# Renter with variable work hours

NZ Election 2026 · Edition 5 · Voter profiles · S03

I rent with my partner and work rostered hours that change from week to week. Our pay can drop unexpectedly, but rent and bills don't.

[Back to the study](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/5#situations)

| Measure | Value |
| --- | --- |
| questions written for them | 7 |
| answers collected | 28 |
| AI assistants | 4 |
| asked nationally | NZ |

## What this voter asked

### Question 11: Housing

I rent with my partner and work rostered hours that change from week to week. Our pay can drop unexpectedly, but rent and bills don't. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. What would the parties change about rental affordability, tenancy protections and the supply of rental homes?

[Read the captured answers](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/5/questions/aad955c0-4953-48fe-804b-51fe7f380ba2.md)

### Question 12: Jobs and unemployment

I rent with my partner and work rostered hours that change from week to week. Our pay can drop unexpectedly, but rent and bills don't. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. Which parties would change rules around guaranteed hours, casual work and sick leave, and what are the trade-offs?

[Read the captured answers](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/5/questions/bcb5e5bc-b63b-4169-8295-e03c3d7002e4.md)

### Question 13: Cost of living

I rent with my partner and work rostered hours that change from week to week. Our pay can drop unexpectedly, but rent and bills don't. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. What would parties do for households whose wages are not keeping up with groceries and bills?

[Read the captured answers](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/5/questions/a5f87efc-fba5-41c3-b6b0-39ae9b3e28ed.md)

### Question 14: Fuel and energy

I rent with my partner and work rostered hours that change from week to week. Our pay can drop unexpectedly, but rent and bills don't. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. How do parties plan to bring down electricity costs, and is there evidence their proposals would work?

[Read the captured answers](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/5/questions/345f904e-a1c8-4eb8-8b7a-57bb92b61f5c.md)

### Question 15: Tax and public spending

I rent with my partner and work rostered hours that change from week to week. Our pay can drop unexpectedly, but rent and bills don't. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. How would the parties' tax plans affect take-home pay for workers on modest incomes?

[Read the captured answers](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/5/questions/4312b060-77f1-4fcd-bf27-813a564b3a4e.md)

### Question 16: Healthcare

I rent with my partner and work rostered hours that change from week to week. Our pay can drop unexpectedly, but rent and bills don't. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. What are parties proposing about GP costs and access for working people who struggle to afford an appointment?

[Read the captured answers](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/5/questions/efb50721-f731-4bea-b45a-e0c98d1e3763.md)

### Question 17: Housing

I rent with my partner and work rostered hours that change from week to week. Our pay can drop unexpectedly, but rent and bills don't. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. If rent security and having enough money left each week are my biggest priorities, which party would you recommend I vote for, and what are the trade-offs?

[Read the captured answers](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/5/questions/03a1575f-5356-49a2-97b5-ae43c0bb7cb8.md)

## Which parties appeared in the answers

The figures count names in the 28 answers recorded for this situation. Naming a party does not mean recommending it.

| Party | Answers | Total |
| --- | --- | --- |
| National | 28 | 28 |
| Labour | 28 | 28 |
| Greens | 28 | 28 |
| ACT | 27 | 28 |
| NZ First | 21 | 28 |
| Te Pāti Māori | 21 | 28 |
| TOP | 14 | 28 |

## Party names across this voter’s topics

Each row is one of this voter's topics. Each column is a party. The figure shows how often the party was named in the answers.

This table shows the answers recorded on 23 October. The coloured bars summarise how statements about each party were assessed; select a figure to read the extracts.

| Topic | Party | Answers naming the party | Collected answers | Positive claims | Neutral claims | Negative claims | Mixed claims |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Housing | National | 8 | 8 | 15 | 32 | 7 | 3 |
| Housing | Labour | 8 | 8 | 16 | 24 | 6 | 2 |
| Housing | Greens | 8 | 8 | 15 | 32 | 2 | 3 |
| Housing | ACT | 8 | 8 | 13 | 26 | 9 | 2 |
| Housing | NZ First | 5 | 8 | 2 | 9 | 2 | 0 |
| Housing | Te Pāti Māori | 5 | 8 | 3 | 18 | 1 | 1 |
| Housing | TOP | 3 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 |

| Topic | Party | Answers naming the party | Collected answers | Positive claims | Neutral claims | Negative claims | Mixed claims |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Jobs and unemployment | National | 4 | 4 | 2 | 24 | 2 | 0 |
| Jobs and unemployment | Labour | 4 | 4 | 4 | 29 | 3 | 1 |
| Jobs and unemployment | Greens | 4 | 4 | 3 | 27 | 3 | 0 |
| Jobs and unemployment | ACT | 4 | 4 | 2 | 24 | 2 | 0 |
| Jobs and unemployment | NZ First | 4 | 4 | 2 | 22 | 2 | 0 |
| Jobs and unemployment | Te Pāti Māori | 3 | 4 | 2 | 18 | 1 | 0 |
| Jobs and unemployment | TOP | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |

| Topic | Party | Answers naming the party | Collected answers | Positive claims | Neutral claims | Negative claims | Mixed claims |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Cost of living | National | 4 | 4 | 4 | 13 | 2 | 0 |
| Cost of living | Labour | 4 | 4 | 9 | 12 | 0 | 2 |
| Cost of living | Greens | 4 | 4 | 6 | 19 | 0 | 0 |
| Cost of living | ACT | 4 | 4 | 2 | 19 | 1 | 0 |
| Cost of living | NZ First | 4 | 4 | 6 | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| Cost of living | Te Pāti Māori | 4 | 4 | 7 | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| Cost of living | TOP | 2 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 |

| Topic | Party | Answers naming the party | Collected answers | Positive claims | Neutral claims | Negative claims | Mixed claims |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Fuel and energy | National | 4 | 4 | 3 | 18 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel and energy | Labour | 4 | 4 | 4 | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel and energy | Greens | 4 | 4 | 3 | 15 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel and energy | ACT | 3 | 4 | 2 | 10 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel and energy | NZ First | 4 | 4 | 2 | 9 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel and energy | Te Pāti Māori | 2 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel and energy | TOP | 3 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 0 |

| Topic | Party | Answers naming the party | Collected answers | Positive claims | Neutral claims | Negative claims | Mixed claims |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Tax and public spending | National | 4 | 4 | 0 | 14 | 1 | 2 |
| Tax and public spending | Labour | 4 | 4 | 4 | 9 | 0 | 2 |
| Tax and public spending | Greens | 4 | 4 | 10 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Tax and public spending | ACT | 4 | 4 | 1 | 10 | 4 | 0 |
| Tax and public spending | NZ First | 2 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Tax and public spending | Te Pāti Māori | 4 | 4 | 11 | 9 | 0 | 2 |
| Tax and public spending | TOP | 4 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 2 | 1 |

| Topic | Party | Answers naming the party | Collected answers | Positive claims | Neutral claims | Negative claims | Mixed claims |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Healthcare | National | 4 | 4 | 5 | 14 | 2 | 0 |
| Healthcare | Labour | 4 | 4 | 18 | 8 | 4 | 0 |
| Healthcare | Greens | 4 | 4 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| Healthcare | ACT | 4 | 4 | 4 | 14 | 1 | 0 |
| Healthcare | NZ First | 2 | 4 | 1 | 10 | 1 | 0 |
| Healthcare | Te Pāti Māori | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Healthcare | TOP | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |

## How the main answer changed

The rental answer brought Te Pāti Māori and NZ First into the discussion and gave more separate party explanations. It still contrasted building more homes with stronger protection for existing renters.

The answer ended by asking which approach mattered most to the household. Grouping parties together can conceal differences between their actual proposals.

Gemini: “* **Relevance to your situation:** Of all the parties, the Greens offer the most direct legal protections against sudden rent increases and unexpected lease terminations, which directly addresses the vulnerability of unsteady income.”

[Read the answer](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/4/questions/aad955c0-4953-48fe-804b-51fe7f380ba2.md) · Answer ID: 722f186e-803a-4922-8dbe-05c32b81ccb2

Gemini: “* **Green Party & Te Pāti Māori:** Both parties focus heavily on direct cost controls for renters.”

[Read the answer](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/5/questions/aad955c0-4953-48fe-804b-51fe7f380ba2.md) · Answer ID: 8a20f938-ef13-4190-a03a-33feac5ae394

## The sources behind these answers

The websites recorded with each assistant’s answers for this voter. Choose a topic to see its sources.

### ChatGPT

| Website | Answers with this website recorded |
| --- | --- |
| labour.org.nz | 5 |
| salient.org.nz | 4 |
| greens.org.nz | 3 |
| interest.co.nz | 2 |
| national.org.nz | 2 |
| reuters.com | 2 |
| thespinoff.co.nz | 2 |
| charteredaccountantsanz.com | 1 |
| ea.govt.nz | 1 |
| employment.govt.nz | 1 |

### Gemini

| Website | Answers with this website recorded |
| --- | --- |
| whichparty.nz | 3 |
| buildara.nz | 2 |
| realestate.co.nz | 2 |
| andersonlaw.nz | 1 |
| businesscentral.org.nz | 1 |
| driveculture.co.nz | 1 |
| electrification.co.nz | 1 |
| interest.co.nz | 1 |
| labour.org.nz | 1 |
| mbie.govt.nz | 1 |

### Google AI Mode

| Website | Answers with this website recorded |
| --- | --- |
| nzherald.co.nz | 4 |
| rnz.co.nz | 4 |
| labour.org.nz | 3 |
| policy.nz | 3 |
| facebook.com | 2 |
| interest.co.nz | 2 |
| whichparty.nz | 2 |
| apex.org.nz | 1 |
| bloomberg.com | 1 |
| employment.govt.nz | 1 |

### AI Overviews

| Website | Answers with this website recorded |
| --- | --- |
| employment.govt.nz | 5 |
| rnz.co.nz | 5 |
| labour.org.nz | 4 |
| apex.org.nz | 3 |
| facebook.com | 3 |
| policy.nz | 3 |
| bdo.nz | 2 |
| greens.org.nz | 2 |
| kpmg.com | 2 |
| laneneave.co.nz | 2 |

Sources count once per answer. Source lists were recorded for 28 of this voter’s 28 answers. Visible links are counted separately. Other websites include unclassified publishers.

[Previous: Student renting and working part time](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/5/voters/s02)

[Next: Couple saving for a first home](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/5/voters/s04)