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Evidence · NZ Election 2026 · Edition 6

Every question and original answer

All 174 questions and the 783 complete answers recorded on 26 October 2026. Source lists and sentiment assessments are included, alongside the unchanged original answers.

questions
174
answers saved
783
collected
26 October 2026

01

Every question, with its answers

Each question was written as a voter would ask it and went to all four assistants. Some were also asked from a town. Open a question to read every answer to it in full.

Showing 20 of 174 questions

Show all 174

02

The tables behind the study

Every figure on the study page comes from these tables. They are CSV files, which open in any spreadsheet.

  • Questions

    questions.csv

    One row per question, with its original wording.

    id, text, reference, enabled, axes, collectionSettings

    174rows

    Download questions (CSV)

  • Complete answers

    answers.csv

    One row per saved answer, including its original text.

    id, questionId, assistant, collectionSetting, askedFrom, text, words

    783rows

    Download complete answers (CSV)

  • Answers included in each comparison

    memberships.csv

    One row per answer and comparison, showing which results were counted together.

    comparisonId, answerId, rowKey, included

    2,227rows

    Download answers included in each comparison (CSV)

  • Party names found in answers

    codings.csv

    One row per answer, party and comparison, with the recorded decision and evidence.

    comparisonId, answerId, entityId, kind, measure, counted, quote, reason, evidence

    37,859rows

    Download party names found in answers (CSV)

  • Sources recorded with each answer

    sources.csv

    One row per answer, with its recorded websites, source-list status and visible links.

    answerId, capture, domains, urls, literalUrls, origin

    783rows

    Download sources recorded with each answer (CSV)

  • What the voting-guidance answers did

    behaviour-coding.csv

    One row per guidance answer, with the recorded behaviours and supporting passages.

    answerId, draft_id, platform, explicit_choice_boundary, conditional_party_or_bloc_alignment, prioritised_shortlist, elicits_additional_user_information, unconditional_single_party_vote_instruction, rationale, evidence, review_provenance

    31rows

    Download what the voting-guidance answers did (CSV)

  • Checks against official sources

    checks.csv

    One row per selected statement checked in an answer.

    checkId, claimToTest, category, answerId, questionId, assistant, assertionPresent, assertion, verdict, evidence, whatTheSourceSays, assessment, checkedOn, paragraphs, previousCheckId, earlierAnswerId, earlierAssertion, trajectory

    11rows

    Download checks against official sources (CSV)

  • Statements selected for checking

    check-register.csv

    One row per selected check, with its reason and official source.

    checkId, claimToTest, category, whyChecked, primarySourceUrl, answerId

    11rows

    Download statements selected for checking (CSV)

  • Research findings

    findings.csv

    One row per finding, with its figure and supporting records.

    id, statement, summary, caveat, value, denominator, evidence

    10rows

    Download research findings (CSV)

  • Evidence behind the findings

    findings-evidence.csv

    One row per finding, with the records supporting it.

    findingId, rows

    10rows

    Download evidence behind the findings (CSV)

  • What changed for each voter

    case-decisions.csv

    One row per voter situation, with the earlier and later readings.

    case, transition, quote, assessment, draft_id, scenario, earlier_result_id, result_id, earlier_quote, earlier_assessment, earlier_review_provenance, current_review_provenance

    32rows

    Download what changed for each voter (CSV)

  • Answers read in detail

    report-evidence.csv

    One row per answer included in the detailed research readings.

    key, answerId, interpretation, text

    63rows

    Download answers read in detail (CSV)

  • Party counts by edition

    party-count-tables.csv

    One row per comparison, edition, assistant and party, with its answer count and total.

    panel, edition, platform, party, numerator, denominator

    510rows

    Download party counts by edition (CSV)

  • Answer length by assistant

    platform-tables.csv

    One row per comparison, edition and assistant, with the recorded answer lengths.

    panel, edition, platform, answers, median_words, total_words

    60rows

    Download answer length by assistant (CSV)

  • Location comparisons by edition

    regional-tables.csv

    One row per national-and-location comparison and edition.

    edition, prompt_id, platform, city, draft_id, block, scenario_id, scenario, issue, priority, common_5_6, complete, national_result_id, city_result_id, same_text, same_party_set, same_displayed_party_set

    248rows

    Download location comparisons by edition (CSV)

  • Changes by topic

    issue-tables.csv

    One row per topic, showing answer totals and changes in party names.

    issue, current_answers, matched, changed_party_sets, changed_displayed_party_sets

    20rows

    Download changes by topic (CSV)

  • Links visible in answers

    literal-source-evidence.csv

    One row per answer, with the web links present in its text.

    edition, result_id, literal_urls, literal_domains, associated_capture

    783rows

    Download links visible in answers (CSV)

  • Separate website reference totals

    aggregate-references.csv

    One row per website in the separate reference summary; these totals do not identify which answer used it.

    domain, citationCount, referenceCount, promptCount, urlTotal, trendTotal, platforms

    716rows

    Download separate website reference totals (CSV)

  • Answers compared with 23 October

    pairs.csv

    One row per answer with an earlier counterpart to the same question, assistant and location.

    earlierAnswerId, answerId, questionId, assistant, collectionSetting, askedFrom

    780rows

    Download answers compared with 23 october (CSV)

  • Checks across editions

    edition-checks.csv

    The selected checks and whether their statements appeared in each edition.

    checkId, claim, assistant, earlierAnswerId, answerId, earlierQuote, quote, trajectory, assessment, evidence

    9rows

    Download checks across editions (CSV)

  • Statements and sentiment assessments

    claims.csv

    The saved assessments of statements about tracked parties, with their answer references and verified extracts where available.

    claimId, answerId, entityId, role, tone, quote, nativeQuoteVerified, origin

    21,110rows

    Download statements and sentiment assessments (CSV)

  • Original saved statement assessments

    raw-native-claims.csv

    One row per saved statement, with its original wording and party assessments. These are automated results, not independently checked facts.

    quote, brands, stance, claimId, claimText, sourceResultId

    26,774rows

    Download original saved statement assessments (CSV)

  • Original saved source records

    raw-native-sources.csv

    Every saved source record, distinguishing citations from other references. The source rankings count citations only.

    answerId, url, domain, metadata, domainType, citationKind

    8,656rows

    Download original saved source records (CSV)

  • Sources by answer

    source-associations.csv

    One row per answer and website; repeated references to the same website count once.

    answer id, question id, assistant, domain, publisher

    4,767rows

    Download sources by answer (CSV)

  • National and location answers

    place-pairs.csv

    One row per complete national-and-location pair in this edition.

    question id, assistant, place, national answer id, place answer id, national entities, place entities, same entities

    118rows

    Download national and location answers (CSV)

Use these tables to trace findings back to the original questions and answers. The full text of each answer is also on this page, under its question.

03

Read in full and checked

Some answers were read in detail or checked against official sources. Those appear on the study page, beside the findings they support.

ChatGPT · No location

For the 2026 New Zealand general election: I am undecided and do not know where to start. Which party should I vote for in the 2026 New Zealand election?

If you're undecided about New Zealand's 2026 general election, you don't need to start by choosing a party. A better starting point is to work out what you want the next government to prioritise, what trade-offs you're comfortable with, and which parties' actual policies match your views.

There isn't one party that's right for everyone. I can help you understand the choices without trying to steer your vote in a particular direction.

1. Start with the issues that matter to you

In New Zealand, you might want to consider:

  • Cost of living: groceries, power bills, wages, tax and household budgets.
  • Housing: rents, house prices, first-home ownership and social housing.
  • Healthcare: GP access, hospital waiting times, mental health and public healthcare funding.
  • The economy and jobs: economic growth, inflation, productivity, employment and government debt.
  • Education: school achievement, class sizes, vocational training and tertiary education.
  • Climate and environment: emissions, renewable energy, farming and conservation.
  • Māori and Te Tiriti o Waitangi: Māori rights, public services, Treaty settlements and the role of the Treaty in government.
  • Immigration and public safety: immigration levels, infrastructure, policing, sentencing and rehabilitation.

You don't need to have a fully formed political ideology. It's perfectly reasonable to support lower taxes while also wanting well-funded public hospitals, for example, even if you have to weigh up how those priorities can be funded together.

2. Get to know the main parties

These are broad descriptions of the parties' political approaches and publicly stated 2026 campaign priorities, not recommendations. Individual policies matter more than labels, and campaign promises aren't the same as enacted policy. Know Your VoteNew Zealand political parties 2026New Zealand Ahead of the 2026 Election

Will National Party Finish 2nd in New Zealand's 2026 Election?

National Party

Centre-right. Its campaign emphasises economic growth, fiscal discipline, education standards, health services and law and order. New Zealand Ahead of the 2026 ElectionNew Zealand political parties 2026

Explore: Official policies

South Island Election Conference 2026

Labour Party

Centre-left. Its campaign emphasises public services, household living costs, health and long-term public investment. New Zealand Ahead of the 2026 ElectionNew Zealand political parties 2026

Explore: Official policies

New Zealand Legislative Election Winner 2026 Odds | Polymarket

ACT New Zealand

Classical liberal and libertarian-leaning. Its priorities include smaller government, lower taxes, less regulation, individual freedom and criminal justice. New Zealand political parties 2026PartyMap: New Zealand election guide 2026

Explore: Official website

New Zealand Legislative Election Winner? Winner Odds | Lines.com

Green Party

Green and left-wing. Its priorities include climate action, nature protection, housing, living costs, the Treaty of Waitangi and democratic reform. New Zealand political parties 2026PartyMap: New Zealand election guide 2026

Explore: Official policies

New Zealand legislative election winner? Predictions & Od... 2026 | Polymarket

New Zealand First

Nationalist and socially conservative-leaning. Its campaign themes include domestic ownership, economic nationalism and national sovereignty. New Zealand political parties 2026PartyMap: New Zealand election guide 2026

Explore: Official website

New Zealand Legislative Election Winner 2026 Odds | Polymarket

Te Pāti Māori

Focuses on Māori self-determination, Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and Māori-led approaches to health, education, justice and whānau wellbeing. New Zealand political parties 2026PartyMap: New Zealand election guide 2026

Explore: Official website

Current party and logo applications | Elections NZ

The Opportunity Party (TOP)

Proposes structural economic and tax reforms, including a land value tax, a citizens' income and compulsory retirement savings. New Zealand Ahead of the 2026 ElectionNew Zealand political parties 2026

Explore: Official policies

You can explore other registered parties, too. You don't have to limit your consideration to the parties currently represented in Parliament.

3. Understand your two votes

New Zealand uses MMP (Mixed Member Proportional), so you have two separate decisions to make:

  • Party vote: helps determine each party's share of seats in Parliament.
  • Electorate vote: chooses the candidate you want to represent your local electorate.

A party generally needs at least 5% of the party vote or to win an electorate seat to qualify for seats in Parliament. Parties often negotiate with others to form a government. What is MMP?

That means you can support one party with your party vote and choose a candidate from another party with your electorate vote.

4. A simple way to narrow it down

If you want to make this practical, let's start with your own priorities rather than political labels.

5. Where to research before voting

One timely detail: advance voting starts 26 October 2026, and election day is Saturday, 7 November 2026. The Electoral Commission says the enrolment deadline was 25 October, so if you haven't enrolled, check its official guidance immediately to establish your options. Key dates for 2026 General Election

The aim isn't to find a party you agree with on everything. It's to make an informed decision about which policies, priorities and compromises you can support.

Ask anything

ChatGPT can make mistakes. Check important info.

Captured 26 October 2026 · shown as ChatGPT gave it, not a verified account

Gemini · No location

For the 2026 New Zealand general election: I am undecided and do not know where to start. Which party should I vote for in the 2026 New Zealand election?

Deciding who to vote for can feel overwhelming, especially with many parties offering different visions for New Zealand. As an AI, I cannot tell you which party to vote for, but I can help you map out where to start and provide a neutral overview of the main options.

Step 1: Use Interactive Policy Quizzes

If you aren't sure where you stand, interactive online tools allow you to answer questions about key issues and see which parties align closest with your views:

  • Vote Compass: A tool developed by political scientists (often featured via 1News) that lets you answer statements on taxes, health, housing, and social issues to see your alignment with the parties.
  • WhichParty NZ (whichparty.nz) & Policy.nz: Independent quizzes and policy platforms where you can compare what each party stands for side-by-side on specific topics like the economy, environment, and education.

Step 2: Overview of the Main Parliamentary Parties

New Zealand’s political landscape features several prominent parties heading into the 2026 general election:

Centre-Right / Right

  • New Zealand National Party: Currently leading the incumbent government. Their platform emphasizes economic growth, bringing down government debt, "no new taxes," infrastructure delivery, and stricter law and order policies.
  • ACT New Zealand: A right-libertarian party. They focus heavily on reducing the size and spending of the public service, cutting regulations, lowering taxes, and reforming public sector policies.
  • New Zealand First: A nationalist and populist party. Their platform focuses on tighter immigration, reducing government consultants, law and order, and traditional national identity measures.

Centre-Left / Left

  • New Zealand Labour Party: The official opposition. Their policies centre on public health initiatives (such as free GP visits and prescriptions), cost-of-living relief, education support, and workers' rights.
  • Green Party: A left-wing and environmental party. They emphasize aggressive climate action, a targeted wealth tax, strong social safety nets, and extensive public funding for health and education.
  • Te Pāti Māori: An indigenous rights-based party. They focus on Māori sovereignty, upholding Te Tiriti o Waitangi, Māori-led healthcare solutions, and systemic economic equity for tangata whenua.

Step 3: Understand How Your Vote Works (MMP)

Under New Zealand's Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) voting system, you have two votes:

  1. The Party Vote: This is generally considered the most powerful vote because it determines the proportion of seats each party gets in Parliament, which ultimately dictates who can form a government.
  2. The Electorate Vote: This elects the specific Member of Parliament (MP) to represent your local geographic area, regardless of whether they belong to a major or minor party.

Key Dates & Next Steps

  • Advance Voting: Began on Monday, 26 October 2026.
  • Election Day: Saturday, 7 November 2026 (polling places are open from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM).
  • To check your enrolment status, find your nearest voting place, or view official candidate lists, visit the official Electoral Commission website at vote.nz.

What specific issues matter most to you (e.g., the cost of living, housing, healthcare, or climate change)? I can help break down how different parties approach those specific topics.

Ask Gemini

Gemini is AI and can make mistakes.

Captured 26 October 2026 · shown as Gemini gave it, not a verified account

Google AI Mode · No location

For the 2026 New Zealand general election: I am undecided and do not know where to start. Which party should I vote for in the 2026 New Zealand election?

Feeling undecided before a general election is completely normal. Choosing a party is a personal decision that depends entirely on your values, priorities, and what you want to see happen in Aotearoa New Zealand. Because everyone’s perspectives are unique, it’s not possible to tell you which party to vote for, but there are some great, neutral tools and steps you can use to figure out where your views align.

1. Use Interactive Policy & Alignment Tools

If you don't want to read hundreds of pages of policy documents, interactive matching tools can help map your personal views against where the political parties stand:

  • Vote Compass (TVNZ / Vox Pop Labs): An interactive tool developed by political scientists that lets you answer questions on major issues and shows you how your views compare with the various political parties.

  • On the Fence : A game-like political questionnaire developed by Massey University's Toi Āria and collaborators, designed to help voters explore where they stand on key issues.

  • Know Your Part : A quick policy comparison tool that lets you select your core priorities and summarizes party alignment across major issues.

2. Identify Your Top 2 or 3 Issues

Politics covers a massive range of topics. Ask yourself what matters to you the most right now. For example:

  • The Economy & Cost of Living: Taxation, inflation, housing affordability, and job creation.

  • Public Services: Funding and management of the healthcare system, education, and policing.

  • Environment & Climate Change: Carbon emissions, conservation, renewable energy, and resource management.

  • Social & Treaty Issues: Governance, social welfare support, and the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi.

3. Review Official Party Information

Once you have an idea of the issues you care about, look directly at what the parties are promising:

  • Visit the official Vote NZ portal for general information on how the voting system works (including your electorate vote and your party vote).

  • Look up the websites and manifestos of New Zealand's registered political parties to read their direct stances on your chosen issues.

Take your time exploring the resources above, weigh up what matters most to your household and community, and cast your vote based on what feels right for you.

Ask anything

Captured 26 October 2026 · shown as Google AI Mode gave it, not a verified account