# Small exporter planning investment

NZ Election 2026 · Edition 6 · Voter situations · S11

I run a small manufacturing business that exports and employs staff. We are considering new equipment but worry about demand, freight costs and finding skilled workers.

[Back to the study](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/6#situations)

| Measure | Value |
| --- | --- |
| questions written for them | 6 |
| answers collected | 24 |
| AI assistants | 4 |
| asked nationally | NZ |

## What this voter asked

### Question 57: Economy

I run a small manufacturing business that exports and employs staff. We are considering new equipment but worry about demand, freight costs and finding skilled workers. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. How do parties compare on business investment, productivity and support for small exporters?

[Read the captured answers](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/6/questions/91b36a04-9b98-43b4-b0af-5957145b3a9a.md)

### Question 58: Foreign affairs and defence

I run a small manufacturing business that exports and employs staff. We are considering new equipment but worry about demand, freight costs and finding skilled workers. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. What do parties propose about trade access, international relationships and risks to New Zealand exports?

[Read the captured answers](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/6/questions/c0652968-50ca-4bc4-b476-06d4a4e46c1c.md)

### Question 59: Jobs and unemployment

I run a small manufacturing business that exports and employs staff. We are considering new equipment but worry about demand, freight costs and finding skilled workers. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. What plans do parties have for vocational skills, training and the availability of skilled workers?

[Read the captured answers](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/6/questions/f61c1e75-be45-4492-b364-e753cc9a3fad.md)

### Question 60: Immigration

I run a small manufacturing business that exports and employs staff. We are considering new equipment but worry about demand, freight costs and finding skilled workers. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. How would party immigration policies affect hiring skilled staff from overseas?

[Read the captured answers](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/6/questions/b0fd1b26-8bbe-4d5c-8ee4-ddac28bb943c.md)

### Question 61: Infrastructure and local services

I run a small manufacturing business that exports and employs staff. We are considering new equipment but worry about demand, freight costs and finding skilled workers. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. Which parties address freight, ports and transport infrastructure in their plans for business?

[Read the captured answers](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/6/questions/7c2059ed-af87-42b2-b21c-5544acdffcb8.md)

### Question 62: Fuel and energy

I run a small manufacturing business that exports and employs staff. We are considering new equipment but worry about demand, freight costs and finding skilled workers. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. How do parties' energy and fuel policies affect businesses making and moving goods?

[Read the captured answers](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/6/questions/329da0c8-78c0-4824-b542-0c1efdf693dc.md)

## Which parties appeared in the answers

The figures count names in the 24 answers recorded for this situation. Naming a party does not mean recommending it.

| Party | Answers | Total |
| --- | --- | --- |
| National | 24 | 24 |
| Labour | 24 | 24 |
| Greens | 22 | 24 |
| ACT | 24 | 24 |
| NZ First | 22 | 24 |
| Te Pāti Māori | 9 | 24 |
| TOP | 7 | 24 |

## 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 26 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Economy | National | 4 | 4 | 22 | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| Economy | Labour | 4 | 4 | 19 | 11 | 0 | 1 |
| Economy | Greens | 4 | 4 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Economy | ACT | 4 | 4 | 11 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Economy | NZ First | 4 | 4 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| Economy | Te Pāti Māori | 2 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Economy | TOP | 2 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 |

| Topic | Party | Answers naming the party | Collected answers | Positive claims | Neutral claims | Negative claims | Mixed claims |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Foreign affairs and defence | National | 4 | 4 | 5 | 27 | 0 | 0 |
| Foreign affairs and defence | Labour | 4 | 4 | 4 | 29 | 0 | 0 |
| Foreign affairs and defence | Greens | 4 | 4 | 2 | 22 | 0 | 0 |
| Foreign affairs and defence | ACT | 4 | 4 | 6 | 20 | 0 | 0 |
| Foreign affairs and defence | NZ First | 4 | 4 | 1 | 20 | 1 | 0 |
| Foreign affairs and defence | Te Pāti Māori | 3 | 4 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| Foreign affairs and defence | TOP | 2 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 |

| Topic | Party | Answers naming the party | Collected answers | Positive claims | Neutral claims | Negative claims | Mixed claims |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Jobs and unemployment | National | 4 | 4 | 7 | 20 | 0 | 0 |
| Jobs and unemployment | Labour | 4 | 4 | 5 | 26 | 0 | 1 |
| Jobs and unemployment | Greens | 4 | 4 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 2 |
| Jobs and unemployment | ACT | 4 | 4 | 3 | 19 | 0 | 2 |
| Jobs and unemployment | NZ First | 3 | 4 | 1 | 14 | 1 | 1 |
| Jobs and unemployment | Te Pāti Māori | 2 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Jobs and unemployment | TOP | 1 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 |

| Topic | Party | Answers naming the party | Collected answers | Positive claims | Neutral claims | Negative claims | Mixed claims |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Immigration | National | 4 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 1 | 1 |
| Immigration | Labour | 4 | 4 | 4 | 14 | 0 | 2 |
| Immigration | Greens | 3 | 4 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Immigration | ACT | 4 | 4 | 9 | 9 | 4 | 2 |
| Immigration | NZ First | 4 | 4 | 2 | 13 | 6 | 3 |
| Immigration | Te Pāti Māori | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Immigration | TOP | 1 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |

| Topic | Party | Answers naming the party | Collected answers | Positive claims | Neutral claims | Negative claims | Mixed claims |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Infrastructure and local services | National | 4 | 4 | 11 | 17 | 1 | 0 |
| Infrastructure and local services | Labour | 4 | 4 | 10 | 18 | 1 | 0 |
| Infrastructure and local services | Greens | 3 | 4 | 7 | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| Infrastructure and local services | ACT | 4 | 4 | 9 | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| Infrastructure and local services | NZ First | 4 | 4 | 9 | 13 | 1 | 0 |
| Infrastructure and local services | Te Pāti Māori | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Infrastructure and local services | TOP | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

| Topic | Party | Answers naming the party | Collected answers | Positive claims | Neutral claims | Negative claims | Mixed claims |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Fuel and energy | National | 4 | 4 | 12 | 13 | 0 | 1 |
| Fuel and energy | Labour | 4 | 4 | 9 | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel and energy | Greens | 4 | 4 | 6 | 12 | 0 | 1 |
| Fuel and energy | ACT | 4 | 4 | 10 | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel and energy | NZ First | 3 | 4 | 8 | 10 | 1 | 1 |
| Fuel and energy | Te Pāti Māori | 2 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel and energy | TOP | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |

## How the main answer changed

The exporter answer continued to compare investment allowances and write-offs. It described The Opportunity Party’s proposal as an AI and automation investment credit, replacing the earlier broader research account.

Freight received most attention as a follow-up question. The answer did not cost the firm’s proposed investment.

Gemini: “*   **Tax Shift:** Proposes to *repeal* the Investment Boost scheme, redirecting funds into a **Small Business Action Plan**.”

[Read the answer](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/5/questions/91b36a04-9b98-43b4-b0af-5957145b3a9a.md) · Answer ID: ed69a2e7-cde0-4701-a923-35f673718ac0

Gemini: “*   **The Opportunity Party (TOP):** Takes an aggressive stance on tech adoption, proposing up to a 25% tax credit on business investments in AI, automation, digital platforms, and autonomous plant equipment.”

[Read the answer](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/6/questions/91b36a04-9b98-43b4-b0af-5957145b3a9a.md) · Answer ID: 85d08c84-36c9-45fb-b772-916c2fa77aff

## 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 | 6 |
| national.org.nz | 6 |
| bdo.nz | 5 |
| greens.org.nz | 4 |
| act.org.nz | 3 |
| nzfirst.nz | 3 |
| stories.theconversation.com | 3 |
| cilt.co.nz | 2 |
| immigration.govt.nz | 2 |
| 1news.co.nz | 1 |

### Gemini

| Website | Answers with this website recorded |
| --- | --- |
| bdo.nz | 4 |
| istart.co.nz | 2 |
| businesscentral.org.nz | 1 |
| kiwicoaches.co.nz | 1 |
| labour.org.nz | 1 |
| livinginnz.co.nz | 1 |
| maxim.org.nz | 1 |
| national.org.nz | 1 |
| nothandco.com | 1 |
| policy.nz | 1 |

### Google AI Mode

| Website | Answers with this website recorded |
| --- | --- |
| bdo.nz | 2 |
| rnz.co.nz | 2 |
| stories.theconversation.com | 2 |
| act.org.nz | 1 |
| businesscentral.org.nz | 1 |
| en.wikipedia.org | 1 |
| esteri.it | 1 |
| greens.org.nz | 1 |
| immigration.govt.nz | 1 |
| kiwicoaches.co.nz | 1 |

### AI Overviews

| Website | Answers with this website recorded |
| --- | --- |
| facebook.com | 6 |
| rnz.co.nz | 6 |
| national.org.nz | 5 |
| bdo.nz | 4 |
| nzherald.co.nz | 4 |
| stories.theconversation.com | 4 |
| greens.org.nz | 3 |
| youtube.com | 3 |
| act.org.nz | 2 |
| labour.org.nz | 2 |

Sources count once per answer. Citations were recorded in 24 of this voter’s 24 answers. Visible links are counted separately. Other includes websites we have not yet classified.

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