# Renter with variable work hours

NZ Election 2026 · Edition 8 · Voter situations · S03

I rent with my partner and work rostered hours that change from week to week. Our pay can drop unexpectedly, but rent and bills don't.

[Back to the study](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/8#situations)

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

## What this voter asked

### Question 11: Housing

I rent with my partner and work rostered hours that change from week to week. Our pay can drop unexpectedly, but rent and bills don't. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. What would the parties change about rental affordability, tenancy protections and the supply of rental homes?

[Read the captured answers](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/8/questions/aad955c0-4953-48fe-804b-51fe7f380ba2.md)

### Question 12: Jobs and unemployment

I rent with my partner and work rostered hours that change from week to week. Our pay can drop unexpectedly, but rent and bills don't. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. Which parties would change rules around guaranteed hours, casual work and sick leave, and what are the trade-offs?

[Read the captured answers](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/8/questions/bcb5e5bc-b63b-4169-8295-e03c3d7002e4.md)

### Question 13: Cost of living

I rent with my partner and work rostered hours that change from week to week. Our pay can drop unexpectedly, but rent and bills don't. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. What would parties do for households whose wages are not keeping up with groceries and bills?

[Read the captured answers](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/8/questions/a5f87efc-fba5-41c3-b6b0-39ae9b3e28ed.md)

### Question 14: Fuel and energy

I rent with my partner and work rostered hours that change from week to week. Our pay can drop unexpectedly, but rent and bills don't. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. How do parties plan to bring down electricity costs, and is there evidence their proposals would work?

[Read the captured answers](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/8/questions/345f904e-a1c8-4eb8-8b7a-57bb92b61f5c.md)

### Question 15: Tax and public spending

I rent with my partner and work rostered hours that change from week to week. Our pay can drop unexpectedly, but rent and bills don't. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. How would the parties' tax plans affect take-home pay for workers on modest incomes?

[Read the captured answers](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/8/questions/4312b060-77f1-4fcd-bf27-813a564b3a4e.md)

### Question 16: Healthcare

I rent with my partner and work rostered hours that change from week to week. Our pay can drop unexpectedly, but rent and bills don't. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. What are parties proposing about GP costs and access for working people who struggle to afford an appointment?

[Read the captured answers](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/8/questions/efb50721-f731-4bea-b45a-e0c98d1e3763.md)

### Question 17: Housing

I rent with my partner and work rostered hours that change from week to week. Our pay can drop unexpectedly, but rent and bills don't. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. If rent security and having enough money left each week are my biggest priorities, which party would you recommend I vote for, and what are the trade-offs?

[Read the captured answers](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/8/questions/03a1575f-5356-49a2-97b5-ae43c0bb7cb8.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 | 28 | 28 |
| ACT | 25 | 28 |
| NZ First | 23 | 28 |
| Te Pāti Māori | 18 | 28 |
| TOP | 13 | 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Housing | National | 8 | 8 | 12 | 22 | 7 | 3 |
| Housing | Labour | 8 | 8 | 26 | 37 | 3 | 2 |
| Housing | Greens | 8 | 8 | 26 | 36 | 2 | 2 |
| Housing | ACT | 8 | 8 | 8 | 23 | 3 | 2 |
| Housing | NZ First | 6 | 8 | 3 | 19 | 5 | 0 |
| Housing | Te Pāti Māori | 4 | 8 | 7 | 19 | 0 | 1 |
| Housing | TOP | 3 | 8 | 4 | 12 | 0 | 2 |

| Topic | Party | Answers naming the party | Collected answers | Positive claims | Neutral claims | Negative claims | Mixed claims |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Jobs and unemployment | National | 4 | 4 | 3 | 23 | 6 | 0 |
| Jobs and unemployment | Labour | 4 | 4 | 11 | 21 | 4 | 3 |
| Jobs and unemployment | Greens | 4 | 4 | 14 | 22 | 4 | 0 |
| Jobs and unemployment | ACT | 4 | 4 | 4 | 22 | 5 | 0 |
| Jobs and unemployment | NZ First | 4 | 4 | 0 | 18 | 3 | 1 |
| Jobs and unemployment | Te Pāti Māori | 3 | 4 | 7 | 18 | 4 | 1 |
| 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 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 28 | 2 | 0 |
| Cost of living | Labour | 4 | 4 | 8 | 36 | 1 | 0 |
| Cost of living | Greens | 4 | 4 | 7 | 31 | 0 | 0 |
| Cost of living | ACT | 4 | 4 | 2 | 18 | 1 | 0 |
| Cost of living | NZ First | 4 | 4 | 2 | 15 | 1 | 0 |
| Cost of living | Te Pāti Māori | 3 | 4 | 4 | 17 | 0 | 0 |
| Cost of living | TOP | 2 | 4 | 3 | 10 | 0 | 0 |

| Topic | Party | Answers naming the party | Collected answers | Positive claims | Neutral claims | Negative claims | Mixed claims |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Fuel and energy | National | 3 | 4 | 5 | 16 | 1 | 1 |
| Fuel and energy | Labour | 4 | 4 | 11 | 21 | 1 | 1 |
| Fuel and energy | Greens | 4 | 4 | 8 | 15 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel and energy | ACT | 3 | 4 | 5 | 14 | 1 | 2 |
| Fuel and energy | NZ First | 4 | 4 | 1 | 12 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel and energy | Te Pāti Māori | 3 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| Fuel and energy | TOP | 3 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 |

| Topic | Party | Answers naming the party | Collected answers | Positive claims | Neutral claims | Negative claims | Mixed claims |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Tax and public spending | National | 4 | 4 | 4 | 12 | 3 | 2 |
| Tax and public spending | Labour | 4 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 4 | 1 |
| Tax and public spending | Greens | 4 | 4 | 13 | 12 | 1 | 0 |
| Tax and public spending | ACT | 2 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Tax and public spending | NZ First | 2 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| Tax and public spending | Te Pāti Māori | 4 | 4 | 12 | 10 | 1 | 1 |
| Tax and public spending | TOP | 4 | 4 | 12 | 10 | 0 | 2 |

| Topic | Party | Answers naming the party | Collected answers | Positive claims | Neutral claims | Negative claims | Mixed claims |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Healthcare | National | 4 | 4 | 4 | 16 | 1 | 1 |
| Healthcare | Labour | 4 | 4 | 12 | 12 | 2 | 0 |
| Healthcare | Greens | 4 | 4 | 8 | 7 | 4 | 0 |
| Healthcare | ACT | 4 | 4 | 5 | 11 | 1 | 3 |
| Healthcare | NZ First | 3 | 4 | 2 | 10 | 2 | 1 |
| Healthcare | Te Pāti Māori | 1 | 4 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 0 |
| Healthcare | TOP | 1 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 1 |

## How Gemini’s answer changed

The renter’s answer added The Opportunity Party to its discussion of energy efficiency and gave more detail about Labour’s community-housing target. It continued to contrast tenant protections with incentives to build more homes.

Its description of the Greens’ rent cap changed to a formula based on wages or inflation. The published proposal specifies a 2% annual cap, so this was a change in the answer rather than evidence that the policy changed.

Gemini: “They want to **cap rent increases at no more than 2% per year** (unless major property improvements are made), ban no-cause evictions, mandate long-term or permanent tenancy options by default, and introduce an independently certified Rental Warrant of Fitness alongside a national landlord register.”

[Read the answer](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/7/questions/aad955c0-4953-48fe-804b-51fe7f380ba2.md) · Answer ID: 7e490f32-bac4-440d-90d3-030def20f613

Gemini: “* **Green Party:** Proposes the most sweeping tenancy overhauls, including **universal rent controls** (capping rent increases at the lower of inflation or wage growth), banning no-cause evictions, requiring all tenancies to be offered as **long-term or permanent options**, creating a national landlord register, and introducing a compulsory rental Warrant of Fitness.”

[Read the answer](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/8/questions/aad955c0-4953-48fe-804b-51fe7f380ba2.md) · Answer ID: 1ce1df3f-5c84-422a-a295-f6b22489a6ae

## 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 | 5 |
| stories.theconversation.com | 4 |
| greens.org.nz | 3 |
| national.org.nz | 3 |
| policy.nz | 3 |
| undecided.nz | 3 |
| assets.nationbuilder.com | 2 |
| employment.govt.nz | 2 |
| legislation.govt.nz | 2 |
| nzfirst.nz | 2 |

### Gemini

| Website | Answers with this website recorded |
| --- | --- |
| ccsdisabilityaction.org.nz | 4 |
| buildara.nz | 3 |
| mbie.govt.nz | 2 |
| bdo.nz | 1 |
| dfkorb360.co.nz | 1 |
| electrification.co.nz | 1 |
| fullstackproperty.co.nz | 1 |
| interest.co.nz | 1 |
| labour.org.nz | 1 |
| lightforce.co.nz | 1 |

### Google AI Mode

| Website | Answers with this website recorded |
| --- | --- |
| labour.org.nz | 4 |
| greens.org.nz | 3 |
| policy.nz | 2 |
| rnz.co.nz | 2 |
| 1news.co.nz | 1 |
| ccsdisabilityaction.org.nz | 1 |
| dtilawyers.co.nz | 1 |
| kpmg.com | 1 |
| national.org.nz | 1 |
| nzbrands.ai | 1 |

### AI Overviews

| Website | Answers with this website recorded |
| --- | --- |
| labour.org.nz | 5 |
| nzherald.co.nz | 4 |
| policy.nz | 4 |
| rnz.co.nz | 4 |
| facebook.com | 3 |
| greens.org.nz | 3 |
| whichparty.nz | 3 |
| youtube.com | 3 |
| fullstackproperty.co.nz | 2 |
| mymortgage.co.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.

[Previous: Student renting and working part time](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/8/voters/s02)

[Next: Couple saving for a first home](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/8/voters/s04)