New Zealand’s 2026 election: international relationships, defence and regional security

For an eligible New Zealand voter living overseas and considering a return, the international-policy debate matters for more than foreign affairs. It can affect trade and export-sector jobs, the cost of living, defence spending, relations with Australia and the Pacific, and New Zealand’s position between the United States and China.

The central question for the 2026 general election is how parties balance three objectives:

• Economic opportunity: maintaining access to overseas markets, attracting investment and supporting internationally connected jobs.
• Security and sovereignty: protecting New Zealand, strengthening regional stability and deciding how closely to align with security partners.
• Independent decision-making: maintaining New Zealand’s ability to make its own choices while working with allies and international institutions.

One important distinction: a party’s established foreign-policy record is not necessarily its complete 2026 election platform. The comparison below separates broad policy directions and past decisions from commitments that you should verify in the parties’ current manifestos.

1. How the major parties differ

The following comparison uses published party policy and government defence strategy available as of October 2026. It focuses on the major parliamentary parties and their distinct approaches, rather than predicting which policies will be adopted by a future government.

For detailed party-by-party policy pages, see Policy.nz’s 2026 defence and foreign affairs comparison. Policies for Party vote - NZ Election 2026

National

International partnerships, trade and defence capability

National's published approach emphasises an independent foreign policy alongside close relationships with traditional partners, expanding trade opportunities, and a combat-ready Defence Force. It supports democracy, sovereignty and the international rules-based order. Its 2025 defence policy direction prioritises the alliance with Australia and closer security partnerships. Foreign Affairs,Defence strategy

What to examine: defence spending and equipment commitments, the depth of security integration with Australia and other partners, and how trade growth is balanced against strategic risks.

Labour

Multilateral diplomacy, international law and broader partnerships

Labour's published foreign-affairs policy emphasises the United Nations and other multilateral institutions, international law, human rights, and closer relationships with the EU, Canada, ASEAN and Pacific nations. It proposes greater parliamentary scrutiny if New Zealand enters armed conflicts and progressively increasing overseas development assistance towards 0.7% of gross national income, subject to fiscal conditions. Foreign AffairsLabour's 2026 Election Policies

What to examine: how Labour would fund defence capability while pursuing diplomacy, development assistance and stronger international institutions.

ACT

Higher defence investment and stronger deterrence

ACT has advocated defence spending of at least 2% of GDP. In April 2025, it welcomed the government's defence capability plan, including a stated $12 billion commitment over four years and an ambition to exceed 2% of GDP within eight years. ACT linked stronger military capabilities and closer integration with ANZAC partners to credible deterrence. ACT New ZealandDefence strategy

What to examine: the proposed long-term spending path, the capabilities it would buy, and the trade-offs with other public spending.

Green Party

Peace, climate security and international cooperation

The Greens' approach has traditionally placed strong emphasis on peaceful conflict resolution, disarmament, climate action, human rights and international cooperation. Its policy priorities also give significant weight to the Pacific and the environmental and humanitarian dimensions of security.

What to examine: its current 2026 defence and foreign-affairs commitments, including the size and role of the Defence Force, because broad principles alone do not settle the practical questions of deterrence, readiness and alliance obligations.

New Zealand First

National sovereignty and scrutiny of international commitments

New Zealand First places particular emphasis on national sovereignty, domestic decision-making and caution about international agreements that could constrain government choices. Its published positions call for a national-interest test for international agreements and prioritise domestic law and decision-making authority. NZ First: policies and record 2026Foreign affairs and sovereignty: party comparison 2026

What to examine: how its sovereignty principles translate into positions on defence partnerships, international institutions, trade agreements and the Pacific.

Te Pāti Māori

Rangatiratanga, Te Tiriti and Pacific relationships

Te Pāti Māori's political framework centres Māori self-determination, Te Tiriti o Waitangi and equity. Those principles provide a different lens for considering New Zealand's international relationships, particularly its responsibilities and relationships across the Pacific and its approach to Indigenous peoples.

What to examine: its specific 2026 positions on defence spending, military partnerships, international law and development assistance. These details are needed before drawing firm comparisons with other parties.

A note on the evidence: National, Labour and ACT have relatively clear published positions on the defence questions described above. For the Greens, New Zealand First and Te Pāti Māori, the summaries identify broad policy orientations; they should not be treated as substitutes for a verified, current 2026 manifesto on every defence issue.

The Green and Māori party positions also have important differences worth making explicit. The Greens describe their approach as independent and principled, supporting international cooperation, environmental protection, human rights and peaceful conflict resolution. Democracy and International Relations Te Pāti Māori has made a more specific 2026 commitment: declaring New Zealand militarily neutral, reviewing and withdrawing from military alignments it considers to undermine sovereignty, and refocusing the Defence Force on protection, disaster response and Pacific support. Military neutrality

2. The biggest issues to compare

New Zealand's relationship with Australia, the US and China

New Zealand faces a difficult balance: Australia is its closest security partner, the United States is an important security and economic partner, and China is a major trading partner. These relationships are connected, but they are not interchangeable.

• Closer security integration: National and ACT have emphasised defence capability and stronger cooperation with security partners. Defence strategyACT New Zealand
• Diplomatic independence and international law: Labour and the Greens place particular emphasis on multilateral institutions, peaceful conflict resolution and independent diplomatic positions. Foreign AffairsDemocracy and International Relations
• Military neutrality and sovereignty: Te Pāti Māori explicitly proposes military neutrality. New Zealand First's emphasis on national sovereignty raises related questions about the limits of international commitments, although that does not automatically mean the party supports neutrality. Military neutralityOur Policy

The practical question is what each party would do if New Zealand faced pressure to support a US-led security initiative that risked damaging its relationship with China.

Defence spending and regional security

New Zealand's official defence strategy identifies a secure and resilient country, a stable Pacific, stronger partnerships and the international rules-based order as core interests. The 2025 Defence Capability Plan sets a direction towards stronger defence capability and closer security cooperation. Defence strategyDefence strategy

When comparing parties, look beyond whether they support defence or peace in principle:

• What proportion of GDP would they spend on defence, and over what timeframe?
• Would they prioritise combat capability, maritime surveillance, cyber defence, humanitarian assistance or disaster response?
• What role should New Zealand play in collective security operations outside the Pacific?
• Would they deepen existing military arrangements, review them or pursue neutrality?
• How would they recruit and retain Defence Force personnel and pay for equipment over its full service life?

These questions distinguish different security philosophies more clearly than broad campaign slogans.

The Pacific: security, climate and economic ties

The Pacific is not just a foreign-policy issue. It is central to New Zealand's economic relationships, disaster preparedness, migration links and long-term regional security.

Labour proposes closer Pacific economic integration, easier movement of money and data, and expanded visa-waiver access for Pacific Islands Forum citizens. Foreign Affairs Te Pāti Māori proposes a foreign policy centred on Pacific and Indigenous relationships, with defence focused more strongly on protection and Pacific support. Military neutrality The Greens' international policy also emphasises climate and environmental protection alongside peaceful cooperation. Democracy and International Relations

A useful comparison is whether a party treats regional security primarily as a military issue, or also as a matter of climate resilience, infrastructure, economic development, public health and trusted relationships with Pacific governments.

3. What this could mean for jobs and the cost of returning

Foreign policy rarely determines your household finances on its own, but it can influence the environment in which employers invest, export and recruit.

Area	International-policy connection
Export and trade jobs	Market access, trade diversification, diplomatic relationships and exposure to disruptions in China or other major markets
Defence and technology jobs	Defence procurement, cyber capability, maritime surveillance and long-term military investment
Housing and construction	Indirect effects through economic growth, migration, investment and public spending priorities
Food, energy and transport costs	Exposure to international supply chains, shipping disruptions, fuel prices and geopolitical shocks
Pacific-facing work	Development assistance, regional infrastructure, climate adaptation and diplomatic engagement

These are potential transmission channels, not guaranteed outcomes of any party's policy. For example, greater defence spending can create demand for some skilled work, but the scale of local employment depends on procurement choices, domestic industry participation and whether equipment is imported.

For a return decision, it is worth comparing each party's foreign-policy proposals with its separate policies on wages, tax, housing supply, infrastructure and public services. A party's security stance alone will not tell you whether your household will be better off.

4. Where to verify the policies before voting

These are useful starting points for checking actual commitments rather than relying on summaries or campaign commentary.

Government defence strategy

Read the Ministry of Defence's strategy and the National Security Strategy. These establish the current strategic baseline against which parties' proposals can be compared. Defence strategyNew Zealand's National Security Strategy: Secure Together Tō Tātou Korowai Manaaki | Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC)

Independent policy comparison

Policy.nz — Defence and foreign affairs brings together policy topics across parties, including defence, international relationships, aid and development. Check the underlying party policy for exact wording. Policies for Party vote - NZ Election 2026

Overseas voting eligibility

The Electoral Commission is the authoritative source for checking overseas voter eligibility, enrolment and voting arrangements. Verify the 2026 rules and deadlines directly, particularly if you have been outside New Zealand for an extended period.

5. A practical way to make your comparison

Rather than trying to identify a single party that is best on foreign affairs, decide which policy differences matter most to you. For instance, you might give particular attention to defence capability and Australia's security relationship, or to military neutrality, international law and Pacific development. You can then check each party's actual commitments against those priorities and against its economic and housing policies.

One final consideration: if you have been living overseas, check your voting eligibility early. The rules depend on citizenship or qualifying status and, for many overseas voters, when you last lived in New Zealand or visited. The Electoral Commission can confirm how the rules apply to your circumstances.