Labour: policies for Election 2026

Health

• Free doctor’s visits: three a year for everyone through a new Medicard.
• Remove the $5 prescription fee from 1 July 2027 (costed at $74.5 million a year).
• Free maternity scans nationwide from July 2028 and free cervical screening for ages 25 to 69 from 1 October 2027.
• A job guarantee for every eligible New Zealand-trained graduate nurse from 2027.

Tax and the economy

• A 28% capital gains tax on profit from selling investment property after 1 July 2027, with the revenue ring-fenced for health.
• Return the books to an operating surplus (OBEGAL) by 2028/29 and reduce net debt towards 20% of GDP.
• Raise compulsory employer KiwiSaver contributions to 6% by 2032.
• A New Zealand Future Fund; Labour has said more detail will come after the election.

Cost of living

• Cap bus and train fares at $20 a week from 1 July 2027 ($10 outside Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch).
• Freeze fuel excise tax for three years.
• Make it illegal for large companies to overcharge for essentials, and open up grocery competition.
• Cut eligible student loan balances by 10% and write off balances of $2,000 or less.

Housing

• Allow a 5% deposit through an expanded First Home Loan and create a rent-to-buy pathway.
• Ban no-cause evictions and set warmer, safer rental standards.
• A $950 million Crown guarantee for the Community Housing Funding Agency.

Work and business

• Restore pay equity legislation and bring back Fair Pay Agreements; a $4 an hour pay rise for care and support workers from 1 January 2027.
• Extend apprenticeship support and a Small Business Action Plan costed at $1.56 billion over four years.

Other

• Ban social media for under-16s and introduce a Digital Duty of Care.
• Recognise the State of Palestine.

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