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Labour Party
Centre-left; main opposition party. Party website
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22 policies & bills rated
Three-year fuel tax freeze
Labour pledges not to increase fuel excise tax for three years if elected, saying the current Government plans rises of 22 cents a litre over the next term. Labour says an average family would save $520 a year by 2030; the Government says the freeze leaves a $4.6 billion gap in the National Land Transport Fund.
NZ Future Fund sovereign investment fund
Labour would create a New Zealand Future Fund run by the Guardians of the NZ Super Fund, seeded with unnamed Crown assets and a one-off $200 million injection, to invest in New Zealand infrastructure and businesses. Seeded assets would be protected from sale in law and the fund could invest and borrow.
Longer wait for residency, citizenship path for NZ-born children
Labour would lengthen the time migrants must live in New Zealand before qualifying for permanent residence from two years to four, alongside civic education. It would also let migrants switch accredited employers after three months, protect humanitarian appeals against deportation, create a citizenship pathway for children born in New Zealand, and set immigration goals through a Government Policy Statement.
Modern Slavery Bill
Cross-party member's bill co-sponsored by Labour's Camilla Belich and National's Greg Fleming that would require larger entities to report on modern slavery risks in their operations and supply chains. Passed its first reading on 29 April 2026 with 112 votes in favour.
Start Work Now: $4b for state houses, schools and hospitals
Labour pledges more than $4 billion including about $2.9 billion in capital for Kāinga Ora to build state houses, at least 6,000 additional social housing places over four years, $450 million for school repairs and $200 million for hospital remediation. It includes $760 million in operating funding for rent subsidies and housing providers, and $1,000 each towards tools for nearly 30,000 apprentices.
Write off 10% of student loans
Labour would cut eligible student loan balances by 10% from 1 April 2027 for NZ-based graduates still repaying who did not receive Fees Free, and wipe remaining balances of $2,000 or less. Future students would qualify after living in New Zealand for three years after study. RNZ reported a cost of $583.4 million over five years; Labour's site gives nearly $40 million a year on a fair-value basis.
Recognise the State of Palestine
Labour's foreign affairs platform says it would recognise the State of Palestine, back multilateral institutions and international law, and deepen ties with the EU, Canada, ASEAN and the Pacific.
Expand Pacific visa-waiver access
Labour says it would plan immigration around New Zealand's capacity, protect migrants from exploitation, and expand visa-waiver access for people from Pacific countries.
Medicard: three free GP visits a year
Every citizen and resident would get three free doctor's visits a year through a new 'Medicard', funded by the capital gains tax. Labour estimates it saves the average household about $360 a year.
Bring back locally made school lunches
Labour would return to locally made school lunches from term one 2028, prepared by school kitchens, iwi and hapū partners or local caterers, for about 244,400 students at 1,014 schools. Meals would be funded at $5 each, or $6.50 for Years 9 to 13; its fiscal plan does not fund the programme beyond 2029/30.
Scrap the $5 prescription fee
From 1 July 2027 Labour would remove the $5 prescription co-payment for everyone eligible for free public healthcare. Labour estimates the cost at $74.5 million a year, funded from its capital gains tax revenue ring-fenced for health.
$20-a-week public transport fare cap
Weekly bus and train fares would be capped at $20 in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch and $10 elsewhere from 1 July 2027, with trips free once the cap is reached. Labour costs it at about $65 million a year.
Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill
Labour-era bill that would have required large digital platforms such as Google and Meta to negotiate payments with New Zealand news publishers. The coalition government put it on hold in late 2024 after a select committee recommended it not proceed in its current form.
Fix the ETS and stay in Paris
Labour says it would fix the Emissions Trading Scheme to deliver a 'genuine price on emissions' and remain committed to the Paris Agreement.
Rule out joining AUKUS pillars one and two
Chris Hipkins told Labour's 2024 conference that a government he leads would not join either pillar of AUKUS, including the non-nuclear technology-sharing Pillar Two, citing New Zealand's independent foreign policy and nuclear-free stance.
Māori business procurement target
Labour would reinstate the Progressive Procurement programme with an initial target of 5% of government contracts going to Māori businesses, and fund Māori-led trades training at $21 million a year.
Under-16 social media ban and Digital Duty of Care
Labour backs banning social media for under-16s and would introduce a 'Digital Duty of Care' law making large platforms responsible for preventing online harms, along with more user control over algorithmic feeds.
Restore Fair Pay Agreements and pay equity
Labour would bring back sector-wide Fair Pay Agreements, restore pay equity legislation, extend the Living Wage across the public service and give care and support workers $4 an hour more from 1 January 2027.
Split supermarket duopoly from wholesale arms
Labour would require Foodstuffs and Woolworths to separate their wholesale operations from their supermarkets, creating independently run wholesalers that must supply smaller grocers on fair terms. It would also remove restraint-of-trade rules that stop stores such as Four Square from cutting prices, switching chains or going independent.
Digital Services Tax Bill (discharged)
Bill introduced by the previous Labour government in 2023 proposing a 3% tax on New Zealand-sourced gross revenue of large multinational digital businesses, as a backstop to an OECD deal. The coalition government announced it would not proceed and the bill was discharged in May 2025.
SolarSaver household solar scheme
A $160 million, four-year package of low-interest loans, grants of up to $3,000 for low- and middle-income households, plug-in solar rules for renters and a community battery fund. Labour says it would be funded by repurposing the coalition's gas security fund.
28% capital gains tax on investment property
A 28% tax on profits from selling residential investment and commercial property, applying only to gains made after 1 July 2027 and only when sold. The family home, farms, KiwiSaver, shares, business assets and inheritances are excluded, and revenue is ring-fenced for health.