2026 New Zealand election: What could the parties mean for exporters and manufacturers?

For a small New Zealand manufacturing business that exports and employs people, the election has several important implications beyond the usual discussion about tax and the cost of living.

The key issues are:

1. Trade access: Will New Zealand businesses get better access to overseas markets, fewer tariffs and less export paperwork?
2. International relationships: How will the next government manage relationships with China, Australia, the United States, the EU, the UK and the Pacific?
3. Export risks: What happens if international trade becomes more politically complicated, shipping costs rise or supply chains are disrupted?
4. Investment: Will the tax treatment of machinery and equipment make it easier to invest?
5. Skilled labour: Will immigration, apprenticeships and vocational training help manufacturers recruit the people they need?

The 2026 general election is scheduled for 7 November 2026. The comparison below reflects policies and announcements available as at 30 October 2026. These are campaign commitments, not guaranteed outcomes. Coalition negotiations could substantially change what gets implemented. The main parties vying to form New Zealand's next government2026 General Election Policies: What they could mean for businesses | New Zealand

1. Comparing the main parties

Party	Trade access and international relationships	Potential export implications
National	Pursue new FTAs across Europe, South America, Africa and Asia. Strengthen supply-chain agreements with trusted partners and expand trade missions.	More potential customers, lower administrative costs and improved access to export markets.
Labour	Prioritise stronger relationships with the EU, Canada, ASEAN and the Pacific. Develop new market opportunities in Africa and South America. Support multilateral institutions and international law.	Market diversification and stronger diplomatic relationships, alongside a greater emphasis on international cooperation.
Green Party	Support independent, principled foreign policy, international cooperation and trade that prioritises environmental sustainability and justice.	Greater emphasis on environmental standards and responsible supply chains. Climate-related trade commitments could become particularly important.
ACT	Emphasise economic competitiveness, private-sector investment and closer economic opportunities with international partners. Its 2026 programme also advocates benchmarking emissions settings against trading partners.	Potentially fewer domestic regulatory constraints for some manufacturers, but its approach to specific new trade agreements is less clearly articulated in the material reviewed.
NZ First	Emphasise independent foreign policy, national resilience and selective trade agreements. Opposed the proposed India FTA, arguing that New Zealand gave away too much. Supports prioritising New Zealand's interests in international negotiations.	Greater scrutiny of trade agreements and a focus on supply-chain resilience. The approach could mean a more cautious path towards some new agreements.
The Opportunity Party (TOP)	Emphasise a more productive, innovative and technologically advanced economy, including high-tech manufacturing and research.	Potential opportunities for manufacturers moving into higher-value products, technology and innovation. Its detailed trade-negotiation programme is less prominent.
Te Pāti Māori	Emphasise Māori economic development, economic self-determination and the growth of Māori-owned businesses.	Relevant to Māori manufacturers, exporters and businesses working with iwi and Māori enterprises. Its detailed international trade-access programme is less developed in the material reviewed.

Sources: Official party policies, the 2026 election policy tracker and business policy analysis. Building the Future - New Zealand’s Next Billion CustomersForeign AffairsDemocracy and International RelationsManifesto 2026ACT New Zealand2023 Election PoliciesBreakthrough EconomyOctober AMM Comms: Election 2026 – What the Parties Are Proposing for Employers and Small BusinessesElection policy tracker: what the parties are promising

2. What the individual proposals mean

National: expanding export markets

National's policy, New Zealand's Next Billion Customers, is a particularly detailed trade programme.

Its proposals include:

• Begin negotiations with seven new economies over five years.
• Pursue additional trade agreements in Europe, South America, Africa and Asia.
• Expand paperless trade and digital customs.
• Target the removal of $1 billion in non-tariff barriers.
• Conduct at least 23 trade missions over the next parliamentary term.
• Give New Zealand Trade and Enterprise a stronger role in identifying opportunities for exporters.
• Maintain the goal of doubling export value by 2034.

National also proposes agreements on essential supplies, using its arrangement with Singapore as a model.

What this could mean for your business: More potential export destinations, assistance finding overseas customers and reduced administrative friction. The essential-supplies proposal is relevant to businesses exposed to disruptions in fuel, materials and other imported inputs.

However, negotiating an FTA does not automatically produce customers or lower freight charges. Actual benefits depend on the products involved, rules of origin, overseas demand and logistics.

Sources: New Zealand's Next Billion CustomersNational promises to pursue seven trade deals if elected

Labour: diversifying relationships and supporting small businesses

Labour places particular emphasis on developing relationships with the EU, Canada, ASEAN and Pacific countries, while exploring markets in Africa and South America.

Its international policy also supports:

• Multilateral institutions and international law.
• Stronger international cooperation.
• Deeper economic and diplomatic relationships with selected partners.

For businesses, Labour has some additional proposals worth considering:

• An immediate $10,000 asset write-off for eligible businesses with annual revenue below $10 million, replacing Investment Boost from July 2027.
• A target of 15% of government contracts going to New Zealand small businesses and start-ups.
• Faster payment of qualifying small-business invoices by large businesses.
• Extended Apprenticeship Boost payments and additional trades.

What this could mean for your business: A combination of international market development, support for domestic business investment and potential opportunities in government supply chains.

The equipment write-off is especially relevant if your planned machinery investment falls within the eligibility requirements. Foreign Affairs2026 General Election Policies: What they could mean for businesses | New ZealandLabour's 2026 Election Policies

Green Party: sustainability and independent foreign policy

The Greens advocate a more explicitly independent and values-based foreign policy.

Their trade and international-relations policies emphasise:

• Environmental sustainability.
• Human rights and international justice.
• Responsible foreign investment.
• International cooperation and climate action.
• Independent decision-making rather than automatic alignment with major powers.

An important issue for exporters is the relationship between climate commitments and trade agreements.

The Greens argue that New Zealand's commitments under its EU and UK free-trade agreements could be affected by changes to domestic climate policy. This is a Green Party argument, not an established finding that all proposed changes would automatically breach those agreements.

What this could mean for your business: If your overseas customers require environmental reporting, low-emissions production or supply-chain certification, these policy settings may become increasingly relevant.

On the other hand, businesses with significant energy costs may also want to examine the cost and reliability implications of different climate and energy policies. Democracy and International RelationsManifesto 2026Foreign Affairs Minister fails to seek advice on leaving Paris AgreementLuxon’s Government found breaching trade agreements again

NZ First: trade resilience and national interests

NZ First's approach is more cautious about the terms of international agreements.

One important example is its opposition to the India Free Trade Agreement. NZ First argued that the agreement made excessive concessions, particularly around immigration, without securing sufficient benefits for New Zealand.

The party has also campaigned on withdrawing New Zealand from the Paris climate agreement.

For exporters, these positions raise two different considerations:

• Potential benefit: More emphasis on protecting domestic economic interests and supply-chain resilience.
• Potential risk: Differences with trading partners over trade, immigration and climate commitments could complicate international relationships.

NZ First has also announced a proposed replacement for the Accredited Employer Work Visa, based on named occupations, regions and demonstrated skills shortages.

That could matter if your manufacturing business relies on overseas skilled workers. No Deal on FTA and Merry ChristmasNZ First Announces Immigration Reform PoliciesNZFirst to Scrap Accredited Working Visa ModelThe main parties vying to form New Zealand's next government

ACT: competitiveness and regulatory settings

ACT emphasises private-sector competitiveness, investment and reduced regulatory constraints.

Its published business proposals include:

• Increasing competition and investment in electricity generation and networks.
• Benchmarking emissions policies against trading partners.
• Changing ETS settings and opposing agricultural emissions pricing.
• Reviewing skilled-worker categories annually.

For manufacturers, electricity affordability and reliability could be important, particularly if new equipment increases energy consumption.

Its immigration settings also deserve examination if your business depends on specialist international recruitment.

ACT's specific commitments on new FTAs and export-market negotiations are less detailed than National's. 2026 General Election Policies: What they could mean for businesses | New ZealandThe main parties vying to form New Zealand's next government

TOP and Te Pāti Māori: different economic development priorities

TOP emphasises lifting productivity and moving beyond dependence on commodity exports. Its Breakthrough Economy programme identifies high-tech manufacturing, research, technology and high-productivity agriculture as potential growth areas.

Te Pāti Māori emphasises Māori economic self-determination and the development of Māori-owned businesses.

For manufacturers, these approaches are relevant to the longer-term development of domestic production capability, innovation and business partnerships, although neither party has the same level of published trade-negotiation detail as National or Labour. Breakthrough EconomyOctober AMM Comms: Election 2026 – What the Parties Are Proposing for Employers and Small Businesses

3. The export risks that deserve particular attention

Party promises about trade access are only one part of the picture. There are several external risks that a New Zealand manufacturer needs to consider regardless of which party forms the government.

A. Freight and shipping disruption

New Zealand's geographic isolation makes manufacturers particularly dependent on international shipping routes, fuel prices, port capacity and reliable shipping schedules.

No party can guarantee lower international freight rates. Look for policies addressing fuel security, port infrastructure, supply-chain resilience and alternative shipping routes.

B. Trade barriers and geopolitical tensions

Tariffs, sanctions, changing customs requirements and political disputes can affect overseas customers and suppliers.

Diversifying export markets and maintaining good relationships with major trading partners can reduce dependence on any single market.

C. Energy and imported components

Manufacturers may depend on imported machinery, electronic components, specialist materials and energy.

Policies affecting electricity prices, energy security and essential imports could influence the economics of new equipment.

D. Skilled-worker availability

Immigration rules, apprenticeship funding, vocational education and employer training incentives can affect your ability to operate new machinery.

This is particularly important when equipment requires specialised technical knowledge that is difficult to recruit locally.

New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade explains that approximately one in four New Zealand jobs depends on producing goods and services for export. This illustrates why international trade relationships are an economic issue, not simply a foreign-policy issue. NZ trade policy | New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade

4. What should you look at before investing in equipment?

I would separate the election policies into four practical business considerations.

Business consideration	Relevant policy questions
Machinery investment	Is there an immediate asset write-off, investment tax incentive or depreciation change?
Export demand	Are there realistic opportunities to access new overseas customers?
Freight and inputs	Are there measures to improve supply-chain resilience and energy security?
Recruitment	Are apprenticeships, skilled migration and vocational training being supported?

One distinction is important: trade agreements create opportunities, but they don't guarantee demand.

Before committing to expensive machinery, it would be sensible to consider whether the investment remains viable under:

• A 10–15% increase in freight costs.
• A weaker-than-expected overseas order book.
• Delays in imported components.
• Difficulty recruiting specialist operators.
• Changes in exchange rates.

These are business stress tests, not predictions about what will happen.

5. Where the major differences lie

For your voting research, I would pay particular attention to these differences rather than simply asking which party says it supports exporters.

Policy question	Main difference to investigate
Opening overseas markets	National's active FTA expansion versus Labour's relationship-building and market diversification
Climate and trade obligations	Greens' sustainability emphasis versus ACT and NZ First's proposed changes to climate settings
Trade agreement conditions	National's expansion approach versus NZ First's more selective approach
Domestic manufacturing	TOP's productivity and technology focus versus the other parties' differing business-development approaches
Skilled labour	Differences in immigration settings and apprenticeship support
Business resilience	National's essential-supplies agreements and NZ First's emphasis on supply-chain resilience

There is also an important MMP consideration: the policies that ultimately become government policy will depend on coalition agreements. A smaller party's position on trade, immigration or climate policy may influence the final programme even if it does not lead the government. The main parties vying to form New Zealand's next government2026 General Election Policies: What they could mean for businesses | New Zealand

6. Useful sources to investigate before voting

These resources allow you to examine the proposals directly rather than relying on campaign advertising.

• Policy.nz – 2026 foreign affairs and defence policy comparison.
• National – New Zealand's Next Billion Customers.
• Labour – Foreign Affairs policy.
• Greens – Democracy and International Relations.
• MFAT – New Zealand trade policy.
• The Conversation – 2026 election policy tracker.

7. A final consideration for your manufacturing business

I would not evaluate the parties solely on how many trade agreements they promise to negotiate.

For a small exporter, the practical questions are:

• Can I sell into more markets?
• Can I get imported machinery and components reliably?
• Can I afford to employ and train additional people?
• Can I invest without excessive tax and compliance costs?
• Will New Zealand maintain dependable relationships with the countries buying my products?

Those questions can help distinguish between policies that sound positive for exporters and policies that might actually affect your business costs and opportunities.

One useful next step: I can also prepare a separate, side-by-side comparison of National, Labour, ACT, Greens, NZ First, TOP and Te Pāti Māori specifically on equipment investment tax incentives, electricity costs, apprenticeships, skilled-worker immigration and small-business support. Those issues may be just as important to your eventual investment decision as export policy.