# Café owner with a small team

NZ Election 2026 · Edition 7 · Voter situations · S10

I run a café with a small team. Food and power costs are squeezing margins, customers are spending less, and we've experienced a break-in.

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

| Measure | Value |
| --- | --- |
| questions written for them | 7 |
| answers collected | 28 |
| AI assistants | 4 |
| asked nationally | NZ |

## What this voter asked

### Question 50: Economy

I run a café with a small team. Food and power costs are squeezing margins, customers are spending less, and we've experienced a break-in. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. What would parties do to improve conditions for small hospitality businesses, and what evidence supports their plans?

[Read the captured answers](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/7/questions/38051bc2-325a-4158-94e9-2213201ad2eb.md)

### Question 51: Jobs and unemployment

I run a café with a small team. Food and power costs are squeezing margins, customers are spending less, and we've experienced a break-in. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. How do parties differ on minimum wages, employment rules and support for hiring and training staff?

[Read the captured answers](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/7/questions/734b2635-689e-46e6-a74b-60261f6010fd.md)

### Question 52: Tax and public spending

I run a café with a small team. Food and power costs are squeezing margins, customers are spending less, and we've experienced a break-in. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. Which parties propose changes to small-business tax and compliance, and what would those mean for a café?

[Read the captured answers](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/7/questions/5d5460f4-df44-416a-95f3-e9ea9747f420.md)

### Question 53: Fuel and energy

I run a café with a small team. Food and power costs are squeezing margins, customers are spending less, and we've experienced a break-in. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. What would parties do about electricity costs for small businesses?

[Read the captured answers](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/7/questions/cf94c8a8-7cc8-4d72-926f-3633dc366991.md)

### Question 54: Crime and justice

I run a café with a small team. Food and power costs are squeezing margins, customers are spending less, and we've experienced a break-in. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. What do parties propose about retail and small-business crime, prevention and policing?

[Read the captured answers](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/7/questions/6206b275-3942-423e-a7fd-f23f4b3651e7.md)

### Question 55: Immigration

I run a café with a small team. Food and power costs are squeezing margins, customers are spending less, and we've experienced a break-in. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. How do parties compare on immigration settings for hospitality workers?

[Read the captured answers](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/7/questions/44b3abe3-7f32-4dd4-8275-9428d384c709.md)

### Question 56: Economy

I run a café with a small team. Food and power costs are squeezing margins, customers are spending less, and we've experienced a break-in. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. If I want to keep the business viable and treat my staff fairly, which party would you recommend, and where might those priorities conflict?

[Read the captured answers](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/7/questions/e737e0d7-07e0-4718-84bd-19bd34178090.md)

## Which parties appeared in the answers

The figures count names in the 28 answers recorded for this situation. Naming a party does not mean recommending it.

| Party | Answers | Total |
| --- | --- | --- |
| National | 27 | 28 |
| Labour | 28 | 28 |
| Greens | 24 | 28 |
| ACT | 26 | 28 |
| NZ First | 22 | 28 |
| Te Pāti Māori | 12 | 28 |
| TOP | 5 | 28 |

## Party names across this voter’s topics

Compare the parties named in answers about this voter’s main concerns. The table compares 28 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Economy | National | 8 | 8 | 25 | 64 | 5 | 3 |
| Economy | Labour | 8 | 8 | 33 | 50 | 6 | 6 |
| Economy | Greens | 7 | 8 | 14 | 37 | 3 | 1 |
| Economy | ACT | 7 | 8 | 20 | 51 | 4 | 1 |
| Economy | NZ First | 5 | 8 | 11 | 26 | 7 | 3 |
| Economy | Te Pāti Māori | 2 | 8 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 1 |
| Economy | TOP | 1 | 8 | 1 | 12 | 1 | 0 |

| Topic | Party | Answers naming the party | Collected answers | Positive claims | Neutral claims | Negative claims | Mixed claims |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Jobs and unemployment | National | 4 | 4 | 15 | 26 | 0 | 0 |
| Jobs and unemployment | Labour | 4 | 4 | 16 | 29 | 0 | 2 |
| Jobs and unemployment | Greens | 4 | 4 | 4 | 29 | 1 | 2 |
| Jobs and unemployment | ACT | 4 | 4 | 21 | 28 | 0 | 0 |
| Jobs and unemployment | NZ First | 3 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 1 |
| Jobs and unemployment | Te Pāti Māori | 3 | 4 | 0 | 22 | 1 | 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Tax and public spending | National | 3 | 4 | 27 | 16 | 0 | 0 |
| Tax and public spending | Labour | 4 | 4 | 21 | 20 | 3 | 2 |
| Tax and public spending | Greens | 3 | 4 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 2 |
| Tax and public spending | ACT | 3 | 4 | 7 | 13 | 1 | 0 |
| Tax and public spending | NZ First | 4 | 4 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Tax and public spending | Te Pāti Māori | 2 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Tax and public spending | TOP | 2 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 1 |

| Topic | Party | Answers naming the party | Collected answers | Positive claims | Neutral claims | Negative claims | Mixed claims |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Fuel and energy | National | 4 | 4 | 12 | 23 | 1 | 1 |
| Fuel and energy | Labour | 4 | 4 | 7 | 16 | 3 | 2 |
| Fuel and energy | Greens | 3 | 4 | 4 | 18 | 2 | 1 |
| Fuel and energy | ACT | 4 | 4 | 8 | 17 | 2 | 1 |
| Fuel and energy | NZ First | 4 | 4 | 9 | 19 | 1 | 1 |
| Fuel and energy | Te Pāti Māori | 1 | 4 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 2 |
| Fuel and energy | TOP | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

| Topic | Party | Answers naming the party | Collected answers | Positive claims | Neutral claims | Negative claims | Mixed claims |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Crime and justice | National | 4 | 4 | 1 | 38 | 3 | 1 |
| Crime and justice | Labour | 4 | 4 | 2 | 38 | 1 | 0 |
| Crime and justice | Greens | 4 | 4 | 1 | 36 | 0 | 0 |
| Crime and justice | ACT | 4 | 4 | 2 | 35 | 3 | 1 |
| Crime and justice | NZ First | 3 | 4 | 2 | 30 | 1 | 0 |
| Crime and justice | Te Pāti Māori | 2 | 4 | 0 | 24 | 0 | 0 |
| Crime and justice | TOP | 1 | 4 | 0 | 24 | 0 | 0 |

| Topic | Party | Answers naming the party | Collected answers | Positive claims | Neutral claims | Negative claims | Mixed claims |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Immigration | National | 4 | 4 | 4 | 9 | 1 | 2 |
| Immigration | Labour | 4 | 4 | 4 | 15 | 1 | 3 |
| Immigration | Greens | 3 | 4 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Immigration | ACT | 4 | 4 | 7 | 13 | 4 | 2 |
| Immigration | NZ First | 3 | 4 | 0 | 19 | 5 | 0 |
| Immigration | Te Pāti Māori | 2 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Immigration | TOP | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

## How Gemini’s answer changed

The café answer concentrated on National, Labour and ACT’s proposals for administration, payments and wages. It left out NZ First’s earlier company-tax proposal and the discussion of boosting customer spending.

Both answers offered arguments for and against policies rather than evidence of what they would do to this café’s profits.

Gemini: “* *Policies:* Proposes a direct tax cut for small-and-medium enterprises, lowering the company tax rate from **28% to 20% for businesses with a turnover under $30 million**.”

[Read the answer](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/6/questions/38051bc2-325a-4158-94e9-2213201ad2eb.md) · Answer ID: 24dbd9a6-6527-47f3-8b3a-819669c079ad

Gemini: “* **"Paid on Time" Rules:** Requiring large enterprises to pay small business invoices under $25,000 within 15 days, and restoring disclosure requirements under the Business Payment Practices Act so suppliers know payment habits upfront.”

[Read the answer](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/7/questions/38051bc2-325a-4158-94e9-2213201ad2eb.md) · Answer ID: 9f739e84-6099-44bf-8870-cd60081c0ad8

## 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 |
| --- | --- |
| labour.org.nz | 6 |
| nzfirst.nz | 5 |
| act.org.nz | 4 |
| greens.org.nz | 4 |
| national.org.nz | 4 |
| retail.kiwi | 4 |
| ammlaw.co.nz | 3 |
| bdo.nz | 3 |
| businesscentral.org.nz | 2 |
| maoriparty.org.nz | 2 |

### Gemini

| Website | Answers with this website recorded |
| --- | --- |
| national.org.nz | 3 |
| act.org.nz | 2 |
| bdo.nz | 2 |
| labour.org.nz | 2 |
| policy.nz | 2 |
| thespinoff.co.nz | 2 |
| ammlaw.co.nz | 1 |
| apex.org.nz | 1 |
| asl.co.nz | 1 |
| businesscentral.org.nz | 1 |

### Google AI Mode

| Website | Answers with this website recorded |
| --- | --- |
| labour.org.nz | 4 |
| hospitality.org.nz | 2 |
| national.org.nz | 2 |
| nzherald.co.nz | 2 |
| rnz.co.nz | 2 |
| stories.theconversation.com | 2 |
| act.org.nz | 1 |
| ammlaw.co.nz | 1 |
| bdo.nz | 1 |
| businesscanterbury.co.nz | 1 |

### AI Overviews

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

Each website counts once per answer. The comparison covers 28 answers from each edition; 28 of this edition’s answers included citations. Other includes websites we have not yet classified.

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