New Zealand 2026 election: what the parties propose for manufacturers and exporters

For a small manufacturing business that exports and employs staff, three questions matter most: will new equipment be more affordable, will it become easier to recruit and retain skilled workers, and will government policy help you reach overseas customers without adding too much cost or risk?

New Zealand's general election is scheduled for 7 November 2026. As of 25 October, parties are offering different approaches to business investment, taxation, workforce policy and export growth. The comparison below focuses on published policies, rather than party slogans or predictions about which policies will work best. 2026 General Election Policies: What they could mean for businesses | New ZealandTax Tips: 2026 General Election

1. The main parties at a glance

Policy positions announced during the 2026 election campaign; proposals may change and may depend on coalition negotiations.

Party	Business investment and productivity	Small exporters and workforce
National	Retain the 20% Investment Boost deduction for qualifying new assets.	Intensive export-market support for 200 high-potential SMEs; simplify business administration and hiring. National’s plan to support Small BusinessesThe business and innovation policies of Election 2026, explained
Labour	Replace Investment Boost with a full immediate write-off for eligible new assets costing up to $10,000 for businesses with annual revenue under $10 million.	Faster payment by large businesses to small suppliers, a higher compulsory GST-registration threshold and expanded apprenticeship support. Labour's Small Business Action PlanLabour's 2026 Election Policies
ACT	Proposes changes to make software and IT investment easier to deduct, alongside a generally lower-regulation approach.	Proposes employment-rule changes, including a three-year minimum-wage freeze and shorter time limits for most employment grievances. The business and innovation policies of Election 2026, explainedElection 2026: What the parties are promising for business and tech
Green Party	Refocus Investment Boost towards investment aligned with industrial policy, decarbonisation and decent-work objectives; increase public science and research funding.	Proposes funding to help early-stage businesses grow and access export markets, alongside a more active government role in economic development. The business and innovation policies of Election 2026, explainedTax Tips: 2026 General Election
New Zealand First	Reduce the company tax rate from 28% to 20% for businesses with turnover below $30 million, according to its campaign proposal.	The company-tax proposal is relevant to eligible profitable manufacturers; it is not, by itself, a direct freight subsidy or export-market programme. The business and innovation policies of Election 2026, explainedTax Tips: 2026 General Election
Opportunity	Expand research and development tax credits and increase science-sector funding, with a focus on innovation.	Proposes business mentoring support and measures to encourage investment in businesses with social or environmental goals. The business and innovation policies of Election 2026, explainedTax Tips: 2026 General Election
Te Pāti Māori	Proposes a $4.5 billion fund to invest in Māori businesses, land and marae.	Proposes allocating 25% of government procurement to 100%-Māori-owned businesses or organisations; this could matter to eligible suppliers seeking domestic contracts. The business and innovation policies of Election 2026, explained

These are different policy mechanisms, not directly comparable promises. A tax deduction, a lower tax rate, an export-development programme and a training subsidy affect different businesses in different ways.

2. What the differences mean for your business

A. Buying new manufacturing equipment

This is one of the clearest policy differences.

National — retain Investment Boost

Qualifying new machinery and equipment can receive an additional deduction equal to 20% of its cost, with ordinary depreciation applying to the remaining 80%. The scheme is not limited to small businesses. The business and innovation policies of Election 2026, explainedNational’s plan to support Small Businesses

Relevant if your planned equipment is a substantial capital purchase.

Labour — targeted write-off for smaller purchases

Eligible businesses with annual revenue below $10 million could immediately deduct the full cost of qualifying new assets worth up to $10,000 each, from 1 July 2027. Labour proposes to replace Investment Boost to fund its small-business package. Labour's Small Business Action PlanTax Tips: 2026 General Election

Relevant if you regularly buy smaller tools, equipment or IT assets.

ACT — software and digital investment

ACT proposes making software and IT investment easier to deduct for tax purposes. This is relevant if productivity improvements depend on automation, digital production systems or software rather than machinery alone. The business and innovation policies of Election 2026, explained2026 General Election Policies: What they could mean for businesses | New Zealand

The important distinction is between an upfront tax deduction and a grant. A deduction reduces taxable income; it does not reimburse the full purchase price. Its value depends on your tax position, the asset's eligibility and when you invest.

For a major machine costing substantially more than $10,000, compare the current Investment Boost treatment with Labour's proposed small-asset write-off rather than assuming the latter is more generous. The proposed replacement is also scheduled to start in 2027, not immediately.

B. Productivity, energy and innovation

Productivity means producing more saleable output for each hour of labour and each dollar of capital invested. For a manufacturer, the policy differences extend beyond tax deductions.

• National: Its business agenda includes reducing compliance costs, retaining Investment Boost, expanding paperless trade and digital customs, pursuing trade agreements, and increasing electricity supply and competition through Electrify NZ 2.0. These measures relate to investment, operating costs and exporting. National’s plan to support Small Businesses2026 General Election Policies: What they could mean for businesses | New Zealand
• Labour: Its proposed New Zealand Future Fund would invest in local infrastructure and innovative businesses. Its small-business plan also aims to improve cash flow and reduce administrative burdens. 2026 General Election Policies: What they could mean for businesses | New ZealandLabour's Small Business Action Plan
• Greens: They propose directing investment incentives towards industrial policy, decarbonisation and decent work, alongside additional science and research funding. The practical value for an individual manufacturer will depend on the final eligibility rules. The business and innovation policies of Election 2026, explained2026 General Election Policies: What they could mean for businesses | New Zealand
• Opportunity: It proposes expanding R&D tax credits and increasing research funding, which may be relevant to manufacturers developing new products, production processes or advanced technologies. The business and innovation policies of Election 2026, explainedTax Tips: 2026 General Election
• New Zealand First: Its proposed lower company tax rate for eligible SMEs is aimed at reducing the tax burden on qualifying businesses. The benefit depends on the company's taxable profit and eligibility, rather than the cost of a particular machine. The business and innovation policies of Election 2026, explainedTax Tips: 2026 General Election

For your business, the useful question is whether a policy changes the economics of a real project: more output per shift, less scrap, lower electricity use, reduced downtime or the ability to manufacture a higher-value product.

C. Support for small exporters and freight costs

This is where it helps to distinguish export-market support from measures that actually reduce the cost of shipping goods.

Policy area	Relevant party proposals	What it could mean
Finding overseas customers	National's programme for 200 high-potential exporters; Greens' proposed export-growth funding	Potential help with market entry, export capability and international growth.
Customs and trade access	National's proposals for digital customs and new trade agreements	Potentially less border administration and improved access to overseas markets, depending on implementation and destination.
Cash flow	Labour's proposed 15-day payment rule for qualifying large-business invoices of $25,000 or less	Could help if your business supplies larger New Zealand companies; it is not a general rule requiring overseas customers to pay sooner.
Freight charges	No direct, broad freight-cost subsidy is established by the main proposals discussed above	Compare infrastructure, port and transport commitments, but do not assume a party's export programme will lower your freight bill.

Sources: National’s plan to support Small Businesses2026 General Election Policies: What they could mean for businesses | New ZealandThe business and innovation policies of Election 2026, explainedLabour's Small Business Action Plan

One further distinction matters: if you export directly to overseas customers, faster-payment rules for domestic suppliers may not address your biggest cash-flow problem. If you manufacture components for larger New Zealand exporters, those rules could be more directly relevant.

3. Finding and retaining skilled workers

Because you employ staff, examine workforce policy alongside investment policy. A machine may raise output, but only if you can recruit people who can operate, maintain and programme it.

• National proposes a First Employee Support Package, simpler hiring processes for apprentices and seasonal workers, and faster employment-dispute resolution. These are directed towards the administrative costs and risks of employing people. National’s plan to support Small Businesses2026 General Election Policies: What they could mean for businesses | New Zealand
• Labour proposes extending Apprenticeship Boost employer payments to two years at $500 a month from July 2028, plus a $1,000 toolbox grant, five additional eligible trades and structured mentoring. 2026 General Election Policies: What they could mean for businesses | New ZealandLabour's 2026 Election Policies
• ACT proposes freezing the adult minimum wage for three years and lowering the training wage for eligible under-20s. Those changes could affect wage costs for some employers and the pay received by affected workers. The business and innovation policies of Election 2026, explained2026 General Election Policies: What they could mean for businesses | New Zealand
• The Greens emphasise decent work and investment in science and technical expertise. The extent to which their proposed measures would address manufacturing-specific vacancies depends on implementation. The business and innovation policies of Election 2026, explainedThe business and innovation policies of Election 2026, explained

For your business, it is worth checking the detailed policies on apprenticeships, engineering and technical qualifications, immigration settings for hard-to-fill roles, and the total cost of employing staff. A lower starting wage, for example, is not the same thing as having a larger pool of qualified technicians.

4. A practical way to compare the policies before voting

Rather than deciding on party labels, test the proposals against three scenarios that reflect your business risks.

5. What to verify before making your decision

For any party whose proposals interest you, check the full policy and ask:

1. Investment: What is the actual tax benefit on my planned equipment purchase, and when would the policy take effect?
2. Demand: Does the party have a credible, costed approach to economic growth and export-market development, or is it mainly offering a tax change?
3. Freight: Are there specific commitments on ports, roads, rail, shipping connectivity or trade facilitation that affect my supply chain?
4. Skills: Are there funded training places, apprenticeship payments or realistic pathways to fill the technical roles I need?
5. Certainty: Could a change to tax, employment or trade settings disrupt an investment that takes several years to pay back?

For independent comparisons, the Deloitte and Chapman Tripp 2026 Election Survey collects business views and party responses on economic conditions, sustainable investment, infrastructure, skills and employment. The BDO election business-policy analysis provides further detail on announced proposals. The 2026 Deloitte and Chapman Tripp Election Survey2026 General Election Policies: What they could mean for businesses | New Zealand

The central trade-off for your business is between broad investment incentives and stability, more targeted support for smaller businesses, lower company tax for eligible firms, and direct investment in innovation, skills or export development. The effect on your business will depend on your equipment budget, taxable profit, workforce requirements and export markets—not just which party describes itself as pro-business.