. What changes now that you are a citizen?
Your citizenship is an important distinction when evaluating campaign promises.
- Voting: You can participate in the election if you meet the enrolment and other voting requirements.
- Your own residence status: You no longer need a resident visa to maintain your right to live in New Zealand as a citizen.
- Bringing family: Citizenship can provide a route to sponsor eligible partners, dependent children and parents, but each visa category still has its own requirements.
- Benefits: A proposal to restrict benefits for non-citizens would not automatically apply to you as a citizen. Eligibility for any particular payment still depends on its rules.
- Family members' status: Your citizenship does not automatically give your relatives citizenship or a right to live here.
These distinctions are important because a party's immigration policy may affect you directly, affect your family members applying from overseas, or affect neither of you in the same way. [Who can sponsor a visa applicant :: Immigration New Zealand](https://www.immigration.govt.nz/process-to-apply/applying-for-a-visa/sponsoring-someone-on-a-visa/who-can-sponsor-a-visa-applicant/)[Dependent Child Resident Visa » Immigration New Zealand](https://www.immigration.govt.nz/visas/dependent-child-resident-visa/)[Parent Resident Visa » Immigration New Zealand](https://www.immigration.govt.nz/visas/parent-resident-visa/)
## 5. How to make your voting comparison more useful
Rather than asking only which party is “pro-migrant”, consider these questions when reading their full policies:
1. Family: Will the party make it easier for parents, partners or children to join citizens living in New Zealand? Does it specify actual changes to eligibility, income thresholds, English requirements or waiting times?
2. Settlement: Does it commit to funding English classes, employment assistance, qualification recognition or community services? Are there measurable commitments?
3. Work: Does it protect workers from exploitation and give them a realistic way to change employers?
4. Security: Could its proposed rules affect your relatives' ability to obtain a visa, or their access to services while settling?
5. Delivery: Is the policy a funded commitment, a proposal to review the rules, or a broader statement of principle?
For official party statements, start with the [National Party](https://www.national.org.nz/policies?utm_source=chatgpt.com), [Labour](https://www.labour.org.nz/immigration?utm_source=chatgpt.com), [Green Party](https://www.greens.org.nz/manifesto_2026?utm_source=chatgpt.com), [ACT](https://www.act.org.nz/news/making-immigration-work-for-new-zealand?utm_source=chatgpt.com) and [New Zealand First](https://www.nzfirst.nz/immigration_reform_policies?utm_source=chatgpt.com). Compare the actual wording, not just headlines.
## Let's narrow this down to what matters most to you
The family rules are very different depending on whom you want to bring here. Which family members are you most interested in bringing to New Zealand?
That will let me focus the next comparison on the rules most likely to matter to your family, while keeping the information neutral so you can make your own voting decision.
## Gemini
Answer ID: ca471084-e9a8-429c-bb75-300627185739
Congratulations on your New Zealand citizenship and stepping into your rights as a voter in the **2026 general election**. Because you are a citizen, you have full voting rights, regardless of where you were born.
Immigration, family reunification, and settlement support are major talking points among political parties. Parties approach these issues from very different economic and philosophical viewpoints.
---
### Overview of Party Positions on Settlement and Family Rules
| Party | Political Stance | Approach to Permanent Residence & Settlement | Approach to Family Reunification & Support |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| **National**
*(Incumbent / Centre-Right)* | Controlled, economic-focused growth settings. | Maintains current settings (e.g., Skilled Migrant Category). Notably rejected proposals to abolish permanent resident status. | Implemented a hybrid selection model for the **Parent Resident Visa** category to manage selection queues. |
| **ACT**
*(Centre-Right / Libertarian)* | Market-driven, tighter eligibility and welfare controls. | Proposes **abolishing indefinite Permanent Resident Visas**—replacing them with visas that require ongoing 5-year travel and status renewals. | Proposes a **5-year welfare stand-down** for all new resident visa holders, preventing access to income-tested benefits or supplementary assistance. |
| **New Zealand First**
*(Nationalist / Centre-Right)* | Strict nationalist limits, extensive tightening. | Proposes **doubling the qualifying period** for permanent residence and citizenship from 5 years to 10 years. | Proposes making all visa holders ineligible for benefits for 10 years and restricting various family and student work rights. |
| **Labour**
*(Centre-Left)* | Infrastructure-aligned planning and moderate integration paths. | Proposes extending the timeframe to graduate from a resident visa to permanent residence from 2 years to 4 years to ensure roots are planted. | Promises a **review of financial criteria for parent visas** to make family reunification more achievable, alongside broader humanitarian focuses. |
| **Greens**
*(Left)* | Rights-based, humanitarian, and inclusive social support. | Focuses on smoothing pathways to residence for long-term residents and removing rigid health requirement barriers. | Advocates for **fully resourcing Immigration New Zealand to clear family reunification categories (Tiers 1 and 2)** quickly and humanely. |
---
### Detailed Breakdown by Key Areas
#### 1. Bringing Family Members to New Zealand (Family Reunification)
* **The Left (Labour & Greens):** Generally favor expanding or easing family-based pathways. Labour has signaled a review of the financial thresholds required to sponsor parents, while the Greens explicitly push to clear backlogs in family reunification categories and remove strict "Acceptable Standard of Health" rules that can block family members.
* **The Right/Coalition Partners (National, ACT, NZ First):** Generally lean toward tighter controls or structured criteria. While National implemented a hybrid selection model for parent categories, parties like ACT and NZ First place a heavier emphasis on economic self-sufficiency, ensuring that sponsoring family members does not place a fiscal load on public infrastructure.
#### 2. Settlement Support and Welfare Access
* **Restrictions (ACT & NZ First):** Propose stricter limitations on what support new migrants or residents can access. ACT has pushed for a 5-year welfare stand-down, and NZ First has proposed extending welfare restrictions up to 10 years for non-citizens, arguing that settlement should rely entirely on private employment initially.
* **Supportive Integration (Labour & Greens):** Tend to emphasize government-backed settlement support, language assistance, and protecting migrant workers from exploitation, framing successful settlement as a collective societal responsibility.
#### 3. Permanent Residency and Status
* A unique debate in this election cycle involves the security of **Permanent Resident Visas (PRVs)**. Currently, once you hold a PRV, you have indefinite right to live and re-enter New Zealand.
* **National** supports keeping the current system, whereas **ACT** has proposed scrapping indefinite permanent residency so that migrants must periodically re-prove their connection to the country. **NZ First** has proposed extending the baseline timeline to qualify for permanent residence to 10 years.
---
### Making Your Decision
As a naturalized citizen who has navigated the migration journey yourself, your vote can reflect which philosophy resonates with you most:
* Do you prefer **tighter, market-driven economic controls and longer qualification periods** (favored by the political right)?
* Or do you prefer **infrastructure-aligned planning, faster family reunification backlogs clearance, and broader social support** (favored by the political left)?
## Google AI Mode
Answer ID: 8452f332-2f0c-4f4c-90d8-50db77159f4a
Congratulations on becoming a New Zealand citizen and taking your first steps to vote in a general election! Navigating a new political system—especially with English as an additional language—is a big milestone.
In New Zealand's MMP (Mixed Member Proportional) voting system, you get **two votes** : one for your local electorate MP, and one for a political party (the Party Vote, which determines the overall share of seats in Parliament).
To help you understand where the parties stand on **migrant settlement and family reunification** , the major political parties approach these issues through distinct frameworks based on their stated platforms and recent policy announcements documented by platforms like Policy.nz and RNZ. Policies for Party vote - NZ Election 2026Political rivals agree more can be done on immigration settings
* * *
Overview of Party Positions on Settlement and Family Rules
1\. National Party (Incumbent/Center-Right)
* * **Approach to Migration & Settlement:** National emphasizes economic-driven immigration settings ("Going for Growth") tied closely to labor market demands, focusing on streamlining the Skilled Migrant Category and occupation lists to fill workforce gaps.
* **Family & Residency Rules:** National generally maintains current baseline settings for family and parent resident visas, supporting the existing operational frameworks managed through Immigration New Zealand, while remaining open to fine-tuning settings for efficiency rather than major structural restrictions. They have also expressed opposition to proposals from smaller coalition partners to abolish permanent resident visas.
*
2\. Labour Party (Center-Left)
* * **Approach to Migration & Settlement:** Labour focuses on balancing workforce needs with infrastructure capacity, emphasizing longer integration tracks and protections for migrant workers against exploitation.
* **Family & Residency Rules:** Labour has campaigned on expanding specific humanitarian and family pathways. According to party statements reported by RNZ, Labour proposes increasing the Refugee Family Support Category (from 600 to 900 places annually), reopening closed sponsor pathways, and creating special humanitarian visas for family members of New Zealanders trapped in conflict or crisis zones. Concurrently, they have proposed reviewing financial settings around parent resident categories and adjusting timelines for permanent residence/citizenship transitions.
*
3\. ACT New Zealand (Libertarian/Right)
* * **Approach to Migration & Settlement:** ACT supports a market-led approach to skilled migration tied to annual reviews of occupational shortages, but advocates for tighter fiscal integration rules—such as a 5-year welfare stand-down period for new arrivals.
* **Family & Residency Rules:** ACT has proposed more restrictive structural changes to long-term security, including exploring the abolition of permanent resident visas in favor of renewable residency categories, though party figures note support for general principles of family connectivity.
*
4\. New Zealand First (Nationalist/Populist)
* * **Approach to Migration & Settlement:** New Zealand First advocates for a sharply restrictive approach to overall immigration numbers, infrastructure-linked growth caps, and prioritizing public resources for citizens.
* **Family & Residency Rules:** New Zealand First proposes tightening the criteria for citizenship and residency significantly. Their platform includes extending the qualifying period for permanent residence and citizenship to 5 and 10 years respectively, restricting birthright citizenship, placing a 10-year welfare stand-down on visa holders, and holding a non-binding public referendum on capping annual resident visas at 20,000.
*
5\. Green Party & Te Pāti Māori (Left/Indigenous-focused)
* * **Approach to Migration & Settlement:** The Greens oppose restrictive or anti-migrant rhetoric and advocate for welcoming, rights-based immigration policies with robust settlement support.
* **Family & Residency Rules:** Both parties historically press for broader, more compassionate family reunification and humanitarian pathways, arguing that current immigration caps and financial thresholds are too prohibitive for migrant communities.
*
* * *
How to Explore Further and Vote
* * **Check Your Enrolment:** Ensure your details are active on the electoral roll via the [Vote NZ Official Site](https://vote.nz/).
* **Compare All Policies:** You can read line-by-line comparisons of every party's stance on immigration, social support, and housing on [Policy.nz](https://policy.nz/).
* **Language Assistance:** The Electoral Commission provides voting guidelines and information in multiple languages to assist new New Zealanders exercising their democratic rights.
## AI Overviews
Answer ID: b90c3459-151a-4a66-a110-e93d30762c27
For the upcoming **2026 New Zealand general election** on **November 7, 2026** , major political parties hold contrasting views on migrant integration. According to policy summaries published by RNZ and Living in NZ, **National** and **Labour** focus on targeted adjustments to parent visas and employer rules, **the Greens** advocate for removing financial barriers and expanding human rights pathways, while **ACT** and **NZ First** pitch tighter controls, increased residency timeframes, and stricter welfare limitations.
Direct Policy Comparison
Political Party| Family Reunification & Parent Visas| Settlement, Work, & Welfare Support
---|---|---
**National Party**| • Introduced a hybrid model for the **Parent Resident Visa** (90% chronological queue, 10% ballot) under an annual cap of **2,500 places**.
• Open to fine-tuning humanitarian pathways but generally maintains current settings.| • Focuses on a managed, sustainable immigration system to fill economic vacancies.
• Retains the permanent resident visa category to attract skilled workers.
**Labour Party**| • Promises to review financial criteria for parent visas to reduce costs.
• Offers a cheaper **Pacific visa-waiver (NZeTA)** for 3-month family visits.
• Expands the Refugee Family Support Category from **600 to 900 spots** and creates special conflict-zone humanitarian visas.| • Increases the permanent residency requirement from **2 to 4 years** , backed by community-led civic education and orientation programs.
• Allows migrants to change accredited employers after **3 months** to prevent workplace exploitation.
**Green Party**| • Pledges to remove all income barriers for sponsoring parent visas.
• Advocates for broad family reunification pathways and regularizing visas for long-term overstayers.
• Restores automatic birthright citizenship.| • Supports complete decoupling of work visas from single employers.
• Focuses heavily on migrant dignity, settlement rights, and removing health discrimination filters.
**ACT Party**| • Expresses support for family unity principles but opposes special humanitarian visa extensions.| • Seeks to abolish the Permanent Resident Visa category entirely, converting it into a resident visa requiring a **5-year travel facility**.
• Proposes a strict **5-year welfare bar** for new migrants.
**New Zealand First**| • Demands a binding public referendum to cap total resident visas at **20,000 per year**.
• Limits birthright citizenship strictly to children of existing NZ citizens.| • Doubles the wait time for citizenship from **5 to 10 years** and extends permanent residency requirements.
• Imposes a **10-year welfare stand-down** on non-citizens for jobseeker and housing support.
Understanding the Voting System
As a new citizen, you will participate in New Zealand’s **Mixed Member Proportional (MMP)** voting system. When you cast your vote, you will receive one ballot paper to make two distinct choices:
* **The Party Vote:** This is the most important vote. It determines the total percentage of seats each political party gets in the Parliament.
* **The Electorate Vote:** This chooses the individual Member of Parliament (MP) who will represent your specific local area.
To vote, you must be enrolled by **midnight on October 25, 2026**. You can check your registration status, find local polling places, or download voting materials directly from the official Vote NZ Website.