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For the 2026 New Zealand general election: What do parties propose about freshwater, pollution, biodiversity and resource management?
New Zealand 2026 general election: Environment and resource management policies
For the 2026 New Zealand general election, the key questions are how political parties propose to protect rivers and lakes, reduce pollution, restore native biodiversity, and manage land, water and other natural resources.
These issues are closely connected. For example, rules governing farming affect freshwater quality, freshwater rules influence regional economic development, and resource-management laws determine how housing, infrastructure, mining and conservation compete for land and natural resources.
The most useful way to compare the parties is to look at both their environmental goals and the rules they would use to achieve them. A party might favour stricter pollution limits, for instance, while another might prioritise giving farmers and businesses greater flexibility to meet environmental standards.
I'll distinguish between established policy directions and specific commitments announced for the 2026 election, since previous policies should not automatically be treated as current election promises.
1. At a glance: where the parties differ
The following comparison covers the seven main parties featured in the 2026 election environmental-policy assessments. It summarises their published policy directions and the more specific commitments reported during the campaign. stories.theconversation.com, greenpeace.org
| Party | Freshwater and pollution | Biodiversity and conservation | Resource management |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand | Stronger water-quality protections, including lower nitrate limits for drinking water. | Greater conservation funding, wetland protection, native ecosystem restoration and restrictions on damaging fishing practices. | Stronger environmental safeguards and sustainability requirements for farming and forestry. |
| Te Pāti Māori | Emphasises Māori rights and authority over freshwater. | Emphasises Māori stewardship, guardianship and involvement in conservation. | Supports greater Māori authority over natural resources and decision-making. |
| The Opportunity Party (TOP) | Supports cleaning up waterways and restoring wetlands. | Proposes incentives for native planting, ecosystem restoration and greater marine protection. | Supports changes to fisheries management and environmental policy. |
| New Zealand Labour Party | Has an established emphasis on improving freshwater quality, although its specific new 2026 commitments need to be distinguished from its earlier policies. | Has previously supported conservation investment and biodiversity protection. | Its approach to environmental regulation and resource-management reform differs from that of the current governing parties. |
| New Zealand National Party | Favours revising freshwater rules and enabling water storage and irrigation. | Supports targeted conservation investment alongside economic development. | Emphasises simpler planning rules, faster consenting and greater scope for productive land use. |
| ACT New Zealand | Wants to reduce certain regulatory requirements affecting farmers, including requirements relating to Te Mana o te Wai in resource consenting. | Emphasises practical management, hunting access and reducing restrictions on land use. | Strongly favours streamlined regulation, property rights and faster approvals. |
| New Zealand First | Emphasises practical resource management and avoiding rules it considers excessive or damaging to rural communities. | Balances conservation with farming, hunting, fishing and economic interests. | Supports economic development and resource use, including mining and energy development. |
Important qualification: This is a summary of policy direction, not a claim that every party has released a detailed new election promise in every category. For the most up-to-date commitments, consult the 2026 election policy tracker from The Conversation and Greenpeace Aotearoa's 2026 environmental scorecards. stories.theconversation.com, greenpeace.org
2. Freshwater: rivers, lakes, groundwater and drinking water
Freshwater policy is one of the clearest dividing lines in this election. The central question is how far the government should go in restricting activities that contaminate waterways, particularly agricultural runoff, nitrogen leaching and other sources of pollution.
Green Party
The Greens put freshwater health and public access to safe water near the centre of their environmental platform.
Their 2026 manifesto includes:
- Stronger protections for clean drinking water.
- Lower nitrate limits for drinking water.
- Greater protection for wetlands and freshwater ecosystems.
- Stronger sustainability standards across food and fibre production.
The underlying principle is that environmental limits should constrain economic activities that damage waterways, rather than relying primarily on voluntary improvements.
Read the Green Party's 2026 manifesto. greens.org.nz, stories.theconversation.com
Te Pāti Māori
Te Pāti Māori places particular emphasis on tino rangatiratanga over freshwater—Māori authority and self-determination in relation to water.
This approach is not limited to setting pollution limits. It also concerns who has authority to make decisions about freshwater, how Māori rights and interests are recognised, and how water is managed for communities and future generations.
The party's approach to freshwater should therefore be understood as both an environmental and a governance issue. stories.theconversation.com, policy.nz
Labour
Labour's environmental approach has included improving freshwater quality and strengthening environmental management. However, it is important to distinguish those established positions from specific new commitments for 2026.
For voters comparing Labour with the Greens, the key questions are whether Labour would restore or strengthen freshwater protections changed under the current government, and what enforceable standards, funding and implementation timelines it would commit to.
I would not treat every earlier Labour policy as a confirmed 2026 election pledge without checking the current manifesto. stories.theconversation.com, policy.nz
National
National's approach puts more emphasis on making freshwater rules workable for farmers and other water users, alongside environmental objectives.
The government's established policy direction has included:
- Reviewing and replacing the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020.
- Enabling more on-farm water storage and vegetable growing.
- Reviewing regulatory requirements affecting the primary sector.
Its 2026 campaign proposals also include low-cost loans for farm water storage and easier consenting rules for irrigation.
The central distinction is that National seeks to balance environmental protection with agricultural productivity and water availability, rather than making stricter environmental restrictions the overriding priority. beehive.govt.nz, stories.theconversation.com
ACT
ACT favours reducing regulatory burdens on farmers and changing how environmental principles operate in resource-consent decisions.
A specific proposal identified in the 2026 policy tracker is removing Te Mana o te Wai requirements from resource consenting as part of wider changes to environmental rules affecting farmers.
This matters because Te Mana o te Wai establishes the health and wellbeing of water as a fundamental priority in freshwater management. Changes to its role in consenting could affect how competing demands for water are considered. stories.theconversation.com
New Zealand First and TOP
New Zealand First generally emphasises practical resource management, rural economic interests and avoiding rules it regards as excessive.
TOP's environmental approach includes cleaning up waterways, restoring wetlands and supporting more sustainable management of natural resources.
For both parties, voters should examine the details of their proposed standards and enforcement mechanisms, rather than relying solely on general statements about protecting the environment. stories.theconversation.com, policynavigator.neonz.org
What this means for freshwater
The main choice is between two broad approaches:
- Stronger environmental limits: Put greater weight on water quality, ecosystem health and restrictions on pollution.
- More flexibility for water users: Revise rules to accommodate farming, irrigation, water storage and economic development while retaining environmental safeguards.
The practical consequences will depend on the specific nitrate limits, agricultural standards, compliance requirements and regional implementation rules adopted by the next government.
3. Pollution: agricultural runoff, nitrogen, waste and contaminated land
Pollution policy overlaps with freshwater policy, but it also covers waste disposal, industrial contamination, plastics and the environmental impacts of land use.
Green Party: stronger prevention and restoration
The Greens' 2026 manifesto promotes a more interventionist approach to environmental protection.
Key proposals reported in the election policy tracker include:
- Lowering the nitrate limit for drinking water.
- Legally protecting all remaining natural wetlands, including estuaries and coastal wetlands.
- Establishing sustainability standards for food and fibre production.
- Increasing resources for controlling invasive species and restoring ecosystems.
The emphasis is on preventing environmental damage, not simply dealing with its consequences after contamination has occurred. greens.org.nz, stories.theconversation.com
National: targeted clean-up and productive land use
National has announced a $30 million allocation from the Waste Disposal Levy to scale up the clean-up of contaminated Crown land.
It has also promoted easier consenting for irrigation and additional support for farm water storage.
These policies combine targeted remediation of existing environmental problems with efforts to make land and water resources more productive. They do not represent the same approach as imposing uniformly stricter pollution controls across all sectors. stories.theconversation.com
ACT: reducing regulatory burdens
ACT's approach favours simplifying environmental rules and reducing restrictions that it considers unnecessarily costly or ineffective.
In practice, the important questions are which pollution standards it would retain, which it would amend, and how environmental compliance would be enforced after regulatory changes.
Reducing compliance costs does not automatically mean abandoning environmental protection, but changes to the standards themselves can have significant consequences for pollution levels. policynavigator.neonz.org, stories.theconversation.com
Labour, TOP, Te Pāti Māori and New Zealand First
These parties differ in their broader environmental priorities, but voters should distinguish between general commitments and detailed pollution policies.
- Labour: Examine its commitments on freshwater restoration, waste reduction, industrial pollution and enforcement.
- TOP: Its broader environmental programme includes waterway clean-up and wetland restoration.
- Te Pāti Māori: Consider its approach to Māori authority over natural resources and the responsibilities of those using them.
- New Zealand First: Examine the balance it proposes between environmental protection and the economic interests of rural and resource-dependent communities.
The available campaign tracker provides a useful starting point, but it does not establish that each party has a specific new commitment for every type of pollution. stories.theconversation.com, policynavigator.neonz.org
Questions worth asking when comparing pollution policies:
- Would the party strengthen, retain or weaken existing pollution limits?
- Would it require farmers and businesses to meet enforceable environmental standards?
- Would it increase funding for monitoring and enforcement?
- Would it make polluters pay for remediation, or rely more heavily on public funding?
- Would it protect wetlands and waterways from development that increases pollution?
These details often matter more than broad promises to improve water quality.
4. Biodiversity: native species, wetlands, forests and conservation land
Biodiversity policy concerns the protection of native plants and animals, the restoration of ecosystems and the management of public conservation land.
The key disagreement is how much priority should be given to protecting nature when conservation objectives conflict with farming, mining, forestry, hunting or other economic activities.
Green Party: extensive protection and restoration
The Greens have one of the most detailed nature-protection programmes among the major parties.
Their 2026 environmental proposals include:
- A biodiversity fund: Establishing a sovereign biodiversity fund to resource restoration efforts.
- Wetland protection: Legally protecting all remaining natural wetlands, including estuaries and coastal wetlands.
- Ecosystem restoration: Establishing a job-guarantee programme focused on regenerating ecosystems.
- Invasive species: Increasing resources for the eradication and control of invasive species and weeds.
- Sustainable agriculture: Establishing sustainability standards across food and fibre production.
- Marine protection: Creating a system of no-take marine protected areas and ending bottom trawling.
The Greens' approach combines restrictions on damaging activities with direct public investment in restoration and conservation. greens.org.nz, stories.theconversation.com
Te Pāti Māori: Māori stewardship and authority
Te Pāti Māori's environmental approach places strong emphasis on Māori relationships with the natural world and Māori authority over resources.
Its broader approach includes concepts of guardianship, co-governance and recognition of rivers as living entities.
For biodiversity, the central question is not simply how much land is protected, but also who governs it, whose knowledge informs management and how Māori rights and responsibilities are recognised.
The party's freshwater proposals are a particularly clear example of this wider approach to environmental governance. policynavigator.neonz.org, policy.nz
Labour: conservation and restoration
Labour has historically supported public conservation programmes and environmental restoration.
When comparing Labour's 2026 position with that of the Greens, the main considerations are the scale of proposed conservation funding, the strength of legal protections for native ecosystems and the extent to which economic development would be restricted in environmentally sensitive areas.
The precise scope of Labour's new election commitments should be checked against its current published policies rather than assumed from its previous periods in government. stories.theconversation.com, policy.nz
National: conservation investment alongside economic activity
National's approach combines targeted conservation funding with greater scope for productive use of natural resources.
One specific 2026 proposal is to direct $100 million annually from the International Visitor Levy to the Department of Conservation to invest in the conservation estate.
The government has also pursued changes to rules affecting indigenous biodiversity and land use, with the stated aim of protecting distinctive environments without imposing undue restrictions on activities such as quarrying and mining.
This approach is not equivalent to opposing conservation. Rather, it places greater emphasis on targeted protection and funding while seeking to reduce regulatory barriers to economic activity. stories.theconversation.com, beehive.govt.nz
ACT: practical conservation and access
ACT emphasises practical management, property rights and reducing restrictions on land use.
Its policies include proposals relating to hunting access and the allocation of responsibilities for regulating hunting activities.
This approach places greater weight on how conservation land is managed and used, rather than on expanding legal restrictions as the principal means of protecting nature. stories.theconversation.com, policynavigator.neonz.org
TOP: restoration and incentives
TOP's environmental programme includes paying farmers to plant native trees and restore wetlands rather than relying on damaging forestry practices.
It also supports stronger marine protection and changes to fisheries management.
The broad approach is to use policy incentives and practical restoration measures to improve environmental outcomes. policynavigator.neonz.org, stories.theconversation.com
New Zealand First: balancing conservation and resource use
New Zealand First's approach gives significant weight to economic activity, rural interests, hunting and the use of natural resources.
When evaluating its biodiversity policy, the important questions are how it would balance those interests against habitat protection, threatened-species recovery and restrictions on damaging land uses.
At a glance: biodiversity
| If your priority is… | Policies to investigate most closely |
|---|---|
| Protecting wetlands and restoring native ecosystems | The Green Party's proposed wetland protections, biodiversity fund and restoration programme |
| Increasing conservation funding | National's proposed $100 million annual allocation to DOC and the Greens' proposed biodiversity funding |
| Māori authority and stewardship of natural resources | Te Pāti Māori's approach to freshwater and environmental governance |
| Incentives for farmers to restore nature | TOP's proposals for native planting and wetland restoration |
| Hunting access and reducing land-use restrictions | ACT's and National's approaches to conservation-land management |
These are comparisons of policy direction, not independent assessments of which party would achieve the best environmental outcomes.
5. Resource management: the rules governing land, water, mining and development
This is arguably the most consequential issue because resource-management legislation determines how environmental protections are implemented across New Zealand.
It affects decisions about:
- Housing and infrastructure development.
- Farming, irrigation and forestry.
- Mining and quarrying.
- Water allocation and pollution.
- Wetlands, native habitats and conservation land.
- Public participation in decisions affecting the environment.
A major development: replacement of the Resource Management Act
On 22 September 2026, the government announced that Parliament had passed legislation to replace the Resource Management Act (RMA) with a new planning system.
The government says the new framework will make consenting simpler and faster while establishing environmental limits to protect ecosystems and human health. It provides for national and regional planning covering freshwater, coastal water, air, land, soil and indigenous biodiversity. beehive.govt.nz
This means the election debate is no longer just about whether to reform the RMA. It is also about how the new system should operate, how strongly environmental limits should be enforced and how much influence communities should have over individual development decisions.
National: faster consenting and economic development
National's approach prioritises making it easier to build infrastructure, develop businesses and use natural resources productively.
Its stated objectives include:
- Simplifying planning and consenting processes.
- Reducing unnecessary regulatory costs.
- Enabling farming, forestry and infrastructure development.
- Establishing clearer environmental limits and compliance mechanisms.
National argues that the previous system was costly and complex without reliably delivering either development or environmental protection.
Its challenge is to demonstrate that faster approvals and fewer consent requirements can coexist with effective protection of freshwater, biodiversity and human health. beehive.govt.nz, beehive.govt.nz
ACT: fewer restrictions and greater property rights
ACT generally favours reducing regulatory barriers to development and giving greater weight to property rights and economic activity.
Its approach is likely to appeal most to voters concerned about the cost and complexity of environmental regulation.
The trade-off to examine is whether proposed changes preserve sufficient safeguards for waterways, habitats and communities when development creates environmental costs.
Labour: environmental protection within a reformed system
Labour's position needs to be assessed against the replacement planning legislation and its own published proposals for the environment.
The important questions are whether Labour would amend or retain the new framework, how it would strengthen environmental protection and what role it would give local communities in decisions about development.
Its established environmental policies should not be confused with a confirmed commitment to reverse every recent reform.
Green Party: stronger environmental safeguards
The Greens favour stronger environmental protections and have opposed changes they consider to weaken safeguards for nature.
Their 2026 programme emphasises ecosystem restoration, stronger sustainability requirements and legal protection for vulnerable environments.
For resource management, the key difference is the weight given to environmental protection relative to commercial development, and the extent to which environmental limits should constrain what landowners and businesses can do. greens.org.nz, greenpeace.org
Te Pāti Māori: Māori rights and decision-making
Te Pāti Māori places particular emphasis on Māori authority over natural resources and the recognition of Māori rights and responsibilities.
This makes its approach distinct from one focused primarily on simplifying consenting or adjusting regulatory costs.
The important questions include how decisions over freshwater and conservation land should be governed, and how Māori authority and participation should be incorporated into the new planning framework.
New Zealand First: resource development and regional economic benefits
New Zealand First places considerable emphasis on economic development, regional interests and the productive use of natural resources.
Its 2026 proposals include retaining 50% of mining royalties in the region where mining takes place. The party has also proposed a special economic zone at Marsden Point to support energy and maritime activities with relief from planning regulations.
These proposals illustrate its emphasis on regional economic benefits and reducing barriers to resource development. stories.theconversation.com
TOP: environmental outcomes through policy reform
TOP's environmental programme includes measures to clean up waterways, restore wetlands, improve fisheries management and support native planting.
Its approach is worth examining for voters who want environmental improvement alongside economic incentives for landowners and businesses.
The critical question is how its proposed incentives and regulatory changes would work in practice, including whether they would deliver measurable environmental improvements. policynavigator.neonz.org
6. What independent environmental assessments say
One useful comparison comes from Greenpeace Aotearoa, which published environmental-policy scorecards for the 2026 election.
Greenpeace assessed the seven main parties across five areas:
- Climate.
- Conservation.
- Freshwater.
- Oceans.
- Environmental law and democracy.
It reports that the Green Party and Te Pāti Māori received overall A grades, TOP received a B, and Labour received a C. National, ACT and New Zealand First received F grades across the assessed policy areas. greenpeace.org
How should you interpret those results?
The scorecards provide a useful indication of how closely parties' policies align with Greenpeace's environmental priorities. They are not a neutral or universal measure of overall party performance.
Greenpeace is an environmental advocacy organisation, and its assessment places particular weight on strengthening environmental protections. A voter who prioritises reducing regulatory costs, expanding mining or increasing agricultural production may evaluate the same proposals differently.
For a more balanced assessment, compare the scorecards with the parties' own manifestos and the details of their legislative proposals.
You can review the assessments on the Greenpeace Aotearoa election scorecard website and compare policies across parties using Policy.nz's 2026 election policy guide.
7. Which parties should you examine most closely for each environmental priority?
The answer depends on what you want the next government to achieve.
| Your main priority | Parties to examine particularly closely | What to compare |
|---|---|---|
| Cleaner rivers, lakes and groundwater | Greens, Labour, Te Pāti Māori, TOP | Water-quality standards, agricultural pollution controls and enforcement |
| Safer drinking water | Greens, Labour, National | Nitrate limits, contamination prevention and monitoring |
| Protecting native species and wetlands | Greens, Te Pāti Māori, Labour | Legal protections, restoration funding and habitat loss |
| Increasing conservation funding | Greens, National, Labour | Funding commitments, DOC resources and restoration programmes |
| Reducing restrictions on farming | National, ACT, New Zealand First | Freshwater rules, irrigation consenting and agricultural standards |
| Making mining and infrastructure development easier | National, ACT, New Zealand First | Consenting requirements, environmental limits and access to natural resources |
| Greater Māori authority over freshwater | Te Pāti Māori | Governance arrangements, Māori rights and decision-making powers |
| Using incentives to restore nature | TOP, Greens | Native planting, wetland restoration and funding mechanisms |
| Balancing economic development with environmental protection | Labour, National, TOP | How environmental safeguards interact with growth, development and regulatory costs |
These are starting points for comparing policies, not endorsements or definitive rankings.
8. My overall assessment
There are three broad approaches to the environmental questions in this election.
Approach A: Stronger environmental protection
The Green Party places the greatest emphasis on stronger environmental safeguards, wetland protection, restoration funding and stricter controls on activities that damage nature. Te Pāti Māori also places strong emphasis on environmental protection, with a distinctive focus on Māori authority and stewardship.
TOP offers another environmental policy programme, including incentives for native planting, wetland restoration and changes to fisheries management.
Approach B: Environmental protection alongside economic development
Labour's position should be assessed through its current election commitments on freshwater, conservation and environmental regulation.
National argues for a balance between environmental outcomes and economic development, with simpler consenting, more flexibility for land users and targeted conservation investment.
Approach C: Reducing regulatory restrictions
ACT puts particular emphasis on reducing regulatory burdens, simplifying environmental rules and giving greater weight to property rights.
New Zealand First emphasises economic development, regional benefits and productive use of natural resources, alongside its approach to environmental management.
These are broad distinctions. The practical outcomes will depend on each party's detailed policies, the legislation it supports and the compromises reached if parties form a coalition government.
Where I would focus before voting
For a meaningful comparison, I would prioritise five questions:
- Freshwater: Will the party strengthen or weaken enforceable water-quality standards, particularly for nitrate contamination and agricultural runoff?
- Biodiversity: Will it protect remaining wetlands and native habitats, and provide sufficient funding to restore damaged ecosystems?
- Pollution: Will it require polluters to meet measurable standards and fund remediation where appropriate?
- Resource management: How will it balance faster consenting and economic development against environmental limits?
- Accountability: Will it fund monitoring and enforcement, and give communities a meaningful role in decisions affecting their local environment?
The most important distinction is between a party promising to protect the environment and one specifying what standards it will enforce, what activities it will restrict, how much it will invest and how it will measure results.
For the most current policy details, start with these two resources:
- Policy.nz — 2026 election policy comparison: Compare parties' positions across environmental topics.
- Greenpeace Aotearoa — 2026 environmental scorecards: Examine an independent advocacy organisation's assessment of party policies on freshwater, conservation and environmental law.
Together, they provide a practical starting point for deciding which parties' proposals best match your environmental priorities.
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