2026 New Zealand election: trade, farming and agricultural exports

For a farming business in rural New Zealand, the election debate is about more than export prices. It is also about the cost of meeting environmental rules, access to overseas markets, biosecurity, transport infrastructure and whether rural communities can retain access to essential services.

I would separate the parties' positions into three questions:

1. Market access: What are they proposing to do to secure and expand access to overseas markets for meat, dairy, horticulture and other primary products?
2. Farm operating costs: What do they propose on emissions pricing, freshwater, biodiversity, resource consents and agricultural regulation?
3. Rural resilience: What are their policies on roads, freight, telecommunications, health services and rural infrastructure?

One important distinction: a trade agreement opening a market does not necessarily mean farmers will receive better prices. Tariffs, quotas, overseas standards, processing costs and exchange rates also matter.

1. What the major parties are offering

The following reflects published 2026 campaign policies and statements available as at 1 November 2026. I've distinguished specific commitments from broader statements of support.

National

Published trade and farming plans

Trade and exports

• Prioritise new trade agreements with countries in Europe, South America, Africa and Asia.
• Begin negotiations with seven new economies over five years.
• Aim to double the value of exports by 2034.
• Expand digital customs and paperless trade, with a stated target of eliminating $1 billion in non-tariff barriers.
• Conduct at least 23 trade missions over the next parliamentary term.
• Give NZ Trade and Enterprise a stronger export-development role. New Zealand's Next Billion CustomersNational sets out plan to double exports by 2034

Farm operating costs and environment

• Keep agriculture outside the Emissions Trading Scheme.
• Continue simplifying farm regulations and resource consent requirements.
• Introduce 19 national farming standards covering activities such as irrigation, fertiliser, effluent, farm tracks and water storage.
• Provide $300 million in concessional loans for water-storage projects.
• Negotiate fertiliser supply agreements and establish a $10 million Critical Agri Inputs Fund. Backing NZ’s farmers and growers, to grow and open new exporNational sets out plan to double exports by 2034Securing water and fertiliser to back NZ farmers

What this could mean for your farm: The emphasis is on expanding export opportunities, production flexibility, water security and reducing compliance costs. One issue to examine is whether the proposed simplification of environmental rules provides sufficient certainty around future freshwater and land-use obligations.

Labour

Trade and exports

Labour's published 2026 campaign material places more emphasis on domestic economic conditions, small business and cost of living than on a detailed new agricultural trade programme.

Its stated priorities include:

• Deepening relationships with the EU, Canada, ASEAN and Pacific countries.
• Supporting international institutions and multilateral cooperation.
• Improving competition and fairness for food producers dealing with major supermarkets.
• Ending unfair supplier fees and contracts imposed by large supermarket businesses. Labour's 2026 Election PoliciesFairer Grocery Prices

Farm operating costs and environment

• Labour proposes fixing the Emissions Trading Scheme and maintaining New Zealand's commitment to the Paris Agreement.
• Its approach is more focused on emissions accountability than National's or ACT's.
• Its small-business proposals include a $10,000 instant asset write-off and faster payment requirements for small suppliers.
• It proposes a three-year fuel excise tax freeze, potentially relevant to farm transport and machinery costs. Labour's 2026 Election PoliciesLabour's Cost of Living Plan

What this could mean for your farm: Look closely at the eventual emissions-pricing arrangements and their treatment of agricultural producers. Labour's supermarket proposals may also be relevant if you supply domestic food markets, although they are not a substitute for overseas export-market access.

ACT

Detailed farming policy published

Trade and exports

ACT's published farming plan is more detailed on domestic production costs and regulation than on negotiating new export agreements. Its position includes:

• Reducing regulatory costs affecting agricultural inputs.
• Recognising trusted overseas approvals for agricultural chemicals and veterinary medicines.
• Supporting farmers' access to technology and a rural workforce visa.
• Reducing barriers to direct farm sales. ACT New Zealand

Farm operating costs and environment

• Permanently exclude agricultural emissions from the ETS.
• Oppose agricultural emissions taxes or pricing schemes.
• Reduce the carbon tax affecting fuel and farm inputs.
• Remove resource consent requirements for routine farming activities that meet national standards.
• Make freshwater rules more locally and scientifically based.
• Repeal the Zero Carbon Act and end the net-zero target.
• Support practical catchment groups and voluntary conservation initiatives. ACT New Zealand

What this could mean for your farm: ACT is proposing significant changes to compliance obligations and emissions policy. Its approach would reduce some direct regulatory costs, but you would want to consider how changes to environmental settings might affect market expectations and New Zealand's international climate commitments.

New Zealand First

Trade and exports

NZ First emphasises the importance of primary industries to the national economy and rural employment.

Its published statements highlight:

• Supporting agriculture, forestry, fishing, aquaculture, mining and wool.
• Using coalition negotiations to secure regional investment.
• Supporting regional infrastructure, including ports, flood protection, water storage and irrigation.
• Returning more economic benefits to the regions. Election 2026: What Parties Promise the Primary Sector

Farm operating costs and environment

Its primary-sector campaign statements emphasise:

• Practical policies that improve rural profitability.
• Regional infrastructure investment.
• Support for industries that contribute to merchandise exports.
• Greater recognition of rural communities in government decisions.

NZ First has not provided the same level of detailed, publicly documented new export-market commitments in the material reviewed as National has.

What this could mean for your farm: Its regional infrastructure emphasis is relevant if freight costs, road access, water storage or distance from services are significant operating issues.

Opportunity Party (TOP)

Trade and exports

Opportunity's primary-sector response emphasises innovation, research and development, rather than a specific programme of new free-trade agreements.

Its proposals include:

• Greater investment in agricultural science and research.
• Support for regional polytechnics and technology incubators.
• A 25% tax credit on new business investment, including farm technology.
• A long-term infrastructure strategy covering roads, bridges and power generation. Election 2026: What Parties Promise the Primary Sector

What this could mean for your farm: Its emphasis is on improving productivity and supporting innovation. You would need to examine the details and eligibility of its proposed investment incentives.

Green Party and Te Pāti Māori

I would be cautious about assigning detailed 2026 agricultural export commitments to either party without a specific current policy document.

The available election material identifies different approaches to environmental management, climate policy and freshwater governance, but the rural-sector survey reported that the Greens had not responded by its publication deadline. Election 2026: What Parties Promise the Primary SectorPolicies for Party vote - NZ Election 2026

For both parties, I would investigate:

• Whether agricultural emissions pricing would be introduced or expanded.
• How freshwater and biodiversity requirements would affect farming operations.
• Their approach to international trade agreements and environmental conditions attached to exports.
• Their support for Māori-owned farming and primary-sector businesses.

2. Side-by-side comparison

Issue	National	Labour	ACT	NZ First	Opportunity
New trade agreements	Explicit expansion programme	International relationships	Less detail in farming plan	Primary-sector support	Less detail
Export growth target	Double exports by 2034	No equivalent target identified	No equivalent target identified	No equivalent target identified	No equivalent target identified
Agricultural ETS	Agriculture excluded	Emissions-pricing reform	Permanently excluded	Examine detailed policy	Examine detailed policy
Farm compliance	Simplification	More emissions accountability	Major deregulation	Practical regional focus	Innovation and investment
Water infrastructure	$300m concessional loans	No comparable commitment identified	Easier consenting	Regional infrastructure emphasis	Long-term infrastructure
Rural business investment	Investment incentives	Small-business support	Lower regulatory costs	Regional development	25% investment tax credit

This table reflects the published commitments located, not a claim that parties have no other policies.

3. What matters most for protecting agricultural exports?

There are several issues worth looking beyond the headline trade announcements for.

A. Tariffs and trade agreements

New Zealand's exporters need competitive access to major markets, particularly:

• China – dairy, meat, horticulture and forestry.
• Australia – agricultural products and regional supply chains.
• India – a major potential growth market for dairy, meat and horticulture.
• European Union – premium food markets and higher-value products.
• United Kingdom and Gulf countries – meat, dairy and other food exports.

National is explicitly prioritising new agreements and export growth. Its India agreement and arrangements with the UAE and Gulf states are part of that strategy. Election 2026: What Parties Promise the Primary SectorNew Zealand's Next Billion Customers

B. Non-tariff trade barriers

Tariffs aren't the only obstacle. Farmers can face:

• Different overseas animal-health requirements.
• Restrictions on meat and dairy imports.
• Food safety and traceability requirements.
• Sustainability and carbon reporting requirements.
• Delays in export approvals and product certification.

The New Zealand red meat industry's 2026 election manifesto specifically identifies non-tariff barriers, protectionism and the need to maintain existing market access as priorities. It also calls for better international recognition of New Zealand's regulatory systems. New Zealand’s red meat sector:

This is important because an exporter can have a free-trade agreement and still struggle to get products into a market.

C. New Zealand's environmental reputation

International buyers increasingly assess the environmental and production credentials of food.

There is a genuine policy question here:

• How much environmental compliance should farmers carry?
• How can New Zealand maintain its reputation for high-quality, sustainable food?
• How can environmental improvements be recognised in export prices?
• How can regulations avoid imposing costs that overseas competitors do not face?

Different parties have different answers. National and ACT emphasise reducing domestic compliance costs, while Labour places more emphasis on emissions accountability.

4. Rural services and infrastructure: an important additional consideration

For a farm well outside a main centre, national economic growth figures may not tell the whole story.

I would also compare party commitments on these practical matters:

Area	What to investigate
Roads	Rural road maintenance, bridges, flood recovery and heavy-vehicle access
Freight	Access to ports, rail and reliable transport routes
Telecommunications	Rural broadband and mobile coverage
Healthcare	Rural GP access, emergency services and ambulance response
Workforce	Seasonal worker availability, immigration and vocational training
Water	Irrigation, storage, flood protection and drought resilience
Biosecurity	Border protection, pest surveillance and rapid disease response
Electricity	Reliable rural supply and affordable energy for farm operations

Some of these issues have direct party commitments. For example, ACT proposes expanded rural healthcare access through pharmacies and additional rural police patrols. National has proposed water-storage financing, while NZ First emphasises regional infrastructure investment. ACT New ZealandSecuring water and fertiliser to back NZ farmersElection 2026: What Parties Promise the Primary Sector

5. Questions I would put to candidates before voting

I would use these questions at local candidate meetings or when contacting party representatives.

1. What specific new export markets will you pursue for New Zealand agricultural products over the next three years?
2. How will you protect existing access to China, the EU and other major markets?
3. What will you do when overseas countries introduce new tariffs or non-tariff restrictions?
4. Will you ensure that environmental requirements imposed on New Zealand farmers are recognised by overseas customers?
5. What is your policy on agricultural emissions pricing, and what will it cost an average commercial farm?
6. How will you reduce the cost of fertiliser, fuel, electricity and agricultural inputs?
7. What funding will be available for rural roads, bridges, telecommunications and water infrastructure?
8. How will you ensure rural communities retain access to healthcare and emergency services?

6. Useful independent sources before making your decision

These are worth reading alongside party manifestos:

• Rural News – Election 2026: What parties promise the primary sector. Industry-focused questions and party responses.
• Beef + Lamb New Zealand – 2026 election manifesto. Particularly useful for trade access and export barriers.
• Policy.nz – 2026 party policy comparisons. Independent policy comparison.
• Know Your Vote – 2026 election policy tracker. Tracks published party commitments.
• National – New Zealand's Next Billion Customers.
• ACT – Make Farming Fun Again.

My suggested way to assess the policies

Rather than looking only at which party promises the most export growth, I would assess each party against four separate measures:

1. Export security

Will the party actively protect existing markets and negotiate new ones?

2. Farm profitability

What will its policies mean for fuel, fertiliser, labour, compliance and investment costs?

3. Environmental obligations

Are the rules affordable, predictable and compatible with overseas customer requirements?

4. Rural living and infrastructure

Will roads, telecommunications, healthcare and emergency services be adequately supported outside the main centres?

One important qualification: Party policies are promises, not guaranteed outcomes. Coalition agreements, government budgets, international negotiations and changes in global markets can all affect what is ultimately delivered.

The key distinction in this election is that National has published a particularly explicit export-growth and trade-negotiation programme, ACT has published particularly detailed proposals for reducing farm regulation and emissions costs, Labour emphasises emissions accountability and domestic business conditions, while NZ First and Opportunity place considerable emphasis on regional development and investment.

Those are differences in policy emphasis, rather than a judgement about which party would deliver the best result.

I can also put together a more detailed farm-business comparison, looking at the likely implications of each party's policies for a typical New Zealand sheep and beef, dairy or cropping operation, including fuel, fertiliser, emissions, freshwater rules and rural infrastructure.