# Unpaid carer juggling work and care

NZ Election 2026 · Edition 7 · Voter situations · S15

I work part time and provide unpaid care for an older family member who needs help every day. Getting reliable support is difficult.

[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 78: Retirement and aged care

I work part time and provide unpaid care for an older family member who needs help every day. Getting reliable support is difficult. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. How do parties compare on home-based care, aged care and respite services?

[Read the captured answers](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/7/questions/bec8b0b6-237b-4732-9533-092e706f3d2c.md)

### Question 79: Poverty and welfare

I work part time and provide unpaid care for an older family member who needs help every day. Getting reliable support is difficult. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. What financial recognition or support do parties propose for unpaid family carers?

[Read the captured answers](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/7/questions/a006cfe2-0b1d-4f00-bb9a-c564d0adbd02.md)

### Question 80: Healthcare

I work part time and provide unpaid care for an older family member who needs help every day. Getting reliable support is difficult. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. What do parties propose about coordinating healthcare and support for families caring for someone at home?

[Read the captured answers](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/7/questions/2bade0ae-9471-4d8f-af4b-2221355ddebc.md)

### Question 81: Jobs and unemployment

I work part time and provide unpaid care for an older family member who needs help every day. Getting reliable support is difficult. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. Which parties address flexible work and leave for people with substantial caring responsibilities?

[Read the captured answers](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/7/questions/61520967-3119-44b0-803e-6e7b453f3f8a.md)

### Question 82: Mental health and addiction

I work part time and provide unpaid care for an older family member who needs help every day. Getting reliable support is difficult. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. What do parties propose about mental health and practical support for family carers?

[Read the captured answers](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/7/questions/78b52f52-f89f-48a7-9891-8f6e7a59f371.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 | 19 | 20 |
| Labour | 20 | 20 |
| Greens | 20 | 20 |
| ACT | 15 | 20 |
| NZ First | 14 | 20 |
| Te Pāti Māori | 12 | 20 |
| TOP | 9 | 20 |

## Party names across this voter’s topics

Compare the parties named in answers about this voter’s main concerns. The table compares 20 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Retirement and aged care | National | 4 | 4 | 5 | 13 | 0 | 1 |
| Retirement and aged care | Labour | 4 | 4 | 7 | 10 | 3 | 1 |
| Retirement and aged care | Greens | 4 | 4 | 7 | 13 | 0 | 1 |
| Retirement and aged care | ACT | 4 | 4 | 1 | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| Retirement and aged care | NZ First | 4 | 4 | 3 | 14 | 1 | 1 |
| Retirement and aged care | Te Pāti Māori | 2 | 4 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 1 |
| Retirement and aged care | TOP | 1 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 1 |

| Topic | Party | Answers naming the party | Collected answers | Positive claims | Neutral claims | Negative claims | Mixed claims |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Poverty and welfare | National | 4 | 4 | 3 | 10 | 6 | 3 |
| Poverty and welfare | Labour | 4 | 4 | 11 | 6 | 6 | 2 |
| Poverty and welfare | Greens | 4 | 4 | 15 | 6 | 4 | 1 |
| Poverty and welfare | ACT | 3 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 8 | 1 |
| Poverty and welfare | NZ First | 1 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 1 |
| Poverty and welfare | Te Pāti Māori | 2 | 4 | 12 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Poverty and welfare | TOP | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0 |

| Topic | Party | Answers naming the party | Collected answers | Positive claims | Neutral claims | Negative claims | Mixed claims |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Healthcare | National | 4 | 4 | 14 | 10 | 2 | 0 |
| Healthcare | Labour | 4 | 4 | 16 | 10 | 1 | 0 |
| Healthcare | Greens | 4 | 4 | 16 | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| Healthcare | ACT | 2 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Healthcare | NZ First | 3 | 4 | 3 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| Healthcare | Te Pāti Māori | 1 | 4 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| Healthcare | TOP | 3 | 4 | 3 | 10 | 0 | 0 |

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

| Topic | Party | Answers naming the party | Collected answers | Positive claims | Neutral claims | Negative claims | Mixed claims |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Mental health and addiction | National | 3 | 4 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 0 |
| Mental health and addiction | Labour | 4 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| Mental health and addiction | Greens | 4 | 4 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Mental health and addiction | ACT | 3 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| Mental health and addiction | NZ First | 3 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Mental health and addiction | Te Pāti Māori | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Mental health and addiction | TOP | 1 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 |

## How Gemini’s answer changed

The carer’s answer led with NZ First and primary-care support and acknowledged that respite arrangements can vary. It dropped the earlier discussion of the Greens’ aged-care approach and The Opportunity Party’s long-term health planning.

Neither answer demonstrated that a respite worker would be available to this household.

Gemini: “* **Approach to Care:** The Greens propose a radical overhaul of the health and care landscape, aiming to transition privately funded aged care, palliative care, and primary health services into fully funded, free public services.”

[Read the answer](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/6/questions/bec8b0b6-237b-4732-9533-092e706f3d2c.md) · Answer ID: 1cbc361b-192a-48e8-beec-d3476262a16f

Gemini: “However, specific expansion of government-funded **respite care days** (such as the Carer Support Subsidy) varies, with advocacy groups continuously pushing for less administrative friction and more flexible funding models (building on recent 2026 shifts to flexible funding rules overseen by NASCs and Host organizations).”

[Read the answer](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/7/questions/bec8b0b6-237b-4732-9533-092e706f3d2c.md) · Answer ID: 58f2d80c-c3c6-4a8f-afda-5cba8432842e

## 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 |
| --- | --- |
| ccsdisabilityaction.org.nz | 4 |
| national.org.nz | 4 |
| thedlist.co.nz | 3 |
| greens.org.nz | 2 |
| greypowermag.co.nz | 2 |
| health.govt.nz | 2 |
| labour.org.nz | 2 |
| msd.govt.nz | 2 |
| buddlefindlay.com | 1 |
| deafblindassociation.nz | 1 |

### Gemini

| Website | Answers with this website recorded |
| --- | --- |
| ccsdisabilityaction.org.nz | 4 |
| apex.org.nz | 3 |
| nzmj.org.nz | 2 |
| drnz.co.nz | 1 |
| greypowermag.co.nz | 1 |
| labour.org.nz | 1 |
| parent2parent.org.nz | 1 |

### Google AI Mode

| Website | Answers with this website recorded |
| --- | --- |
| ccsdisabilityaction.org.nz | 3 |
| rnz.co.nz | 2 |
| aca.org.nz | 1 |
| employment.govt.nz | 1 |
| facebook.com | 1 |
| greens.org.nz | 1 |
| labour.org.nz | 1 |
| mentalhealth.org.nz | 1 |
| opportunity.org.nz | 1 |
| policy.nz | 1 |

### AI Overviews

| Website | Answers with this website recorded |
| --- | --- |
| facebook.com | 5 |
| apex.org.nz | 4 |
| inclusiveworld.org.nz | 4 |
| labour.org.nz | 4 |
| nzbrands.ai | 4 |
| rnz.co.nz | 4 |
| ccsdisabilityaction.org.nz | 3 |
| healthnz.govt.nz | 3 |
| national.org.nz | 3 |
| disabilitysupport.govt.nz | 2 |

Each website counts once per answer. The comparison covers 20 answers from each edition; 20 of this edition’s answers included citations. Other includes websites we have not yet classified.

[Previous: Disabled adult seeking independent living](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/7/voters/s14)

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