NZ climate and energy policy 2026

Would repeal the Zero Carbon Act and scrap the 2050 net zero target, benchmarking any emissions cap against major trading partners instead. Wants Paris renegotiated over how it treats methane, and would leave only if those terms proved unreasonable, so this is opposition to the targets rather than a commitment to withdraw.

Strongly committed, campaigning on rapidly phasing out fossil fuels and mass electrification.

Committed to remaining in Paris and to the existing emissions budgets.

Remains committed to Paris, while softening the domestic methane target and taking agriculture out of the ETS.

Would withdraw New Zealand from the Paris Agreement.

Committed to climate action and resilience for vulnerable communities, framed through kaitiakitanga.

Supports resuming exploration and expanding resource extraction as an energy security and growth measure.

Strongly opposed, campaigning on rapidly phasing out fossil fuels and prioritising solar, wind, hydro and geothermal.

Introduced the original exploration ban and opposes its reversal, campaigning instead on solar via 'SolarSaver'.

Reversed the offshore exploration ban in government and supports gas as a transition fuel for energy security.

Campaigning on a $1b state-funded survey of offshore oil and gas reserves, funded through a new Future Fund, to bring down power prices.

Strongly opposed, would ban extractive industries including seabed mining.

Campaigning for a split-gas target and keeping agriculture permanently out of the ETS, arguing NZ farmers are the most emissions-efficient in the world.

Opposed, wants agricultural emissions priced so methane targets are actually met.

No settled position. Hipkins says the long-standing policy of pricing agricultural emissions is 'under review' and Labour may not campaign on it in 2026.

Took agriculture out of the ETS in government and set a softer 14–24% methane target for 2050.

Strongly supports keeping farming out of emissions pricing and is critical of climate rules affecting rural communities.

Opposed to exempting the largest emitting sector, favouring regenerative approaches aligned with Māori environmental principles.

Strongly supports resource development and reducing consenting barriers.

Campaigning to revoke all coal, gold and seabed mining consents approved under the Fast-track Approvals Act.

Opposed the Fast-track Act's ministerial powers and supports stronger environmental safeguards, without committing to revoke all consents.

Passed the Fast-track Approvals Act and supports expanding mining as an economic growth measure.

Its published policy commits to returning 50% of mining royalties to the regions, and its resources minister launched a strategy to double mineral exports to $3 billion by 2035.

Would ban extractive industries including seabed mining outright.

Strongly opposed, treats it as an attack on productive farming.

Campaigning to phase out synthetic nitrogen fertiliser and reduce cattle and sheep numbers to improve water quality.

Middle position, supports freshwater standards and reversing the coalition's rollback, but not reducing herd numbers.

No published 2026 freshwater policy. Inferred from the coalition's easing of freshwater rules for farmers and its opposition to limits on stocking rates, rather than a stated commitment.

No published position on stocking rates or fertiliser. Its 2026 platform is silent on freshwater, so this is inferred from its consistent rural and farming advocacy rather than a stated commitment.

Supports regenerative land use and restoring waterways as a kaitiakitanga obligation, without a specific stocking-rate cap.

Supported the coalition transport programme that moved funding into state highways and out of cycleways. ACT has published no separate 2026 transport policy, so this is inferred from that record rather than a stated commitment.

Would reverse the traditional priority on roads: light rail in Auckland and Wellington, intercity rail, targeted free fares and a $1.5b cycle superhighway fund.

Treats roads, rail, public transport, walking and cycling as one connected system, and is campaigning on a public transport fare cap rather than a roading programme.

Its transport programme shifted the budget toward 17 Roads of National Significance and out of cycleways, with $7b for state highway improvements.

Campaigns on roads and regional connections, prioritising the Mill Road corridor, and has pushed to cut cycleway funding.

Frames transport as access and affordability for whānau and regions rather than a roading programme, without a published position on the roads-versus-cycleways split.