NZ First Party policies 2026

New Zealand First · Winston Peters · 8 seats in 2023

Socially conservative party campaigning on state ownership of banking and energy, lower migration and a referendum on the Māori electorates.

Economic position

+5.0

market-leaning, on a −10 to +10 scale

Social position

+8.5

traditional-leaning

Positions recorded

each with a source and a date

See if you match NZ First NZ First's own website

What NZ First is campaigning on in 2026

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

Strongly opposes
Opposed to new housing-related taxes, framing cost-of-living relief as the priority.
On: New Zealand should tax the profit people make when they sell an investment property.
NZ Herald: Peters on immigration
Strongly supports
Supported restoring deductibility as part of the coalition's tax changes.
On: Landlords should be able to deduct mortgage interest as a business expense before paying tax on rental income.
Interest deductibility rules, 2021–2026
Strongly opposes
Strongly opposed to a separate Māori health commissioner, consistent with its 2026 platform of 'one people, one law' and its support for disestablishing Te Aka Whai Ora in government.
On: There should be a separate Māori-led authority commissioning health services specifically for Māori, in addition to the health system everyone uses.
RNZ: National would demote Māori health boards
Strongly opposes
Would withdraw New Zealand from the Paris Agreement.
On: 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.
NZ Herald: Peters would leave the Paris Agreement
Strongly supports
Supports the coalition's sentencing reforms and consistently campaigns on tougher penalties.
On: Jail sentences should be longer, with a minimum term for repeat offenders.
Sentencing (Reinstating Three Strikes) Amendment Act 2024
Strongly opposes
Strongly opposed, campaigning to disestablish bodies such as Auckland Council's Independent Māori Statutory Board.
On: A commission should be able to block laws it believes breach Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
RNZ: NZ First to campaign on Māori seats referendum
Strongly supports
Flagship policy, nationalise BNZ and merge with Kiwibank to form a Crown-owned 'National Bank of New Zealand', split the four gentailers, and split Foodstuffs into two cooperatives.
On: The government should buy back a major bank and break up the power companies and supermarkets.
RNZ: NZ First's bank takeover and KiwiSaver-from-birth plan
Strongly supports
Its published policy commits to a special economic zone at Marsden Point with relief from planning rules, and its resources minister has pushed to move fast-track consenting to a more development-focused body.
On: It should be quicker and easier to get houses and roads built.
NZ First: Our Policy

NZ First on economy, tax & cost of living

New Zealand should tax the profit people make when they sell an investment property.
Strongly opposes
Opposed to new housing-related taxes, framing cost-of-living relief as the priority.
NZ Herald: Peters on immigration · 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.
Opposes
No published 2026 position on a wealth tax. Its platform contains no new capital taxes and relies on state ownership instead, but it has not explicitly ruled one out, so this is inferred from the policy it has published rather than a stated commitment.
NZ First: Our Policy · verified 2026-08-13
The government should fix its deficit and debt by spending less, not by taxing more.
Mixed / no clear position
Mixed, critical of bureaucracy, but campaigning on large new state spending including buying back BNZ and a $1b oil and gas survey.
2026 NZ general election: party platforms · verified 2026-08-13
The government should buy back a major bank and break up the power companies and supermarkets.
Strongly supports
Flagship policy, nationalise BNZ and merge with Kiwibank to form a Crown-owned 'National Bank of New Zealand', split the four gentailers, and split Foodstuffs into two cooperatives.
RNZ: NZ First's bank takeover and KiwiSaver-from-birth plan · verified 2026-08-13
The age you can start getting NZ Super should rise above 65.
Strongly opposes
Flatly rejects any change to NZ Super, including means testing or raising the age.
RNZ: Party positions on the superannuation age · verified 2026-08-13
The government should rule out any new taxes and grow the economy instead.
Supports
Campaigning on tax cuts, including a 20% company rate for small businesses, and its platform contains no new taxes. It has not formally ruled every new tax out, and pairs this with large new state spending.
RNZ: NZ First's 20% company tax rate for SMEs (24 Sep 2026) · verified 2026-09-29
Small businesses should pay less tax so they can grow, employ more people and grow the economy.
Strongly supports
Announced on 24 September: company tax cut from 28% to 20% for firms with turnover under $30 million, which it says will pay for itself through investment and employment.
RNZ: NZ First's 20% company tax rate for SMEs (24 Sep 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.
Supports
Supported the sanctions regime in government and frames welfare as conditional on obligation, without campaigning on further tightening of its own.
Beehive: new jobseeker sanctions (Money Management) · verified 2026-09-30

NZ First on housing & renting

Annual rent increases should be capped at around 2%, and landlords should not be able to evict without a reason.
Opposes
Prefers supply-side and ownership measures such as Crown co-investment for first-home buyers over rent regulation.
interest.co.nz: NZ First's first-home co-investment idea · verified 2026-08-13
The government should borrow to build tens of thousands of new state and public houses.
Mixed / no clear position
No large public-build commitment; focused instead on Crown co-investment to get first-home buyers into private ownership.
interest.co.nz: NZ First's first-home co-investment idea · verified 2026-08-13
Landlords should be able to deduct mortgage interest as a business expense before paying tax on rental income.
Strongly supports
Supported restoring deductibility as part of the coalition's tax changes.
Interest deductibility rules, 2021–2026 · verified 2026-08-13
It should be quicker and easier to get houses and roads built.
Strongly supports
Its published policy commits to a special economic zone at Marsden Point with relief from planning rules, and its resources minister has pushed to move fast-track consenting to a more development-focused body.
NZ First: Our Policy · verified 2026-08-13
There are too many rules on landlords, and the cost ends up in the rent.
Supports
Sceptical of added landlord compliance costs, framing them as a driver of higher rents.
2026 NZ general election: party platforms · 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.
Supports
Supports Crown co-investment to get first-home buyers into private ownership, but has taken no position on the $300,000 cap.
interest.co.nz: NZ First's first-home co-investment idea · 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.
Mixed / no clear position
No large public-build commitment; its housing focus is Crown co-investment to get first-home buyers into private ownership.
interest.co.nz: NZ First's first-home co-investment idea · verified 2026-08-13

NZ First on health & education

Health money should go to medicines and advanced treatment rather than making doctor's visits free.
Supports
Sceptical of the tax needed to fund universal free GP visits, focusing instead on cost-of-living relief and regional health access.
2026 NZ general election: party platforms · 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
Strongly opposed to a separate Māori health commissioner, consistent with its 2026 platform of 'one people, one law' and its support for disestablishing Te Aka Whai Ora in government.
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.
Supports
Supports a back-to-basics curriculum and is critical of what it calls ideological content in schools.
2026 NZ general election: party platforms · verified 2026-08-13
Parents should be able to choose their child's school, including charter schools that set their own curriculum.
Mixed / no clear position
No strong published position; has historically been sceptical of charter schools while supporting local state schools.
2026 NZ general election: party platforms · verified 2026-08-13
Public services like health and education should be expanded, even if that means Kiwis pay more tax.
Mixed / no clear position
Mixed, supports significant new state spending, but opposes the taxes usually proposed to fund it, favouring state asset revenue instead.
2026 NZ general election: party platforms · 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.
Opposes
As part of the coalition it announced the end of fees-free study from 2026 and has published no support for a write-off. Inferred from that rather than a stated position.
The Spinoff: the end of fees-free tertiary study · verified 2026-09-29

NZ First 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.
Strongly opposes
Would withdraw New Zealand from the Paris Agreement.
NZ Herald: Peters would leave the Paris Agreement · verified 2026-08-13
New Zealand should look for more oil and gas to grow the economy.
Strongly supports
Campaigning on a $1b state-funded survey of offshore oil and gas reserves, funded through a new Future Fund, to bring down power prices.
NZ Herald: NZ First's $1b oil and gas survey · verified 2026-08-13
Farmers should not have to pay for the greenhouse gases their animals produce.
Strongly supports
Strongly supports keeping farming out of emissions pricing and is critical of climate rules affecting rural communities.
NZ Herald: Peters would leave the Paris Agreement · verified 2026-08-13
New Zealand should make it easier to mine and develop natural resources to grow the economy.
Strongly supports
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.
NZ First: Our Policy · 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 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.
NZ First: Our Policy · verified 2026-08-13
Transport funding should prioritise roads and highways over public transport and cycleways.
Strongly supports
Campaigns on roads and regional connections, prioritising the Mill Road corridor, and has pushed to cut cycleway funding.
NZ First: Our Policy · verified 2026-09-30

NZ First on law, order & justice

Jail sentences should be longer, with a minimum term for repeat offenders.
Strongly supports
Supports the coalition's sentencing reforms and consistently campaigns on tougher penalties.
Sentencing (Reinstating Three Strikes) Amendment Act 2024 · verified 2026-08-13
Prisons should be phased out by 2040 and replaced with community-led alternatives.
Strongly opposes
Voted for the reinstatement of Three Strikes mandatory sentencing in 2024, which is expected to increase the prison population rather than reduce it.
Sentencing (Reinstating Three Strikes) Amendment Act 2024 · verified 2026-08-13
We should build more prison capacity and put considerably more police on the front line.
Strongly supports
Long-standing supporter of higher police numbers and prison capacity.
National: Restoring law and order · verified 2026-08-13
The justice system should spend more on fixing the causes of crime, like poverty and addiction, and less on punishment.
Strongly opposes
Strongly favours deterrence, and is critical of what it calls soft-on-crime approaches.
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
A signature coalition win for NZ First, which has pushed gang crackdowns for decades.
National: Restoring law and order · verified 2026-08-13

NZ First on te tiriti, rights & immigration

A commission should be able to block laws it believes breach Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
Strongly opposes
Strongly opposed, campaigning to disestablish bodies such as Auckland Council's Independent Māori Statutory Board.
RNZ: NZ First to campaign on Māori seats referendum · verified 2026-08-13
The New Zealand population should decide on whether to keep the Māori electorate seats.
Strongly supports
Campaigning for a referendum on the future of the Māori electorates.
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 supports
Announced a major immigration overhaul on 11 September: a referendum on capping resident visas at 20,000 a year, a 10-year welfare stand-down for all visa holders, citizenship qualifying periods doubled to 10 years, and birthright citizenship limited to children of citizens.
NZ First: Immigration reform policies (11 Sep 2026) · verified 2026-09-17
Non-citizens who commit serious crimes should be deported, and a dedicated unit should track down overstayers.
Strongly supports
Would automatically deport non-citizens convicted of violent or sexual crimes, fraud, organised crime, money laundering or migrant exploitation, widening the criteria to any imprisonable offence. Overstayers would get a 24-month window to leave voluntarily, then face permanent deportation.
NZ First: Immigration reform policies (11 Sep 2026) · verified 2026-09-17
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.
Strongly opposes
Strongly opposed, has campaigned specifically on English-first names for government departments.
NZ First: English names for government departments · verified 2026-08-13

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NZ First Party policies 2026

What NZ First is campaigning on in 2026

NZ First 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.

NZ First 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.

NZ First 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.

NZ First 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.

NZ First 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.

NZ First 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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