National Party NZ policies 2026

New Zealand National Party · Christopher Luxon · 48 seats in 2023

Centre-right party campaigning on low taxes, a return to surplus, tougher sentencing, compulsory KiwiSaver and planning reform to build more.

Economic position

+7.6

market-leaning, on a −10 to +10 scale

Social position

+6.2

traditional-leaning

Positions recorded

each with a source and a date

See if you match National National's own website

What National is campaigning on in 2026

National Party NZ's clearest published commitments, each linked to its source. The full record on all 37 quiz questions follows below.

Strongly opposes
Opposed. Campaigning on keeping taxes low and returning to surplus by 2028/29 through spending restraint rather than new taxes.
On: New Zealand should tax the profit people make when they sell an investment property.
National: Budget 2026
Strongly opposes
Opposed, restored no-cause evictions in government and argues rent caps reduce rental supply.
On: Annual rent increases should be capped at around 2%, and landlords should not be able to evict without a reason.
National: Budget 2026
Strongly supports
Prioritises more medicines funding, lowering the bowel screening age to 56 and three-day post-natal stays over universal free GP visits.
On: Health money should go to medicines and advanced treatment rather than making doctor's visits free.
National: Budget 2026
Strongly supports
Reversed the offshore exploration ban in government and supports gas as a transition fuel for energy security.
On: New Zealand should look for more oil and gas to grow the economy.
Beehive: Government to reverse the oil and gas exploration ban
Strongly supports
Reinstated Three Strikes, capped sentence discounts at 40% and removed repeat discounts for youth and remorse.
On: Jail sentences should be longer, with a minimum term for repeat offenders.
National: Restoring law and order
Strongly opposes
Opposed to a constitutional veto body; has removed Treaty clauses from a range of legislation in government.
On: A commission should be able to block laws it believes breach Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
1News: Government proposals on Treaty clauses
Strongly opposes
Opposed to new taxes of any kind; campaigning on keeping tax low.
On: People who own more than $10 million in assets should pay a yearly tax on it, even if they don't earn enough income to pay it.
National: Budget 2026
Strongly supports
Restored full interest deductibility in government, phasing it back to 100% from 1 April 2025, arguing landlords should be taxed like any other business.
On: Landlords should be able to deduct mortgage interest as a business expense before paying tax on rental income.
Interest deductibility rules, 2021–2026

National on economy, tax & cost of living

New Zealand should tax the profit people make when they sell an investment property.
Strongly opposes
Opposed. Campaigning on keeping taxes low and returning to surplus by 2028/29 through spending restraint rather than new taxes.
National: Budget 2026 · verified 2026-08-13
People who own more than $10 million in assets should pay a yearly tax on it, even if they don't earn enough income to pay it.
Strongly opposes
Opposed to new taxes of any kind; campaigning on keeping tax low.
National: Budget 2026 · verified 2026-08-13
The government should fix its deficit and debt by spending less, not by taxing more.
Supports
Committed to surplus by 2028/29 and $6b less borrowing through restraint, but is also increasing health, education and police spending.
National: Budget 2026 · verified 2026-08-13
The government should buy back a major bank and break up the power companies and supermarkets.
Strongly opposes
Opposed to nationalisation, favouring competition and regulatory settings over state ownership.
National: Budget 2026 · verified 2026-08-13
The age you can start getting NZ Super should rise above 65.
Supports
Would keep the age at 65 until 2044, then gradually lift it to 67, not affecting anyone born before 1979.
Newsroom: National and the retirement age · verified 2026-08-13
The government should rule out any new taxes and grow the economy instead.
Strongly supports
The campaign's central line, repeated at the 27 September launch: no new taxes, surplus by 2028/29 through restraint and growth.
National: Budget 2026 · verified 2026-09-29
Small businesses should pay less tax so they can grow, employ more people and grow the economy.
Mixed / no clear position
Keeps the company rate at 28% and has not proposed a cut; its pitch is no new taxes rather than lower business tax.
National: Budget 2026 · verified 2026-09-29
People on a benefit who are able to work should lose part of it if they turn down suitable work.
Strongly supports
Its 'Welfare that Works' policy extends how long an obligation failure counts against someone from 12 months to two years, requires Jobseeker recipients to reapply every six months, and applies the Money Management sanction.
National: Welfare that Works · verified 2026-09-30

National on housing & renting

Annual rent increases should be capped at around 2%, and landlords should not be able to evict without a reason.
Strongly opposes
Opposed, restored no-cause evictions in government and argues rent caps reduce rental supply.
National: Budget 2026 · verified 2026-08-13
The government should borrow to build tens of thousands of new state and public houses.
Opposes
Prefers planning reform and community housing providers to large-scale state building, and has reduced Kāinga Ora's build programme.
Beehive: Kāinga Ora turnaround plan · verified 2026-08-13
Landlords should be able to deduct mortgage interest as a business expense before paying tax on rental income.
Strongly supports
Restored full interest deductibility in government, phasing it back to 100% from 1 April 2025, arguing landlords should be taxed like any other business.
Interest deductibility rules, 2021–2026 · verified 2026-08-13
It should be quicker and easier to get houses and roads built.
Strongly supports
Replacing the RMA with a new planning system and passed the Fast-track Approvals Act to let ministers approve major projects outside normal consenting.
National: Budget 2026 · verified 2026-08-13
There are too many rules on landlords, and the cost ends up in the rent.
Supports
Has eased Healthy Homes compliance timelines, arguing extra cost on landlords is passed to tenants as rent.
Beehive: Kāinga Ora turnaround plan · verified 2026-08-13
The government should back 5% deposits for first-home buyers earning up to $300,000, so more people can own instead of rent.
Strongly supports
Announced on 6 September: a single $300,000 income cap for the First Home Loan, which it says would roughly double the number of buyers using the 5% deposit scheme, at $4m to $6m a year.
RNZ: National to widen the First Home Loan scheme · verified 2026-09-29
The government should add at least 6,000 social housing places over four years, even if it has to borrow to do it.
Opposes
Cancelled 212 Kāinga Ora projects and cut its build programme, preferring planning reform and community providers to large state building.
Beehive: Kāinga Ora turnaround plan · verified 2026-08-13

National on health & education

Health money should go to medicines and advanced treatment rather than making doctor's visits free.
Strongly supports
Prioritises more medicines funding, lowering the bowel screening age to 56 and three-day post-natal stays over universal free GP visits.
National: Budget 2026 · verified 2026-08-13
There should be a separate Māori-led authority commissioning health services specifically for Māori, in addition to the health system everyone uses.
Strongly opposes
Disestablished the Māori Health Authority in government, arguing health services should be delivered on need, not ethnicity.
RNZ: National would demote Māori health boards · verified 2026-08-13
Schools should focus on the basics with standardised national testing, and NCEA should be replaced.
Strongly supports
Campaigning on a new national qualification to replace NCEA, more funding for maths, reading and writing, and doubling Trades Training Academy places.
National: Budget 2026 · verified 2026-08-13
Parents should be able to choose their child's school, including charter schools that set their own curriculum.
Supports
Supported reintroducing charter schools in coalition, though it is not a headline part of National's own platform.
ACT: Reinstating partnership schools · verified 2026-08-13
Public services like health and education should be expanded, even if that means Kiwis pay more tax.
Opposes
Increasing health and education spending, but within a commitment to low taxes and a return to surplus.
National: Budget 2026 · verified 2026-08-13
Students should have 10% wiped off their loans, even if it costs $583 million and is paid for by taxpayers who never went to university.
Strongly opposes
Opposed. Campaign chair Simeon Brown: students who borrow from taxpayers 'should be expected to pay it back', and the policy 'means either higher taxes or more borrowing'.
1News: Labour's student loan pledge, with National and ACT responses · verified 2026-09-29

National on climate, energy & environment

New Zealand should stay in the Paris climate agreement and keep to its emissions targets, even if it costs up to $5 billion and the United States has pulled out.
Supports
Remains committed to Paris, while softening the domestic methane target and taking agriculture out of the ETS.
Beehive: Agriculture to come out of the ETS · verified 2026-08-13
New Zealand should look for more oil and gas to grow the economy.
Strongly supports
Reversed the offshore exploration ban in government and supports gas as a transition fuel for energy security.
Beehive: Government to reverse the oil and gas exploration ban · verified 2026-08-13
Farmers should not have to pay for the greenhouse gases their animals produce.
Strongly supports
Took agriculture out of the ETS in government and set a softer 14–24% methane target for 2050.
Beehive: Agriculture to come out of the ETS · verified 2026-08-13
New Zealand should make it easier to mine and develop natural resources to grow the economy.
Strongly supports
Passed the Fast-track Approvals Act and supports expanding mining as an economic growth measure.
Beehive: Shane Jones on the minerals strategy · verified 2026-08-13
Even though farming is our biggest export earner, farm animal numbers should be reduced and synthetic nitrogen fertiliser phased out to clean up rivers.
Opposes
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.
Beehive: Agriculture to come out of the ETS · verified 2026-08-13
Transport funding should prioritise roads and highways over public transport and cycleways.
Strongly supports
Its transport programme shifted the budget toward 17 Roads of National Significance and out of cycleways, with $7b for state highway improvements.
NZ Herald: new roads in, cycleways out of the transport programme · verified 2026-09-30

National on law, order & justice

Jail sentences should be longer, with a minimum term for repeat offenders.
Strongly supports
Reinstated Three Strikes, capped sentence discounts at 40% and removed repeat discounts for youth and remorse.
National: Restoring law and order · verified 2026-08-13
Prisons should be phased out by 2040 and replaced with community-led alternatives.
Strongly opposes
Strongly opposed, expanding prison capacity is an explicit Budget 2026 commitment.
National: Budget 2026 · verified 2026-08-13
We should build more prison capacity and put considerably more police on the front line.
Strongly supports
Budget 2026 funded frontline police, corrections officers and prison capacity, and in September it promised 50 extra sworn officers for a dedicated Auckland transport police team at $7m a year.
RNZ: National's Auckland transport police team · verified 2026-09-17
The justice system should spend more on fixing the causes of crime, like poverty and addiction, and less on punishment.
Opposes
Prioritises deterrence and consequences, while funding some prevention and rehabilitation programmes.
National: Restoring law and order · verified 2026-08-13
Gang patches should stay banned in public and police should have more power to disrupt gangs.
Strongly supports
Banned gang patches in public in government and campaigns on the resulting drop in ram raids and violent crime victims.
National: Restoring law and order · verified 2026-08-13

National on te tiriti, rights & immigration

A commission should be able to block laws it believes breach Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
Strongly opposes
Opposed to a constitutional veto body; has removed Treaty clauses from a range of legislation in government.
1News: Government proposals on Treaty clauses · verified 2026-08-13
The New Zealand population should decide on whether to keep the Māori electorate seats.
Opposes
Has not backed a referendum on the Māori seats, though it supports referenda on MMP and a four-year parliamentary term.
RNZ: NZ First to campaign on Māori seats referendum · verified 2026-08-13
Migration should be cut to take pressure off housing, roads and hospitals.
Strongly opposes
Wants to increase international student numbers and fast-track residency for Green List occupations by removing the work-to-residence divide.
NZ Herald: Where the parties stand on immigration · verified 2026-08-13
Non-citizens who commit serious crimes should be deported, and a dedicated unit should track down overstayers.
Supports
Supports deporting serious offenders, while prioritising attracting skilled migrants and students.
NZ Herald: Where the parties stand on immigration · verified 2026-08-13
As 4.3% of New Zealand's population speak it, te reo Māori should be actively promoted across government and society, including in the names of public agencies.
Mixed / no clear position
Mixed, supports te reo as an official language and its teaching in schools, but has directed agencies to use English-first names and communications.
NZ First: English names for government departments · verified 2026-08-13

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National Party NZ policies 2026

What National is campaigning on in 2026

National on economy, tax & cost of living

New Zealand should tax the profit people make when they sell an investment property.

People who own more than $10 million in assets should pay a yearly tax on it, even if they don't earn enough income to pay it.

The government should fix its deficit and debt by spending less, not by taxing more.

The government should buy back a major bank and break up the power companies and supermarkets.

The age you can start getting NZ Super should rise above 65.

The government should rule out any new taxes and grow the economy instead.

Small businesses should pay less tax so they can grow, employ more people and grow the economy.

People on a benefit who are able to work should lose part of it if they turn down suitable work.

National on housing & renting

Annual rent increases should be capped at around 2%, and landlords should not be able to evict without a reason.

The government should borrow to build tens of thousands of new state and public houses.

Landlords should be able to deduct mortgage interest as a business expense before paying tax on rental income.

It should be quicker and easier to get houses and roads built.

There are too many rules on landlords, and the cost ends up in the rent.

The government should back 5% deposits for first-home buyers earning up to $300,000, so more people can own instead of rent.

The government should add at least 6,000 social housing places over four years, even if it has to borrow to do it.

National on health & education

Health money should go to medicines and advanced treatment rather than making doctor's visits free.

There should be a separate Māori-led authority commissioning health services specifically for Māori, in addition to the health system everyone uses.

Schools should focus on the basics with standardised national testing, and NCEA should be replaced.

Parents should be able to choose their child's school, including charter schools that set their own curriculum.

Public services like health and education should be expanded, even if that means Kiwis pay more tax.

Students should have 10% wiped off their loans, even if it costs $583 million and is paid for by taxpayers who never went to university.

National on climate, energy & environment

New Zealand should stay in the Paris climate agreement and keep to its emissions targets, even if it costs up to $5 billion and the United States has pulled out.

New Zealand should look for more oil and gas to grow the economy.

Farmers should not have to pay for the greenhouse gases their animals produce.

New Zealand should make it easier to mine and develop natural resources to grow the economy.

Even though farming is our biggest export earner, farm animal numbers should be reduced and synthetic nitrogen fertiliser phased out to clean up rivers.

Transport funding should prioritise roads and highways over public transport and cycleways.

National on law, order & justice

Jail sentences should be longer, with a minimum term for repeat offenders.

Prisons should be phased out by 2040 and replaced with community-led alternatives.

We should build more prison capacity and put considerably more police on the front line.

The justice system should spend more on fixing the causes of crime, like poverty and addiction, and less on punishment.

Gang patches should stay banned in public and police should have more power to disrupt gangs.

National on te tiriti, rights & immigration

A commission should be able to block laws it believes breach Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

The New Zealand population should decide on whether to keep the Māori electorate seats.

Migration should be cut to take pressure off housing, roads and hospitals.

Non-citizens who commit serious crimes should be deported, and a dedicated unit should track down overstayers.

As 4.3% of New Zealand's population speak it, te reo Māori should be actively promoted across government and society, including in the names of public agencies.

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