2026 New Zealand election: accessible and affordable housing for disabled people

Your question raises an important distinction: having enough affordable housing is not the same as having housing you can physically access and live in independently.

For someone who rents and has a mobility impairment, the policies worth examining include:

• Whether new public and social housing must be wheelchair-accessible or designed for different mobility needs.
• Whether there are enough accessible, affordable rental properties.
• Whether landlords must allow reasonable accessibility modifications.
• Whether rent increases and eviction protections help you maintain a stable home.
• Whether public housing providers can match people to homes that meet their actual accessibility requirements.
• Whether accessible transport and disability support are available in the community where you live.

I've looked at the parties' published 2026 positions and independent disability-sector comparisons available as at 31 October 2026. The election is scheduled for 7 November 2026, so some policies may still change.

1. What the parties are proposing on housing

The following comparison draws particularly on the 30 October analysis by CCS Disability Action and reporting by The D*List, which contacted the major parties about their disability policies. Election 2026: Political Parties Policy AnalysisParty policies, simplified: HousingHow do parties rate on their disability policies?

Party	Accessible housing commitments
Labour	Restore and increase the accessible social housing target to 25% of new Kāinga Ora homes.
Green Party	Reinstate the 15% accessible public housing target and introduce stronger universal design standards for public and private housing.
Te Pāti Māori	Make all new government builds accessible and urgently expand accessible public housing targets.
National	Does not intend to reinstate the 15% target. Proposes reviewing social housing needs and continuing practical accessibility initiatives and modifications.
ACT	Opposes a fixed accessible-housing quota, arguing that housing should respond to individual need and that more housing supply will give people greater choice.
New Zealand First	Has not provided a specific accessible-housing commitment in response to disability-sector questions. Its general housing policies include prioritising citizens for social housing.
The Opportunities Party (TOP)	Says it wants to remove housing barriers by creating more homes everyone can access and live in, but has not provided a detailed target.

Sources: The D*List's party responses and CCS Disability Action's policy analysis. Party policies, simplified: HousingElection 2026: Political Parties Policy Analysis

What these differences mean

There are three particularly important distinctions:

• A numerical target: Labour proposes 25%, while the Greens support reinstating 15%.
• Universal design: The Greens explicitly want accessibility standards to apply to both public and private housing.
• Individual needs rather than quotas: ACT and National emphasise other approaches, such as responding to individual needs, modifications and increasing housing supply.

A target is useful, but it is also worth asking whether it means a fully accessible home, an adaptable home, or a home with only some accessibility features.

2. Rental affordability and security

Because you rent, housing affordability and tenancy protections deserve particular attention.

Party	Relevant rental policies
Labour	Ban no-cause evictions, limit rent increases to once every 12 months, strengthen enforcement and improve rental safety.
Greens	Introduce rent caps, strengthen Healthy Homes Standards, require an independently certified Rental Warrant of Fitness and end no-cause evictions.
Te Pāti Māori	Introduce universal rent control, limiting annual increases to inflation unless significant improvements are made; end no-cause evictions.
National	No comparable new rent-control or renter-protection commitment identified in the disability housing comparison.
ACT	Focuses on reducing barriers to development and increasing housing supply rather than new rent controls.
NZ First	No specific new renter-protection commitment identified in the comparison.
TOP	Proposes better rental standards and financing to increase affordable and social housing supply.

Election 2026: Political Parties Policy AnalysisParty policies, simplified: HousingLabour's 2026 Election Policies

Why this matters for independent living: If you need a particular property because it has level access, wide doorways, an accessible bathroom or room for mobility equipment, moving house can be particularly difficult and expensive.

Eviction protections and predictable rent increases can help you maintain a suitable home. However, they do not automatically guarantee that a landlord will permit accessibility modifications or provide an accessible property.

3. Accessible transport and support services

Housing cannot be considered in isolation from transport.

A property might be physically accessible but unsuitable for independent living if you cannot reliably get to medical appointments, supermarkets, community activities or disability support.

There are some relevant transport proposals:

• Greens: Restore the Total Mobility Scheme government subsidy to 75%, increase the number of mobility vehicles available, and provide free public transport for Total Mobility users.
• Labour: Introduce a weekly public transport fare cap of $20 in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch and $10 elsewhere, starting July 2027.
• Te Pāti Māori: Supports a 75% Total Mobility subsidy.
• TOP: Proposes free public transport for everyone.
• National and ACT: Their identified proposals focus more on transport safety, infrastructure and road transport than specific disability-related transport subsidies.
• NZ First: Proposes improvements to the national rail network, but the disability-specific transport position is less clear.

Election 2026: Political Parties Policy AnalysisHow do parties rate on their disability policies?Party policies, simplified: Accessibility

These are proposals, not guarantees of accessible vehicles, reliable wheelchair spaces, accessible bus stops or suitable door-to-door transport.

4. What is still missing from the parties' proposals?

This is particularly important given your aim of continuing to live independently.

The published policies do not consistently explain:

• How many accessible private rental properties will be created.
• Whether landlords will be required to make reasonable accessibility modifications.
• Whether disabled tenants will receive financial assistance for modifications.
• Whether accessible housing will be located near public transport, healthcare and support services.
• How quickly Kāinga Ora will respond when an existing tenant's mobility needs change.
• Whether disabled people will have meaningful choice about where they live, rather than simply being offered the next available property.

These are important gaps to investigate before deciding how much weight to give each party's housing promises. Election 2026: Political Parties Policy AnalysisAccessible Housing, Transport and Communities Election 2026

5. Questions worth asking your local candidates

You could use these questions at candidate meetings, in emails or when assessing party policies.

1. Will you guarantee a minimum percentage of genuinely accessible new public and social housing?
2. What will you do to increase the supply of affordable, accessible private rental properties?
3. Will you strengthen the rights of disabled renters to install ramps, grab rails, accessible showers and other modifications?
4. Will you provide financial assistance for accessibility modifications without lengthy delays?
5. How will you ensure disabled tenants can remain in their homes when their mobility or support needs change?
6. How will you ensure accessible housing is close to reliable public transport and essential services?
7. What funding will be available to maintain Total Mobility and other accessible transport services?

6. Independent disability-sector election resources

These are useful because they examine policies from a disability perspective rather than relying solely on party campaign material.

CCS Disability Action – 2026 Election Policy Analysis

Detailed comparison of housing, accessibility, disability support, employment and health policies.

Read the CCS Disability Action analysis

The D*List – Party Policies Simplified: Housing

Direct comparison of parties' answers about accessible public housing and universal design.

Read the housing comparison

Disabled Persons Assembly – 2026 Disability Election Scorecard

A non-partisan resource coordinated with CCS Disability Action and Your Way | Kia Roha, bringing together parties' responses to disability-related questions.

Read the Disability Election Scorecard

Policy.nz – 2026 Election

Compare party policies across housing and other areas.

Explore housing policies

7. A useful way to assess your voting decision

I would suggest looking at housing as part of a broader independent-living package, rather than treating housing supply as the only measure.

You might consider these five areas when comparing parties:

Your priority	What to look for
Suitable housing	Enforceable accessible housing targets
Affordable rent	Rent controls and rental protections
Staying independent	Home modifications and tenancy security
Getting around	Total Mobility and accessible public transport
Maintaining support	Reliable disability services and funding

One important distinction: A policy promising more housing does not necessarily promise more accessible housing. Likewise, a policy promising accessible housing does not necessarily make it affordable or conveniently located.

Your ability to remain independent depends on all these things working together.

One further question that could help

Would you like me to take this comparison a step further and examine the parties specifically from the perspective of a disabled person who rents and wants to remain living independently, including:

• Accessible private rental rights.
• Government-funded home modifications.
• Kāinga Ora eligibility and accessible housing allocations.
• Disability support funding and assistance with daily living.
• Total Mobility and accessible transport.

That would help distinguish policies that sound positive in an election campaign from commitments that could make a practical difference to your everyday life.