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National Party
Centre-right; leads the coalition government. Party website
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76
33 policies & bills rated
Budget 2024 income tax cuts and landlord interest deductibility
Budget 2024 delivered income tax relief averaging about $3.7 billion a year and restored the ability of residential landlords to deduct mortgage interest. The government said it funded the package partly through public service savings and cancelling some previous programmes.
Fast-track Approvals Act
Passed in December 2024 along party lines, the Act created a one-stop consenting process for listed infrastructure, housing, mining and energy projects. Final approval decisions sit with expert panels rather than standard resource consent processes.
Fast-track Approvals Act 2024
Creates a one-stop consenting regime for listed infrastructure, housing, energy and mining projects, with expert panels deciding applications and ministers holding a role in referrals. Passed its third reading on 17 December 2024 on coalition votes and received royal assent in December 2024.
Planning Act 2026 and Natural Environment Act 2026 (RMA replacement)
Replaces the Resource Management Act 1991 with two Acts, one governing land-use planning and one governing use and protection of the natural environment, consolidating over 100 planning documents into 16 regional plans with standardised zones. Passed third reading in September 2026 and received royal assent before the election; full system to be phased in by 2030.
Disestablishment of the Māori Health Authority
A National 100-day plan commitment, the bill to disestablish Te Aka Whai Ora passed under urgency 68-54 in February 2024, with most of its functions and staff moving to Health New Zealand from 30 June 2024.
Cap council rates increases at 2 to 4 percent a year
Council rates rises would be held within a target range of 2 to 4 percent a year, enforced by an independent regulator, with time-limited exemptions for events such as natural disasters. Water services are excluded. Councils would consider the range from July 2027 and the cap takes full effect from July 2029. Passing it is in National's 100-day plan.
Extend deportation liability for serious offenders from 10 to 20 years
The Immigration (Enhanced Risk Management) Amendment Bill would extend the period during which a resident who commits serious crimes can be made liable for deportation from 10 years of residence to 20 years. The Government introduced it in March 2026.
Pae Ora (Disestablishment of Māori Health Authority) Amendment Act 2024
Abolishes Te Aka Whai Ora, the Māori Health Authority, transferring its functions to Health New Zealand and the Ministry of Health. Passed 68-54 under urgency on 28 February 2024; came into force on 30 June 2024.
Land Transport (Clean Vehicle Discount Scheme Repeal) Amendment Act 2023
Ends the Clean Car Discount, which gave rebates on low-emission vehicles funded by fees on high-emission vehicles, with charges and rebates ceasing after 31 December 2023. Passed under urgency in December 2023 and assented on 19 December 2023.
47-point Small Business Plan to cut compliance
National's plan includes a 'Tell Government Once' service built on the NZ Business Number, a review of the $60,000 GST registration threshold, plain-English health and safety guidance, and a fast track in the Employment Relations Authority for minor disputes. It also includes simpler seasonal hiring agreements, support for first-time employers, and keeping the 20 percent Investment Boost deduction.
Gene Technology Bill
Would replace the regime under the HSNO Act with a new regulator and risk-tiered rules, effectively ending the restriction on gene editing and genetic modification outside the laboratory. Passed first reading in December 2024 and was reported back in October 2025, but stalled before second reading after NZ First said it would not support it as drafted.
Crimes (Countering Foreign Interference) Amendment Act 2025
Amends the Crimes Act 1961 to create offences targeting covert or deceptive foreign interference intended to harm New Zealand, with select committee changes clarifying protest and advocacy are not criminalised by themselves. Assented on 25 November 2025.
Ban public funding for gangs and gang-linked organisations
A member's bill from National MP Rima Nakhle would stop the Crown and its agencies from giving public money, directly or indirectly, to gangs or organisations linked to them. National's 100-day plan would make it a government bill and pass it. Critics warn it could cut funding to programmes that help gang members leave gang life.
Replace elected regional councils with boards of mayors
Ministers Chris Bishop and Simon Watts proposed in November 2025 that New Zealand's 11 regional councils be governed by "combined territories boards" of city and district mayors instead of separately elected regional councillors, followed by regional reorganisation plans. The government hopes legislation will pass by 2027.
Random drug tests and a lower rate for long-term Jobseeker recipients
National's five-point welfare package would run 10,000 random drug tests on Jobseeker recipients in the first year, and from April 2028 move people who have been on Jobseeker for two of the previous three years to a lower rate. It would also double stand-downs for people who repeatedly quit jobs from 13 to 26 weeks, and make new residents wait five years instead of two for a main benefit. National estimates net savings of $583 million over four years.
"No new taxes" campaign pledge
Christopher Luxon launched National's 2026 campaign on 27 September repeating the slogan "no new taxes", which former Prime Minister John Key also endorsed at the launch.
Local Government (Electoral Legislation and Māori Wards and Māori Constituencies) Amendment Act 2024
Reinstates binding local referendums on Māori wards and requires councils that established them without a poll to hold a referendum alongside the 2025 local elections. Became law on 30 July 2024; in the 2025 polls, 18 councils voted to keep their wards and 24 to remove them.
English Language Act 2026
Declares English an official language of New Zealand alongside te reo Māori and New Zealand Sign Language; a coalition commitment championed by NZ First and sponsored by Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith. Passed its third reading in mid-2026.
Ban on gang patches in public
Legislation passed in September 2024 outlawed gang insignia in all public places from 21 November 2024, with penalties of up to $5,000 or six months' imprisonment, and introduced non-consorting orders and greater weight to gang membership at sentencing.
Defence Capability Plan: $12b and a path to 2% of GDP
The April 2025 Defence Capability Plan committed $12 billion over four years, including about $9 billion of new spending, with an aim to lift defence spending from just over 1% of GDP to more than 2% within eight years. Priorities include more strike capability and closer integration with Australia.
New offence for staying silent about a child's killing
National would create a new Crimes Act offence, with a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, for adults who stay silent about the killing of a child under 12 when it is clear they were present at the death or in the lead-up to it. It would draft a narrow exception to the right to silence. Defence lawyers criticised the proposal.
Dedicated Auckland Transport Police Team
National would fund 50 more sworn police officers, at $7 million a year from Budget 2027, to patrol Auckland trains, buses, ferries, stations and transport hubs, focusing on high-risk routes and peak hours as the City Rail Link opens. Setting up the team is in its 100-day plan.
Gangs Act 2024 (gang patch ban)
Bans the display of gang insignia in public places and gives police dispersal powers and courts the ability to issue non-consorting orders against gang members. Passed on 19 September 2024 with National, ACT and NZ First support; the patch ban took effect on 21 November 2024.
Sentencing (Reform) Amendment Act 2025
Caps total sentence discounts for mitigating factors at 40% unless manifestly unjust, limits repeat discounts for youth and remorse, and adds aggravating factors such as offending against sole-charge workers. Assented on 29 March 2025 and in force from 29 June 2025.
Cut non-Pacific foreign aid to fund $604m more for Pharmac
National would add $604 million to Pharmac's medicines budget, partly offset by cutting foreign aid outside the Pacific and its administration costs by 10 percent ($431.2 million). The package also lowers the free bowel screening age to 50 and extends free breast screening to 74 by 2029, and adds free cervical screening for women aged 25 to 69.
Climate Change Response (2050 Target and Other Matters) Amendment Act 2025
Lowers the 2050 biogenic methane target from a 24-47% reduction to a 14-24% reduction below 2017 levels, while keeping the 2030 methane target and the net-zero target for other gases. Assented on 15 December 2025.
Electoral Amendment Act 2025
Ends same-day enrolment by closing enrolment 13 days before election day, extends the prisoner voting ban to people sentenced to under three years for offences after commencement, and raises the anonymous donation cap. Passed its third reading on 16 December 2025 and mostly in force from 20 December 2025.
Electrify NZ 2.0 nine-point energy plan
National's energy plan would create energy development zones, let households sell solar power to any retailer, make affordability a statutory objective of the Electricity Authority, and cut consenting requirements for wind, solar and hydro. It also includes a Home Energy Fund of low-interest loans for solar, batteries and insulation, and would require AI data centres to bring their own new firmed power.
Compulsory KiwiSaver for all workers
If re-elected, National would require everyone in work to contribute to KiwiSaver or an equivalent scheme from 1 July 2028, with employee and employer default rates each rising to 6% by 2032. The package also includes automatic enrolment and a $1,500 payment for babies born from July 2027, and a government top-up for parents on paid parental leave.
Extend paid parental leave to 30 weeks
National would extend paid parental leave from 26 to 30 weeks, starting with 27 weeks from July 2027 in legislation listed in its 100-day plan, and let parents take leave at the same time. The extension is costed in National's fiscal plan.
Pursue a Foodstuffs break-up
National says it would amend the Grocery Industry Competition Act within 100 days and give the Commerce Commission $5m and six months to assess separating Pak'nSave from New World and Four Square, legislating only if the Commission recommends it. The aim is three nationwide supermarket chains instead of two.
Staying in the Paris Agreement is a coalition bottom line
Luxon told reporters that remaining in the Paris climate agreement is a bottom line in any post-election coalition negotiations, arguing that leaving would hurt exporters. NZ First and ACT want to leave or change the agreement.
Social media ban for under-16s (Online Safety bill)
Began as Catherine Wedd's National member's bill in May 2025 requiring platforms to take reasonable steps to stop under-16s holding accounts; in August 2026 the Prime Minister announced a government bill with age checks and fines of up to 10% of global revenue. NZ First and ACT signalled opposition, and it had not passed before Parliament dissolved.