Our Policies

Labour's 2026 election policies include:

• a fiscal strategy to return to surplus by 2029/30 and reduce debt while growing the economy
• a $20 weekly public transport fare cap
• three free doctor's visits each year for every New Zealander
• free prescriptions from July 2027
• free maternity scans from July 2028
• free cervical screening for ages 25-69 from 1 October 2027
• the Family Doctor Loan Scheme to create 4.5 million new GP visits
• the New Zealand Future Fund to invest in Kiwi businesses
• expanding the Apprenticeship Boost to support more tradies and young people
• solar without the upfront cost for homeowners, renters and communities
• a Small Business Action Plan covering payment times, an asset write-off and a higher GST threshold
• putting Small Business first with a fair shot at work and less time dealing with the government
• backing Māori into skilled work with Māori-led training
• a job guarantee for every eligible graduate nurse
• a simple targeted capital gains tax on investment property profits to fund health

Labour's Fiscal Strategy sets out how a Labour Government will manage the country's finances:

• return an OBEGAL surplus by 2029/30, using the original OBEGAL measure rather than OBEGALx
• reduce net debt to around 20% of GDP
• keep core Crown expenditure and revenue at around 33% of GDP in the medium term
• establish a Parliamentary Budget Office for independent fiscal transparency
• restore the Reserve Bank's dual mandate of price stability and maximum sustainable employment
• restore wellbeing reporting to the Public Finance Act

Labour will invest $21 million a year in Māori-led training that helps more whānau Māori gain skills and move into good, well-paid work:

• backing kaupapa Māori training delivered by marae, iwi trusts and Māori providers
• working with local employers to connect people with real jobs
• combining practical skills with mentoring and support
• open to Māori of all ages
• starting after Budget 2027

Every eligible New Zealand-trained graduate nurse will be offered a job in the health system:

• offered through the existing Advanced Choice of Employment (ACE) and primary care employment schemes
• roles of at least 0.8 FTE, offered at graduation from 2027
• both registered and enrolled nurses are eligible
• applies to graduates sitting their State Final examination from July 2026 onwards
• costed at $525 million

Labour's healthcare policies will be funded by a simple targeted 28% capital gains tax on profit from selling commercial or residential investment property, excluding the family home, farms, KiwiSaver, shares, businesses and inheritances.

Every dollar raised is ring-fenced for health. Nine out of 10 New Zealanders will not pay the tax.

The Medicard is a new card and app that every New Zealander will receive, giving them access to three free GP visits a year at their enrolled practice, free cervical screening (ages 25-69), and free maternity scans.

Entitlements are loaded automatically. It integrates with My Health Account and the National Health Index (NHI).

• First 100 days of a Labour Government: paid-on-time legislation and payment-time disclosure for small businesses
• 1 July 2027: $20 fare cap; free prescriptions; Family Doctor Loan Scheme; Apprenticeship Boost expansion (new trades, toolbox grant, mentoring)
• 1 October 2027: Free cervical screening (ages 25-69)
• 1 July 2028: Two-year employer payments under Apprenticeship Boost; free maternity scans; Independent Pricing Authority for GP funding
• SolarSaver: EECA support, subsidies, and loan schemes up and running within 12 months of taking office
• Backing Māori into Skilled Work: running as soon as possible after Budget 2027
• Graduate Nurse Job Guarantee: applies to graduates from July 2026, with roles offered at graduation from 2027
• Capital gains tax: Applies only to profits made after 1 July 2027, and only when the property is sold
• Fiscal strategy: Return to an OBEGAL surplus by 2029/30

• The transport fare cap benefits anyone who uses public buses, trains or some ferries in New Zealand.
• The Medicard and its associated free visits, prescriptions, maternity scans and cervical screening benefit every New Zealander entitled to public healthcare.
• The Family Doctor Loan Scheme benefits communities with limited GP access.
• The Future Fund aims to benefit Kiwi workers and businesses.
• Apprenticeship Boost benefits employers taking on apprentices and the apprentices themselves, particularly in the trades and skilled sectors.
• SolarSaver will benefit homeowners, renters and people without panels on their roof (in neighbourhoods with a community battery).
• The Small Business Action Plan and Small Business First benefit New Zealand's roughly 600,000 small businesses, their families and local community.
• Backing Māori into Skilled Work benefits whānau Māori of all ages seeking skills and secure work.
• The Graduate Nurse Job Guarantee benefits New Zealand-trained graduate nurses and the patients they care for.