Alongside strategic voting and the release of The Maori Party list, tax, wages and transport dominated the weekend’s election announcements, as parties set out spending plans and clashed over their costs.
Labour released its fiscal plan, promising a $4-an-hour pay rise for 65,000 care and support workers from 1 January, alongside reinstated pay-equity legislation. The rise was costed at $2.5 billion over four years. Labour said its promises fitted within annual operating allowances of $2.4 billion, with a surplus forecast for 2028/29. Its revenue measures included a capital gains tax and repealing Investment Boost. National’s Nicola Willis called the plan a “misleading fantasy” and alleged an $8.5 billion funding hole.
ACT leader David Seymour used the party’s campaign launch in Auckland on Sunday to promise the removal of tax on KiwiSaver and other superannuation earnings, while ending the government contribution for members who receive employer contributions. ACT also pledged to ban compulsory karakia and other religious observances as resource-consent conditions if elected, arguing planning law should cover only measurable effects, not spiritual beliefs.
The Greens promised free buses and trains for children, teenagers, students, apprentices, Community Services Card holders and Total Mobility users, with adult fares capped at $2. They also proposed mass rapid transit in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, and restored passenger rail services.
National pledged $1.75 billion for South Auckland’s Mill Road, plus $100 million for route protection on later stages. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon took his campaign to the Takanini Gurdwara, a hub for South Auckland’s Sikh and wider Indian community.
NZ First claimed that National copied their policy on funding the Mill Road extension and completion. In a social media post, party leader Winston Peters said it was “strangely impressive” to see National “Copy Nat-ing” an announcement NZ First made at its convention in July. It listed the Mill Road pledge as the fifth such case this year.
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