Labour has a real plan to bring down your household bills. Better starts now.
- Free GP Visits - 3 free doctor's visits a year for every New Zealander
- Public Transport Fare Cap - $20 a week in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, $10 elsewhere, from 1 July 2027
- SolarSaver - solar power with no upfront cost, saving around $1,000 a year
- Free Prescriptions - the $5 fee removed from 1 July 2027
- Fairer Grocery Prices - breaking open the supermarket duopoly's grip on supply
- Banning Price Gouging - making it illegal to overcharge for essentials
- A Fair Go For Families - banning hidden fees, junk insurance and exit traps
- A Fair Go For Drivers - fairer fuel prices and a right to repair for cars
- Cutting Student Debt - a 10% cut to eligible student loan balances, from 2027
Why it matters
Christopher Luxon promised to fix the cost of living. For most New Zealanders, it has gotten worse.
People are working hard and still going backwards. Labour's plan puts money back in your pocket directly, rather than relying on another review.
Labour's plan in detail
3 Free GP Visits
With the new Medicard, every New Zealander will get three free doctor’s visits each year, at the practice they are enrolled in. Eligible patients will also have access to free maternity scans and cervical screening.
Full policy details →$20 Public Transport Fare Cap
From 1 July 2027, weekly public transport fares will be capped at $20 in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, and $10 everywhere else. Once you hit the cap, the rest of your trips that week are free - no new card, no sign-up.
Full policy details →SolarSaver
Solar without the upfront cost. Government-backed finance, kickstart subsidies of up to $3,000, and plug-in options for renters mean households can cut their power bill by around $1,000 a year without paying anything upfront.
Full policy details →Free Prescriptions
From 1 July 2027, Labour will remove the $5 fee on prescriptions for every New Zealander entitled to public healthcare - no forms, no claiming money back, at every pharmacy.
Full policy details →Fairer Grocery Prices
Woolworths and Foodstuffs control more than 80% of New Zealand's grocery market. Labour will end unfair supplier contracts, ban junk fees, and create two independent wholesalers so smaller grocers can compete and offer lower prices.
Full policy details →Banning Price Gouging
Right now, there's no law against excessive price gouging in New Zealand. Labour will make it illegal for big companies to charge unfair and excessive prices for essentials like groceries, power and fuel, with penalties and refunds for anyone overcharged.
Full policy details →A Fair Go For Families
No hidden fees, no traps, no rip-offs. Labour's Fair Go Law bans junk insurance, secret commissions and unfair exit fees across cars, whiteware, phones, subscriptions, tickets and gyms - and makes cancelling as easy as signing up.
Full policy details →A Fair Go For Drivers
Fairer fuel prices with weekly Commerce Commission reporting, a right to repair law so you can choose your mechanic, and secret car finance commissions banned at the car yard.
Full policy details →Cutting Student Debt
Labour will cut 10% off eligible student loan balances - now for those already repaying or after 3 years based for current and future graduates - so more of your pay stays in your pocket.
Full policy details →What is Labour doing about the cost of living?
Labour has a package of policies to bring down household bills directly:
- 3 free GP visits
- A $20 weekly public transport fare cap
- Solar power with no upfront cost through SolarSaver
- Free prescriptions
- Fairer grocery prices by opening up the supermarket duopoly
- A ban on price gouging for essential goods and services
How much could I save under Labour's plan?
Savings depend on which policies apply to your household:
- Free GP visits saves between $50 to $90 per visit
- Fare cap saves commuters an average of around $25 a week ($1,200 a year)
- SolarSaver saves around $1,000 a year on power bills with no upfront cost
- Free prescriptions remove the $5 charge on every prescription item
When do these changes start?
The $20 fare cap and free prescriptions apply from 1 July 2027.
SolarSaver's subsidies and loan schemes are planned to be up and running within 12 months of a Labour Government taking office.
Fairer Grocery Prices and Banning Price Gouging are structural, ongoing reforms rather than single start dates.
How is Labour's cost of living plan paid for?
Funding varies by policy. Free prescriptions and other Medicard health entitlements are funded by a targeted 28% capital gains tax on investment property profits.
SolarSaver is funded by repurposing the Government's Gas Security of Supply fund.
The fare cap is funded from an existing transport support fund.
How does this compare to National's cost of living record?
National promised to fix the cost of living but has made it worse. Since National took office:
- Bread has risen 66%
- Butter has jumped 72%
- Milk has increased 33%
- Power bills are up 26% in two years
A fair price for the essentials. Money back in your pocket. Lower household bills.
Better starts now.
See Labour's full policy plan →
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