# Apprentice voting for the first time

NZ Election 2026 · Edition 7 · Voter situations · S01

I'm 18, starting an apprenticeship and living with my parents. I want to become financially independent but don't understand how voting works.

[Back to the study](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/7#situations)

| Measure | Value |
| --- | --- |
| questions written for them | 5 |
| answers collected | 20 |
| AI assistants | 4 |
| asked nationally | NZ |

## What this voter asked

### Question 1: Jobs and unemployment

I'm 18, starting an apprenticeship and living with my parents. I want to become financially independent but don't understand how voting works. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. Which parties have practical plans for apprenticeships, entry-level jobs and wages?

[Read the captured answers](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/7/questions/23b6b3b2-a56e-450a-b561-2cf3a0e68edd.md)

### Question 2: Cost of living

I'm 18, starting an apprenticeship and living with my parents. I want to become financially independent but don't understand how voting works. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. What are parties proposing that could help a young worker afford everyday expenses without just shifting the cost elsewhere?

[Read the captured answers](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/7/questions/2e8583f7-e1d0-4014-ad6b-14dc27ec410c.md)

### Question 3: Housing

I'm 18, starting an apprenticeship and living with my parents. I want to become financially independent but don't understand how voting works. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. If I want to move out in the next couple of years, how do the parties differ on affordable rentals and first-home access?

[Read the captured answers](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/7/questions/0d0571c9-56ec-46e6-8515-fabc002cca8e.md)

### Question 4: Democratic institutions and rights

I'm 18, starting an apprenticeship and living with my parents. I want to become financially independent but don't understand how voting works. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. How do my two votes work, and what does voting for a smaller party actually mean?

[Read the captured answers](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/7/questions/5d68749b-349a-4d73-bbb7-27eee3c87435.md)

### Question 5: Education and childcare

I'm 18, starting an apprenticeship and living with my parents. I want to become financially independent but don't understand how voting works. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. Do the parties differ on the cost and availability of vocational training?

[Read the captured answers](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/7/questions/6c70f683-194c-4660-8a4c-e735b62e401e.md)

## Which parties appeared in the answers

The figures count names in the 20 answers recorded for this situation. Naming a party does not mean recommending it.

| Party | Answers | Total |
| --- | --- | --- |
| National | 15 | 20 |
| Labour | 16 | 20 |
| Greens | 14 | 20 |
| ACT | 11 | 20 |
| NZ First | 8 | 20 |
| Te Pāti Māori | 6 | 20 |
| TOP | 2 | 20 |

## Party names across this voter’s topics

Compare the parties named in answers about this voter’s main concerns. The table compares 19 answers from each edition.

The coloured bars show whether statements about a party were positive, neutral, negative or mixed. Select a figure to read the extracts.

| Topic | Party | Answers naming the party | Collected answers | Positive claims | Neutral claims | Negative claims | Mixed claims |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Jobs and unemployment | National | 4 | 4 | 1 | 16 | 0 | 1 |
| Jobs and unemployment | Labour | 4 | 4 | 11 | 13 | 1 | 1 |
| Jobs and unemployment | Greens | 4 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 1 | 0 |
| Jobs and unemployment | ACT | 3 | 4 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 2 |
| Jobs and unemployment | NZ First | 2 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1 |
| Jobs and unemployment | Te Pāti Māori | 1 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Jobs and unemployment | TOP | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

| Topic | Party | Answers naming the party | Collected answers | Positive claims | Neutral claims | Negative claims | Mixed claims |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Cost of living | National | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Cost of living | Labour | 3 | 3 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Cost of living | Greens | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Cost of living | ACT | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Cost of living | NZ First | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Cost of living | Te Pāti Māori | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cost of living | TOP | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

| Topic | Party | Answers naming the party | Collected answers | Positive claims | Neutral claims | Negative claims | Mixed claims |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Housing | National | 4 | 4 | 6 | 21 | 0 | 1 |
| Housing | Labour | 4 | 4 | 8 | 22 | 0 | 0 |
| Housing | Greens | 4 | 4 | 6 | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| Housing | ACT | 4 | 4 | 3 | 19 | 0 | 1 |
| Housing | NZ First | 2 | 4 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 0 |
| Housing | Te Pāti Māori | 3 | 4 | 2 | 19 | 0 | 0 |
| Housing | TOP | 1 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 |

| Topic | Party | Answers naming the party | Collected answers | Positive claims | Neutral claims | Negative claims | Mixed claims |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Democratic institutions and rights | National | 2 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Democratic institutions and rights | Labour | 2 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Democratic institutions and rights | Greens | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Democratic institutions and rights | ACT | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Democratic institutions and rights | NZ First | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Democratic institutions and rights | Te Pāti Māori | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Democratic institutions and rights | TOP | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

| Topic | Party | Answers naming the party | Collected answers | Positive claims | Neutral claims | Negative claims | Mixed claims |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Education and childcare | National | 3 | 4 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Education and childcare | Labour | 3 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 1 | 0 |
| Education and childcare | Greens | 4 | 4 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| Education and childcare | ACT | 3 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Education and childcare | NZ First | 2 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Education and childcare | Te Pāti Māori | 1 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Education and childcare | TOP | 1 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |

## How Gemini’s answer changed

The apprentice’s answer brought back Labour’s proposed $1,000 toolbox grant, added NZ First and gave current wage rates. It left out the earlier explanation of the threshold for a party to enter Parliament.

Our wage check supported the figures. It did not check all the other policy claims, including the toolbox grant.

Gemini: “To get into Parliament, a party generally needs to win at least 5% of the total party vote or win a local electorate seat.”

[Read the answer](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/6/questions/23b6b3b2-a56e-450a-b561-2cf3a0e68edd.md) · Answer ID: 1a8751d0-1240-4f3b-92cf-241541cc4659

Gemini: “* **Toolbox Grants:** Proposes a **$1,000 grant** for new apprentices to help cover the costs of essential gear, tools, uniforms, and course materials.”

[Read the answer](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/7/questions/23b6b3b2-a56e-450a-b561-2cf3a0e68edd.md) · Answer ID: 2662cfc3-b3ca-47bf-96fd-a3f82a846d52

## Websites cited in these answers

Compare the websites cited in answers for this voter situation. Choose a topic to see its sources.

### ChatGPT

| Website | Answers with this website recorded |
| --- | --- |
| vote.nz | 4 |
| elections.nz | 3 |
| greens.org.nz | 3 |
| labour.org.nz | 3 |
| act.org.nz | 2 |
| employment.govt.nz | 2 |
| govt.nz | 2 |
| national.org.nz | 2 |
| action.greens.org.nz | 1 |
| business.govt.nz | 1 |

### Gemini

| Website | Answers with this website recorded |
| --- | --- |
| ccsdisabilityaction.org.nz | 3 |
| ammlaw.co.nz | 1 |
| en.wikipedia.org | 1 |
| fullstackproperty.co.nz | 1 |
| labour.org.nz | 1 |
| national.org.nz | 1 |
| nzinitiative.org.nz | 1 |
| nzvotecheck.com | 1 |
| paysauce.com | 1 |
| realestate.co.nz | 1 |

### Google AI Mode

| Website | Answers with this website recorded |
| --- | --- |
| labour.org.nz | 3 |
| policy.nz | 3 |
| elections.nz | 2 |
| facebook.com | 1 |
| rnz.co.nz | 1 |
| vote.nz | 1 |

### AI Overviews

| Website | Answers with this website recorded |
| --- | --- |
| rnz.co.nz | 4 |
| elections.nz | 3 |
| facebook.com | 3 |
| labour.org.nz | 3 |
| www3.parliament.nz | 3 |
| ccsdisabilityaction.org.nz | 2 |
| en.wikipedia.org | 2 |
| nzherald.co.nz | 2 |
| policy.nz | 2 |
| stories.theconversation.com | 2 |

Each website counts once per answer. The comparison covers 19 answers from each edition; 19 of this edition’s answers included citations. Other includes websites we have not yet classified.

[Previous: Queenstown Lakes — hospitality worker in an insecure rental](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/7/voters/r09)

[Next: Student renting and working part time](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/7/voters/s02)