# Question 111: I migrated to New Zealand, have recently become a citizen and am eligible to vote. I work here, use English as a second language and want to understand both my options and the system. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. How do parties compare on settlement support and rules affecting migrants who want family members to join them? Collected 2 November 2026 [NZ Election 2026 · Edition 8 study](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/8) ## ChatGPT Answer ID: 49e5f7f0-8534-4110-a565-01aa0de352f4 # New Zealand 2026 election: migrant settlement and family reunification First, congratulations on becoming a New Zealand citizen. Becoming a citizen gives you the right to participate fully in New Zealand's democracy, including voting in general elections. Your question is particularly important because immigration policy affects more than the person who migrates. It can affect whether you can bring your parents, partner, children or other relatives to live near you, how easily your family can settle, and whether migrants receive support to participate in New Zealand society. There are two distinct issues worth examining: 1. Settlement support: What help do parties propose for migrants to learn English, find employment, understand New Zealand society, access public services and integrate into communities? 2. Family reunification: What rules do parties support for migrants and residents who want their family members to join them in New Zealand? One important distinction: because you are now a New Zealand citizen, you should examine policies affecting both citizens sponsoring family members and migrants who are still on temporary or resident visas. These are not necessarily treated equally. ## 1. Comparing the main parties The election is scheduled for 7 November 2026. The following comparison covers the seven parties identified as having a realistic chance of entering Parliament. Policy announcements available as at 1 November 2026. These are party proposals, not necessarily enacted law. ### National Party ![Will National Party Finish 2nd in New Zealand's 2026 Election?](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/LCDs4P76HEgfCayafHeSga8GCw12Vxs2fPc3toeyLUZ-wmb6UiGRZY6bhdT1xRejtICfUd6GX2BWmI76EkpoWuffTU4g32bP_qUJp29rsfn5_Zvj5THHSYTLHSoo_5_YQyZ3zKE1WIpB4bu7raRltFl5TZFCgCcE0quf_GohkFI?purpose=inline) National Party Centre-right · Currently governing Family reunification - Proposes a new Parent Boost visa, allowing parents and grandparents to visit or spend extended periods with their children in New Zealand. - The proposed visa would last five years, with the possibility of another five years. - Family sponsorship and health insurance would be required. - Visa holders would not qualify for NZ Superannuation or other government benefits. - Also promises to prioritise and speed up work and visitor visas for partners of New Zealand citizens. Settlement support The emphasis is on attracting and retaining skilled migrants and making it easier for families to remain connected. There is less emphasis in the identified proposals on expanding publicly funded migrant settlement and English-language programmes. What this means: National has particularly relevant proposals if your priority is bringing parents or grandparents for extended visits, or helping an overseas partner join you. Sources: [National on Immigration](https://politika.nz/policies/immigration/national)[Know Your Vote](https://knowyourvote.nz/) ### Labour Party ![South Island Election Conference 2026](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/_spFKDBqOMVPoo8r35YLoGFwljs_-WWe4ur9fdZCfekzAxaUPGA75u8rI9uxOUTssI2hUZN1r4Zu1AeDrcNaxz3uHoFIyWjDpanT5s-KJ87QzxSu1uNjNL4MOHSuazRZuTy_TzC6aN4wxHHoyU_DhzMFuMCMjNBTtg2xRxOZL6c?purpose=inline) Labour Party Centre-left · Opposition Family reunification - Promises to review parent visa rules, including health and English-language requirements. - Proposes expanding visa-waiver access to citizens of Pacific Islands Forum countries, making short family visits easier. - Its published immigration policy does not yet promise a specific increase in parent residence places or a new general family reunification visa. Settlement support - Proposes community-based New Zealand orientation and civic education. - Promises improved access to support in migrant communities. - Proposes allowing migrant workers to change accredited employers after three months, reducing their dependence on one employer. - Proposes stronger protection against migrant exploitation. Important trade-off: Labour proposes increasing the time before eligible migrants can obtain permanent residence from two years to four years. What this means: Labour has relatively explicit proposals for community integration and migrant worker protection, but its longer proposed pathway to permanent residence is an important disadvantage to consider. Sources: [Immigration](https://www.labour.org.nz/immigration)[Labour's 2026 Election Policies](https://www.labour.org.nz/policy) ### ACT New Zealand ![South Island Election Conference 2026](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/GcOzrFkDRkAT5J-3PLntC_t3eT3wuPG52vNnpFJ5xZAm4GrcYnInkkPCmGvxX-xsLbKhD0YWJuWw0gMUfC5fTGhQn818DeGkix5pKa7WUbVIsnjuibMwywV1KW_WLaNJZs2MuIPK7QyoR7pxqUmRZFimxeuxpwyXEYctXwiIwE8?purpose=inline) ACT New Zealand Libertarian / centre-right · Coalition government Family reunification - ACT has campaigned for a more predictable Parent Resident Visa selection system. - It advocated replacing the parent visa ballot with a queue-based system. - It supported removing the two-year expiry on expressions of interest. - It supports a Parent Boost visitor visa that does not impose unnecessarily expensive private insurance requirements. The government's new parent visa selection system, which started in October 2026, reflects ACT's advocacy in part. Settlement support ACT generally emphasises individual responsibility, economic contribution, skills and labour-market participation. Its identified immigration announcements place more emphasis on immigration settings and eligibility than on expanding settlement services. What this means: ACT is worth examining if you prioritise predictable parent residence applications and a more market-oriented approach to immigration. Source: [ACT New Zealand](https://www.act.org.nz/news/act-drives-change-for-fairer-parent-visa-settings)[Know Your Vote](https://knowyourvote.nz/) ### Green Party ![Green Party NZ (@NZGreens) on X](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/xwoeA3rTn5Pu0UL1uRc6X_g8ADsfUTe55rxQEjXC_rnFR_6TPTr_9eG0LsowNOdFRtax24qB8h-LRfUtZEf42T0CC5OclOZ5katbFJAYxs0cZRyqDBlGNgF_8AV_5WTCbYonGIqLGuK095lLGrkBVw3L8vdsA06tLHVNuCJquuc?purpose=inline) Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand Progressive · Opposition Family reunification and settlement The Greens' 2026 manifesto presents a welcoming approach to immigration and refugees. Its central principles include: - Fair and safe pathways for people making New Zealand their home. - Respect and dignity for migrant workers. - Better treatment of migrants and protection against exploitation. - Support for people to settle and participate in New Zealand communities. The manifesto is particularly relevant if you see migration as a question of family connection, human rights and social inclusion, rather than mainly an economic or labour-market issue. Important qualification: I would not assume that the Greens' welcoming principles automatically mean a particular new parent visa or a guaranteed increase in family residence places. Those specific commitments need to be checked. Source: [Manifesto 2026](https://www.greens.org.nz/manifesto_2026) ### New Zealand First ![New Zealand legislative election winner? Predictions & Od... 2026 | Polymarket](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/UmXClDd76aKEk_XyXfEEacFBHXO18HFMG1Im-weRm7tb64uGzBsRK3vWPXuiFN2zaWaNznb7eSDIJucKOhlXtwb6Lq-BYR6oxisKzHsWTxF5AsiLmtcNGDNtwCsXzgIuSp2vW4pa6pAda-tTriG23zKX1ZuknQ81HGh411pqRkM?purpose=inline) New Zealand First Nationalist / populist · Coalition government Family reunification and settlement - Proposes substantially reducing what it describes as non-essential immigration. - Wants immigration to be more closely tied to demonstrated skill shortages. - Proposes replacing the Accredited Employer Work Visa with a more restrictive Skilled Work Visa. - Emphasises integration into a shared national community and the protection of New Zealand workers. What this means: NZ First takes a more restrictive approach to immigration. Its emphasis is on controlling migration numbers, employment needs and national interests, rather than expanding family migration opportunities. Source: [NZ First Announces Immigration Reform Policies](https://www.nzfirst.nz/nz_first_announces_immigration_reform_policies)[Know Your Vote](https://knowyourvote.nz/) ### Te Pāti Māori ![Maori Party New Zealand Merch & Gifts for Sale | Redbubble](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/oaqTNSXcEI85pVM7kCfeb83wSWamPT09CROwgbgyVOiYJhAzWSgFp_eHt0UpCJXys2uaDBKoT6lb7cZgmm93y6Hm33eH2qVAFYwbuhyUDOH6KZ0ldXwcDcveSz6Axxwg0rKY_3rlJCStaG_kOPxcGHDEe6_wP2JKWHFCcfv77PA?purpose=inline) Te Pāti Māori Māori-centred political party · Opposition Its political approach places particular emphasis on Māori rights, whānau, community wellbeing and equity. For your particular question, I would distinguish these broader principles from specific immigration promises. I have not established a sufficiently detailed 2026 commitment on parent visas, partner visas or migrant English-language programmes to make a reliable comparison with National or Labour. ### The Opportunity Party (TOP) ![](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/KZ1zP60v_ZeHHj3ij4DA2sVh6oX86DHN4x_RGhm63IEKbj8P_3phlgxON0_dzBqruxZt_piBvLSwWYOzxGtRjeiBIDJnBczyBauAihY7VhbFruy9Xq4tPeGbXtvfFHap7T9ZV_eOqtHyttigv_yv7jT6ibug6IoPJMJnJ8SLOeE?purpose=inline) The Opportunity Party Centrist / policy-focused · Smaller party TOP has a broader focus on structural economic and social reform. However, I have not verified a sufficiently specific 2026 commitment on family reunification or settlement services to say that it offers a more favourable family visa system. For both smaller parties, it is worth checking their complete immigration manifestos rather than assuming their general social principles translate into particular visa entitlements. ## 2. Quick comparison Here is how the announced positions compare on your two main priorities. | Party | Settlement and integration | Family reunification | | --- | --- | --- | | National | Economic participation; less emphasis on expanded settlement services | Specific parent visitor visa and faster partner visas | | Labour | Orientation, civic education and community support | Review parent rules; easier Pacific family visits | | ACT | Skills and individual responsibility | More predictable parent visa selection | | Greens | Strong emphasis on dignity, fairness and inclusion | Welcoming principles; specific visa commitments need checking | | NZ First | Integration and national identity; tighter immigration | Restrictive overall immigration approach | | Te Pāti Māori | Whānau and community wellbeing | Specific immigration proposals need checking | | TOP | Broader social and economic reform | Specific family visa commitments need checking | This is a comparison of published commitments, not a complete assessment of each party's position on every immigration issue. ## 3. What can you actually do as a new New Zealand citizen? This is an important part of your decision because some family reunification pathways are already available to you, independently of which party wins the election. Here are the main categories. ![Can I Bring My Parents To New Zealand Permanently? 9 Essential Points - The Aotearoa Archive](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/MdZV2qi3I73NIXM6y3YulpD35UDZ5LVP5AL1JfagpYEYihu8_ScGuLtiQQhSnyM4NKB6AOL4VAH9VSzm4Al8hhHXw7yi5xPHpAtXLtvJI26WL-P31zvLWfUMM-wLSy8cJDhC_1dyHuNY3vO17JtpHCBPOIkmI-g1asgS9RaIaTw?purpose=inline) Parents and grandparents You can sponsor eligible parents for: - Parent Resident Visa: permanent residence, subject to eligibility and selection. - Parent Boost Visitor Visa: extended visits of up to five years, with a possible second five-year visa. The parent residence category has an annual limit of 2,500 visas. [Parent Resident Visa](https://www.immigration.govt.nz/visas/parent-resident-visa/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) · [Parent Boost Visitor Visa](https://www.immigration.govt.nz/visas/parent-boost-visitor-visa/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) ![Couple embrace at airport arrival](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/kSYHSXf1kJxJHtx3RDn-uAx3vwQy-Xx-lrTvxbyPmpwBNNORkiCMog5GV_WQRHAY6C2v_bRCpdGxzIPFm2Gt2dTIlNDoo7YtaOLkiupoeYh8JO8mWSmf3qmPvpnuZfy5GkKZYu2i247WKtjNYhZeEWjB1NSTLFYk66Xddu7Emwg3ehae8uqFKg80-UV84j06?purpose=inline) Husband, wife or partner Your partner may qualify for a residence visa if you have lived together in a genuine and stable relationship for at least 12 months and meet the other requirements. [Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa](https://www.immigration.govt.nz/visas/partner-of-a-new-zealander-resident-visa/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) ![Multigenerational Housing: Why More Families Are Living Together Again](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/Y1MbQ9--XI1YNfRgY31nYI0aTrkT8jtodeiRmzGQc6YTH8h7eYBk9dRWv8lv_GayNz8jY0hwqIoekeDHa1vDStSCRNN6k76r1EV0BMRrZDanWtv9X-0IcNE4_u-9jRdKfK8pC5a96QewOOxkyEQu3JZgBUpffWOvj8Ivj9UPj3I?purpose=inline) Dependent children You may sponsor eligible dependent children aged 24 or younger, subject to relationship, dependency and other requirements. [Dependent Child Resident Visa](https://www.immigration.govt.nz/visas/dependent-child-resident-visa/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) There is an important limitation: becoming a citizen does not automatically give your siblings, adult independent children, cousins or other extended relatives a right to residence. ### A significant change to parent visas in 2026 This is particularly relevant to your voting decision. From 5 October 2026, the Parent Resident Visa selection process changed: - Approximately 90% of selected applications come from the queue, based on submission date. - Approximately 10% are selected by ballot. - The annual limit remains 2,500. This is a hybrid system intended to give families who have waited longer greater certainty. ACT advocated for the queue-based change, although the government retained a ballot component. Sources: [Overview of parent visas :: Immigration New Zealand](https://www.immigration.govt.nz/about-us/news-centre/overview-of-parent-visas-and-application-numbers/)[ACT New Zealand](https://www.act.org.nz/news/act-drives-change-for-fairer-parent-visa-settings) ## 4. What does settlement support mean in practice? It is worth looking beyond visas. A migrant can have a valid visa, a job and a home but still face difficulties becoming part of society. Consider these areas when evaluating party policies. | Issue | What to look for in party policies | | --- | --- | | English language | Affordable English courses, workplace English and community classes | | Employment | Recognition of overseas qualifications and protection from exploitation | | Education | Support for migrant parents and children in schools | | Public services | Clear information about healthcare, benefits and legal rights | | Community integration | Local orientation, cultural activities and community organisations | | Family support | Easier visitor visas and practical family reunification | | Housing | Fair access to affordable and suitable housing | For someone whose first language is not English, I would pay particular attention to whether parties propose funding accessible English-language education and providing government information in plain English. There is also a difference between requiring migrants to learn English and helping them learn English. These are not the same policy. For example, a policy that increases English requirements without providing affordable learning opportunities could make migration harder for lower-income families. ## 5. Understanding how your vote works New Zealand uses the Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) electoral system. You receive two votes: - Party vote: This is generally the more important vote for determining how many seats each party receives in Parliament. - Electorate vote: This chooses the MP who represents your local electorate. A party generally needs at least 5% of the party vote or one electorate seat to qualify for parliamentary representation. Importantly, you do not have to vote for the same party and electorate candidate. You can learn more from [Elections New Zealand's explanation of MMP](https://elections.nz/democracy-in-nz/about-elections/what-happens-in-a-general-election?utm_source=chatgpt.com). ## 6. My assessment: Which parties deserve closer examination? Based on the policies identified, I would group the parties as follows. If bringing parents or grandparents is your highest priority: - National: particularly interesting because of its proposed Parent Boost visa and faster partner visas. - ACT: particularly interesting because of its advocacy for a more predictable parent residence selection process. If settlement, English learning and migrant worker protection are your highest priorities: - Labour: has specific proposals for community orientation, civic education and protection from exploitation. - Greens: has a strong emphasis on dignity, inclusion and fair treatment of migrants. If you prioritise stricter immigration controls: - NZ First: has the most explicitly restrictive approach among the policies examined. These are not endorsements. The right choice depends on which issues matter most to you and how you weigh the trade-offs. ## 7. Let's make the comparison more relevant to your family priorities There is one question that would make a substantial difference to how I compare the parties. I can then produce a more detailed comparison, including a ranking of the parties against your priorities, the advantages and disadvantages of their proposals, and questions you should ask when evaluating their promises. One final thought: You have become a New Zealand citizen, but that doesn't mean you need to forget your migrant experience when deciding how to vote. You can consider both what makes New Zealand work well for everyone already living here and what kind of country it should be for the families who may arrive in the future. ## Gemini Answer ID: 03a35583-21c9-4082-a125-aa9096c893c2 Congratulations on becoming a New Zealand citizen! Navigating a new political and civic system—especially using English as a second language—is a significant milestone. As a citizen, you have full voting rights, and your voice carries equal weight in shaping how New Zealand approaches immigration, settlement, and family reunification. The major political parties hold distinct philosophies and proposed policies regarding migrant settlement and family rules. --- ### Overview of Political Party Positions | Party | Approach to Settlement & Integration | Stance on Family Reunification / Visas | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | **New Zealand First (NZF)** | Favours tighter, restricted migration and prioritises domestic resources. Proposes a 10-year stand-down for newly resident migrants accessing main welfare benefits, and wants social housing prioritised strictly for citizens. | Has historically pushed for tighter caps on overall immigration numbers, which impacts the fluidity of family categories. | | **ACT New Zealand** | Focuses on a market-driven, employer-led model. Proposes a 5-year welfare stand-down for residence class visa holders, and a replacement of permanent resident visas with a rolling 5-year travel condition model. | Generally aligns with economic utility rather than broad humanitarian or expanded family-class sponsorships. | | **Green Party** | Advocates for supportive, long-term settlement pathways, including regularisation options for long-settled migrants or those whose visas have expired. Supports removing punitive health standards that block settlement. | Strongly supports resourcing Immigration New Zealand to clear backlogs in tier 1 and tier 2 **family reunification categories** quickly. | | **Labour Party** | Generally views immigration as a tool that should be well-managed alongside infrastructure, supporting protections against migrant exploitation. | Tends to support structured family pathways while balancing overall volume against public infrastructure capacity. | | **National Party** *(Current Government Lead)* | Focuses on skilled talent attraction tied to economic needs, while implementing practical adjustments (such as the recent 2026 updates to the Parent Resident Visa EOI selection process to make tracking fairer). | Manages the current capped Parent Resident Visa framework (which sits at 2,500 visas per year) alongside alternative long-term visitor options like Parent Boost. | --- ### How Parties Compare on Key Issues #### 1. Migrant Settlement Support & Welfare Access * **Right-of-centre parties (like ACT and NZ First)** emphasize fiscal restraint for newcomers. They have proposed measures such as multi-year stand-down periods (ranging from 5 to 10 years) before new resident visa holders can access certain income-tested benefits or welfare supports. Their focus is on ensuring migrants are self-sufficient through employment immediately. * **Left-of-centre and progressive parties (like the Greens)** focus more on structural settlement support, reducing bureaucratic hurdles, offering pathways for long-term or undocumented migrants who have already integrated into communities, and easing health-requirement barriers to residence. #### 2. Rules Affecting Family Members Joining You * **Parent and Family Categories:** Bringing older parents or extended family to New Zealand typically operates under strict quotas and criteria (such as the Parent Resident Visa, which utilizes a ballot/expression of interest pool system and strict sponsor income thresholds). * **The Party Split:** Parties like the Greens explicitly campaign on clearing family reunification backlogs and prioritizing humanitarian and family streams. Conversely, parties focused on reducing immigration numbers (like NZ First) generally support stricter caps and higher hurdles across all non-economic visa categories, making it harder to bring family members over. Mainstream governing parties (like National) manage these categories through managed ballots, income requirements for sponsors, and capped annual intakes. --- ### Practical Next Steps for Voting As a new citizen participating in your first election, you can look closely at how each party’s philosophy matches your values: 1. **Weigh your priorities:** Do you lean toward parties that promise strict economic controls and caps (favouring infrastructure management), or parties that prioritize humanitarian pathways and family reunion support? 2. **Explore neutral voting tools:** Websites like **Policy.nz** provide side-by-side, plain-English comparisons of every party's stance on specific issues like immigration, welfare, and housing. Is there a particular type of family visa (such as partner or parent categories) that you are trying to navigate for your relatives? ## Google AI Mode Answer ID: 51ca473b-8414-41ae-b1cc-d1b96921b631 Congratulations on becoming a New Zealand citizen and taking part in your first general election! Navigating a new political and linguistic system is a big step, and understanding where the political parties stand on migrant settlement and family reunification can help clarify your options. Based on platforms and policy announcements for the 2026 New Zealand general election, the major parties outline distinct approaches to immigration, residency timelines, welfare access, and family/parent visas. * * * **Overview of Party Approaches** * **National Party (Incumbent/Current Settings)** * **Settlement & Rules:** National has focused on continuing current settings through frameworks like "Going for Growth," refining the Skilled Migrant Category, and updating occupation lists. * **Family & Residence:** National’s leadership has publicly demurred on more radical tightening, explicitly declining to back proposals like abolishing permanent resident visas, preferring a stable framework for skilled workers and their families. * **New Zealand Labour Party** * **Settlement & Rules:** Labour approaches immigration through the lens of aligning arrivals with infrastructure, housing, and workforce demands. They have proposed doubling the required time frame to transition toward permanent residence. However, Labour has also criticised harsher anti-migrant rhetoric in the political sphere and proposed a specific citizenship pathway for children born in New Zealand to undocumented parents who have lived continuously in the country. * **Family & Residence:** Labour has called for a financial criteria review regarding parent resident visas to assess fairness and accessibility. * **ACT New Zealand** * **Settlement & Rules:** ACT frames its policy around market-driven economic needs alongside tighter eligibility barriers for public support. Proposals include annual reviews of skilled jobs lists to match economic shortages, a 5-year welfare stand-down bar for new migrants, and the controversial proposal to abolish permanent resident visas entirely (requiring ongoing visa renewals instead). * **Family & Residence:** Tends to emphasize employment-linked pathways for individuals over broad family-expansion categories, aligning with an overall tighter control on permanent statuses. * **New Zealand First** * **Settlement & Rules:** NZ First proposes the most restrictive and comprehensive tightening of migrant rules among the parties. Their platform includes doubling the qualifying period for both permanent residence and citizenship from 5 years to 10 years, restricting automatic birthright citizenship, implementing a 10-year welfare bar on benefits like jobseeker support or the accommodation supplement, and holding a non-binding referendum on capping annual resident visas. * **Family & Residence:** Generally favors stricter controls, higher fees, and tighter caps across all residency and family reunion categories. * **Green Party & Te Pāti Māori** * **Settlement & Rules:** The Greens and Te Pāti Māori generally oppose restrictive or punitive immigration policies, pushing back against anti-migrant rhetoric and advocating for more compassionate refugee and migrant support structures. They generally support smoother pathways to residency and family reunification rather than adding qualifying hurdles. * * * **Key Themes to Consider as a New Citizen** 1. **Timeline to Permanent Status & Citizenship Rules:** * If you are looking at rules affecting future family or community members arriving under longer-term tracks, parties like **NZ First** and **Labour** have proposed extending or doubling the residency/permanent residency time requirements, whereas **National** maintains standard current timelines, and **ACT** has floated removing permanent residency entirely. 2. **Family and Parent Visas:** * Parties differ significantly on how accessible parent and family reunification categories should be. **Labour** has proposed reviewing the financial thresholds for parent visas, whereas conservative-leaning parties like **NZ First** and **ACT** focus more on tightening overall numbers, increasing fees, or prioritizing immediate economic labor utility over extended family categories. 3. **Welfare and Settlement Support Access:** * **NZ First** (10-year bar) and **ACT** (5-year bar) propose implementing stand-down periods restricting new migrants from accessing standard welfare support or supplementary benefits. Other parties place more emphasis on state-funded settlement support and community inclusion. To explore specific party manifestos and compare detailed line-by-line policies directly, you can visit [Policy.nz](https://policy.nz/2026/party-vote/policies/migration) or check neutral voting logistics on the official Elections NZ portal. ## AI Overviews Answer ID: 75809734-4e1e-4875-987c-4064509cff1b Congratulations on becoming a New Zealand citizen! Voting for the first time is a significant step, and understanding how the Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) system works will help you make an informed decision for the general election on **Saturday, 7 November 2026**. In New Zealand's election, you get **two votes** : the **Party Vote** (which chooses the party you want in government) and the **Electorate Vote** (which chooses the local MP for your area). The Party Vote is the most powerful because it decides the total percentage of seats a party gets in Parliament. Here is how the major political parties compare regarding settlement support and family reunification rules, based on their 2026 election platforms. * * * Comparison of Party Policies on Family Reunification & Settlement Political Party| Settlement & Residency Rules| Parent & Grandparent Visas| Partners & Wider Family ---|---|---|--- **National Party** _(Current Government leading party)_| • Focuses on attracting skilled migrants. • Prefers to keep the current 2-year permanent residency timeline.| • Introduced a **hybrid selection model** for the Parent Resident Visa (90% chronological queue, 10% random ballot). • Promised a 5-year multi-entry "Parent Boost" visitor visa.| • Promises to **expedite and prioritize** working and visitor visas for partners met overseas. **Labour Party** _(Main Opposition)_| • Wants to **double the permanent residency timeline** from 2 years to 4 years. • Proposes community-led orientation and civic education to aid integration.| • Promises a **10-year multiple-entry "Super Visa"** for parents and grandparents (6 months to 5 years per visit). • Plans to review and ease the financial criteria for parent visas.| • Expanding visa-waiver access via electronic travel authority (NZeTA) for Pacific Island Forum countries to ease family travel. **ACT New Zealand** _(Government Coalition Partner)_| • Proposes **abolishing the Permanent Resident Visa category entirely** , replacing it with a rolling 5-year travel facility requiring 2 years of physical presence.| • Previously supported long-term visitor visas for parents with private health insurance requirements.| • Enforces strict welfare stand-down periods (5 years) for new migrants. **New Zealand First** _(Government Coalition Partner)_| • Proposes **tightening citizenship rules** (doubling residency requirement from 5 to 10 years). • Proposes a 10-year welfare stand-down period for non-citizens.| • Strongly advocates for stricter limits, including a referendum to cap overall resident visas to 20,000 per year.| • Focuses heavily on reducing net migration numbers to ease pressure on infrastructure. **Green Party & Te Pāti Māori** _(Opposition)_| • Strongly **oppose anti-migrant rhetoric**. • Focus on strong migrant worker exploitation protections and equitable human rights.| • Support open pathways that keep families together and reject strict caps on family reunification categories.| • Advocate for treating overstayers with compassion and providing broader regularisation pathways. * * * Key Takeaways for Your Decision * **If your priority is bringing parents for long visits or resident visas:** The [National Party](https://www.national.org.nz) highlights its recent shift away from pure lottery ballots to a 90% date-ordered queue for Parent Resident Visas. Meanwhile, the [Labour Party](https://www.labour.org.nz) is campaigning heavily on a 10-year "Super Visa" and reviewing financial barriers to make it easier for middle-income workers to sponsor parents. * **If your priority is the timeline for wider family to settle permanently:** Be aware that the Labour Party plans to increase the time it takes to get permanent residency to 4 years (while adding civic education support), while parties like ACT and NZ First wish to restrict permanent residency conditions or extend citizenship waiting periods significantly. * **A Note on Partnership Visas:** Across the board, Immigration New Zealand recently tightened rules requiring both partners to be at least 18 years old to sponsor or apply for partnership visas. National has pledged to speed up partner work visa processing times specifically. To view the complete, unaltered text of all migration proposals as the election approaches, you can check the interactive summaries on Policy.nz Migration Guide.