Election 2026 Round Up

Political parties have traded promises and criticism over healthcare, fuel prices, environmental protection and government spending, as a new poll shows Labour widening its lead over National and points to a tight election contest.

National promised to redirect $604 million into Pharmac by cutting foreign aid outside the Pacific by 10% and making MFAT more efficient. The policy would also expand cancer screening, including lowering the bowel screening age to 50 and introducing prostate and lung cancer screening pilots.

Labour promised cheaper car repairs and a crackdown on fuel prices, including a “right to repair” for motorists, weekly Commerce Commission fuel-price reporting and stronger competition rules for petrol stations.

Greens announced plans to further protect the Hauraki Gulf, including removing the ring-net fishing exemption, phasing out bottom trawling and protecting 30% of the Gulf by 2030.

ACT welcomed National’s plan to increase Pharmac funding and cut lower-priority government spending, with David Seymour calling it “a move in ACT’s direction and a great sign for the next Coalition”. Seymour also applauded National adopting ACT’s position on reducing MFAT spending.

NZ First leader Winston Peters called National’s foreign-aid cuts “desperate and dangerous”, warning they could damage international relationships. In an interview with RCR, Peters also said NZ First wanted the Immigration portfolio after the election, following Immigration NZ’s automated approval of more than 55 visas and job checks without human oversight. He said the party will soon unveil a plan to finance economic recovery and double the size of the economy by 2050.

The latest RNZ-Reid research poll has Labour on 30.8%, National on 25.9%, the Greens on 14.8%, NZ First on 10.6%, ACT on 9% and Opportunity on 5.5%. National said the election will be tight, while Labour said there is “energy and momentum” behind its campaign. The Greens said the result reflected what the party is hearing on the ground, while ACT was encouraged by the party’s growth. Winston Peters said NZ First will turn the poll into “confetti”.

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