# Rural resident outside farming

NZ Election 2026 · Edition 8 · Voter situations · S17

I work in a small town rather than farming. My family drives long distances for services, and local jobs and healthcare are limited.

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

| Measure | Value |
| --- | --- |
| questions written for them | 5 |
| answers collected | 20 |
| AI assistants | 4 |
| asked nationally | NZ |

## What this voter asked

### Question 90: Healthcare

I work in a small town rather than farming. My family drives long distances for services, and local jobs and healthcare are limited. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. Which parties have specific plans for healthcare access in smaller towns and rural communities?

[Read the captured answers](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/8/questions/02b496ed-8b5f-436f-a0e1-22c6c26e20ee.md)

### Question 91: Jobs and unemployment

I work in a small town rather than farming. My family drives long distances for services, and local jobs and healthcare are limited. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. What would parties do to create or retain jobs in small towns beyond farming?

[Read the captured answers](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/8/questions/cba9dd43-a3ce-4b54-865c-3c05e01044f1.md)

### Question 92: Fuel and energy

I work in a small town rather than farming. My family drives long distances for services, and local jobs and healthcare are limited. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. What would parties do about fuel costs for people who have few public transport alternatives?

[Read the captured answers](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/8/questions/09a85bca-080a-42c6-81d7-17a9b7cffe5e.md)

### Question 93: Infrastructure and local services

I work in a small town rather than farming. My family drives long distances for services, and local jobs and healthcare are limited. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. How do parties compare on roads, broadband and local infrastructure outside major cities?

[Read the captured answers](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/8/questions/7075a420-3cab-4967-9eba-46f32a4a2f85.md)

### Question 94: Education and childcare

I work in a small town rather than farming. My family drives long distances for services, and local jobs and healthcare are limited. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. What do parties propose about retaining schools, teachers and learning support in smaller communities?

[Read the captured answers](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/8/questions/b801a869-e962-4f43-b2d8-c379db518132.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 | 19 | 20 |
| NZ First | 17 | 20 |
| Te Pāti Māori | 11 | 20 |
| TOP | 7 | 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Healthcare | National | 3 | 4 | 3 | 17 | 0 | 0 |
| Healthcare | Labour | 4 | 4 | 10 | 16 | 1 | 0 |
| Healthcare | Greens | 4 | 4 | 8 | 16 | 0 | 0 |
| Healthcare | ACT | 4 | 4 | 5 | 17 | 1 | 0 |
| Healthcare | NZ First | 3 | 4 | 4 | 18 | 0 | 0 |
| Healthcare | Te Pāti Māori | 3 | 4 | 2 | 16 | 1 | 0 |
| Healthcare | TOP | 2 | 4 | 2 | 14 | 1 | 0 |

| Topic | Party | Answers naming the party | Collected answers | Positive claims | Neutral claims | Negative claims | Mixed claims |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Jobs and unemployment | National | 4 | 4 | 20 | 18 | 1 | 0 |
| Jobs and unemployment | Labour | 4 | 4 | 22 | 24 | 1 | 0 |
| Jobs and unemployment | Greens | 4 | 4 | 13 | 21 | 1 | 0 |
| Jobs and unemployment | ACT | 4 | 4 | 11 | 20 | 1 | 0 |
| Jobs and unemployment | NZ First | 4 | 4 | 7 | 21 | 1 | 0 |
| Jobs and unemployment | Te Pāti Māori | 2 | 4 | 5 | 19 | 1 | 0 |
| Jobs and unemployment | TOP | 1 | 4 | 7 | 14 | 1 | 0 |

| Topic | Party | Answers naming the party | Collected answers | Positive claims | Neutral claims | Negative claims | Mixed claims |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Fuel and energy | National | 4 | 4 | 8 | 18 | 3 | 2 |
| Fuel and energy | Labour | 4 | 4 | 12 | 16 | 2 | 0 |
| Fuel and energy | Greens | 4 | 4 | 9 | 14 | 1 | 3 |
| Fuel and energy | ACT | 3 | 4 | 0 | 15 | 3 | 0 |
| Fuel and energy | NZ First | 4 | 4 | 6 | 18 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel and energy | Te Pāti Māori | 1 | 4 | 3 | 9 | 0 | 2 |
| Fuel and energy | TOP | 1 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 |

| Topic | Party | Answers naming the party | Collected answers | Positive claims | Neutral claims | Negative claims | Mixed claims |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Infrastructure and local services | National | 4 | 4 | 7 | 12 | 1 | 0 |
| Infrastructure and local services | Labour | 4 | 4 | 9 | 15 | 1 | 0 |
| Infrastructure and local services | Greens | 4 | 4 | 2 | 12 | 1 | 0 |
| Infrastructure and local services | ACT | 4 | 4 | 7 | 10 | 1 | 0 |
| Infrastructure and local services | NZ First | 4 | 4 | 4 | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| Infrastructure and local services | Te Pāti Māori | 1 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Infrastructure and local services | TOP | 2 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 |

| Topic | Party | Answers naming the party | Collected answers | Positive claims | Neutral claims | Negative claims | Mixed claims |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Education and childcare | National | 4 | 4 | 2 | 22 | 1 | 1 |
| Education and childcare | Labour | 4 | 4 | 6 | 19 | 1 | 0 |
| Education and childcare | Greens | 4 | 4 | 4 | 21 | 0 | 0 |
| Education and childcare | ACT | 4 | 4 | 3 | 14 | 1 | 1 |
| Education and childcare | NZ First | 2 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 2 |
| Education and childcare | Te Pāti Māori | 4 | 4 | 1 | 15 | 0 | 0 |
| Education and childcare | TOP | 1 | 4 | 3 | 8 | 1 | 0 |

## How Gemini’s answer changed

The rural-services answer added a separate Green section and more specific funding and GP proposals. It named five parties, compared with four before.

Neither answer named National or NZ First as a party, so the comparison remained incomplete. More numerical promises did not establish what services would become available in this town.

Gemini: “* **Family Doctor Loan Scheme:** Designed to support doctors entering practice ownership, specifically aimed at increasing primary care capacity and keeping local clinics viable.”

[Read the answer](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/7/questions/02b496ed-8b5f-436f-a0e1-22c6c26e20ee.md) · Answer ID: 6332e660-4879-4c27-9f19-69e8e3c5d38b

Gemini: “* **Targeted Funding for GPs:** Proposes an ongoing **$100 million annual funding boost for GPs** ($400 million over four years).”

[Read the answer](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/8/questions/02b496ed-8b5f-436f-a0e1-22c6c26e20ee.md) · Answer ID: 7c45e793-bedf-4a39-8607-4277516dff71

## 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 | 4 |
| national.org.nz | 3 |
| nzfirst.nz | 3 |
| policy.nz | 3 |
| businesscentral.org.nz | 2 |
| cilt.co.nz | 2 |
| greens.org.nz | 2 |
| htrhn.org.nz | 2 |
| maoriparty.org.nz | 2 |
| stories.theconversation.com | 2 |

### Gemini

| Website | Answers with this website recorded |
| --- | --- |
| ccsdisabilityaction.org.nz | 3 |
| businesscentral.org.nz | 2 |
| kiwicoaches.co.nz | 2 |
| labour.org.nz | 2 |
| act.org.nz | 1 |
| minterellison.co.nz | 1 |
| national.org.nz | 1 |
| nzmj.org.nz | 1 |
| nzrda.org.nz | 1 |
| principalstoday.co.nz | 1 |

### Google AI Mode

| Website | Answers with this website recorded |
| --- | --- |
| national.org.nz | 3 |
| policy.nz | 3 |
| rnz.co.nz | 2 |
| elections.nz | 1 |
| greens.org.nz | 1 |
| hansard.parliament.nz | 1 |
| htrhn.org.nz | 1 |
| immigration.govt.nz | 1 |
| labour.org.nz | 1 |
| thedlist.co.nz | 1 |

### AI Overviews

| Website | Answers with this website recorded |
| --- | --- |
| facebook.com | 5 |
| national.org.nz | 4 |
| policy.nz | 4 |
| youtube.com | 4 |
| beehive.govt.nz | 3 |
| labour.org.nz | 3 |
| businesscentral.org.nz | 2 |
| rnz.co.nz | 2 |
| 350.org.nz | 1 |
| act.org.nz | 1 |

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: Farming household weighing costs and environmental rules](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/8/voters/s16)

[Next: Eligible overseas voter considering returning](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/8/voters/s18)