Don’t know who to vote for? Policy.nz is the complete guide to the 2023 general election. Compare the parties, candidates and policies to see where you stand.

NZ Election 2023

Year founded

Times in government

Current MPs

Number of electorates held

2023 donations

2023 polling average

The ACT Party (Rōpū ACT) is a right-wing libertarian and populist party that advocates free-market policies and reducing the role of government. It currently has 10  seats in parliament. ACT was formed in 1994 from the Association of Consumers and Taxpayers by former National MP Derek Quigly and former Labour minister of finance Roger Douglas. It has had seats in parliament since 1996 and has held the Epsom electorate since 2005. ACT gave support to the fifth National government from 2008 to 2017 through a confidence and supply agreement.

ACT Party

'Welfare: A Hand Up', undated (accessed 24 July 2023)

'Real Solutions for the Environment and the Climate', undated (accessed 23 July 2023)

'ACT would reverse speed limit reductions', 10 July 2023 (accessed 28 July 2023)

'Let’s Get Wellington Moving Absolutely Positively must go', 29 June 2023 (accessed 28 July 2023)

'Guaranteeing the Freedom to Learn', undated (accessed 25 July 2023)

'A world-class education system', undated (accessed 29 August 2023)

'Too Little, Too Late For Robertson's Last Post-cab As Finance Minister', 28 August 2023 (accessed 28 August 2023)

'The World's Best Firearms Laws', undated (accessed 23 July 2023)

'Standing up for Rural New Zealand', undated (accessed 25 July 2023)

'ACT Has Today Launched A Consultation Document On Proposed Changes To New Zealand’s Firearms Laws', 26 August 2023 (accessed 26 August 2023)

'Fair Firearms Laws', undated (accessed 03 September 2023)

'ACT’s plan for fair firearms laws' (PDF), undated (accessed 25 July 2023)

'Labour Spreads Disinformation On Back Of March 15. What Would Jacinda Say?', 1 September 2023 (accessed 01 September 2023)

'Scrapping Three Waters', undated (accessed 23 July 2023)

'Ending divisive race-based policies', undated (accessed 29 August 2023)

'Supporting Rural New Zealand', undated (accessed 29 August 2023)

'A Path From Co-government To Democracy', 17 September 2023 (accessed 17 September 2023)

'Climate Policies Holding Back Efficient Transport', 20 August 2023 (accessed 20 August 2023)

'ACT Will End The War On Farming', 18 August 2023 (accessed 18 August 2023)

'ACT’s Alternative Budget: End the waste, fix the economy' (PDF), undated (accessed 04 October 2023)

'A Tax Cut for Every Taxpayer', undated (accessed 25 July 2023)

'ACT Will Give Striking Doctors A Tax Cut', 21 August 2023 (accessed 21 August 2023)

'What Is “processed”? The Boondoggle Robertson Warned About', 14 August 2023 (accessed 14 August 2023)

'Easing the tax burden on Kiwis', undated (accessed 29 August 2023)

'ACT Sees Red With National's Tax Policy', 30 August 2023 (accessed 30 August 2023)

'Nats Tax Plan Shows Why ACT Needed For Real Change', 30 August 2023 (accessed 29 August 2023)

'National Adopts ACT’s Carbon Tax Refund', 30 August 2023 (accessed 30 August 2023)

'End the Waste, Fix the Economy | ACT's Alternative Budget', undated (accessed 04 October 2023)

'Landlords And Tenants Need Tax Relief Now, Not In 2026', 30 August 2023 (accessed 30 August 2023)

'Law and Order', undated (accessed 04 October 2023)

'Creating safer communities', undated (accessed 29 August 2023)

'Tough On Crime Is The Best Policy For Māori', 25 August 2023 (accessed 24 August 2023)

'Labour Can’t Be Trusted On Law And Order', 7 September 2023 (accessed 07 September 2023)

'ACT Will Restore Law And Order In Communities', 13 September 2023 (accessed 13 September 2023)

'Adult Justice for 17 Year Old Offenders', undated (accessed 25 July 2023)

'Time to reverse an offender-centric crime policy mistake', 9 July 2023 (accessed 28 July 2023)

'A More Democratic New Zealand', undated (accessed 25 July 2023)

'Democracy and Co-Government', undated (accessed 04 October 2023)

'An accountable and humane Oranga Tamariki', undated (accessed 25 July 2023)

'Kelvin Davis Says ‘Not My Problem’', 30 August 2023 (accessed 30 August 2023)

'A more humane and accountable Oranga Tamariki', 12 July 2023 (accessed 28 July 2023)

'Royal Commission Report Drives Home Need For Real Change In The Way We Care For Children', 2 August 2023 (accessed 02 August 2023)

'Ministry For Pacific Peoples Ineffective At Everything But Spending', 9 August 2023 (accessed 09 August 2023)

'ACT Would Abolish The Ministry For Pacific Peoples', 17 August 2023 (accessed 17 August 2023)

'Slashing wasteful Government spending', undated (accessed 29 August 2023)

'HRC Doesn't Need Two CEOs, It Needs To Go', 12 August 2023 (accessed 12 August 2023)

'Reducing Cost of Personal Grievances', undated (accessed 31 July 2023)

'Reducing The Costs Of Personal Grievances' (PDF), undated (accessed 31 July 2023)

'ACT To Make Personal Grievance Process Faster, Fairer', 30 July 2023 (accessed 30 July 2023)

'ACT To Make Personal Grievance Process Faster, Fairer', 31 July 2023 (accessed 31 July 2023)

'ACT says nay to SNAs', 7 July 2023 (accessed 28 July 2023)

'Tougher Sentences for Attacks on Vulnerable Workers', undated (accessed 25 July 2023)

'Tougher Sentences for Attacks on Vulnerable Workers' (PDF), undated (accessed 25 July 2023)

'The new curriculum is garbage. ACT will bin it.', 5 July 2023 (accessed 28 July 2023)

'Election Year Politics With Curriculum A Disgrace', 21 August 2023 (accessed 21 August 2023)

'Honest Conversations - Law and Order' (PDF), undated (accessed 25 July 2023)

'Hate speech laws 2.0 will be defeated as well', 2 June 2023 (accessed 19 August 2023)

'Real Change - Law and Order' (PDF), undated (accessed 25 July 2023)

'Stopping The Slide – Reinstating Partnership Schools', 16 August 2023 (accessed 15 August 2023)

'Real Solutions for Health', undated (accessed 25 July 2023)

'Better health outcomes for all kiwis', undated (accessed 28 August 2023)

'Transforming Mental Health', undated (accessed 25 July 2023)

'ACT’s plan to revolutionise Mental Health', 14 June 2022 (accessed 28 July 2023)

'Protecting choice and freedom to contract', undated (accessed 25 July 2023)

'Solutions to the Truancy Crisis', undated (accessed 25 July 2023)

'Stopping The Slide – Ending Truancy', 14 August 2023 (accessed 14 August 2023)

'Easy Win: Scrap Workforce Development Councils To Save $65m Per Year', 29 July 2023 (accessed 29 July 2023)

'Immigration', undated (accessed 25 July 2023)

'Cutting Red Tape To Ease The Health Workforce Crisis', 8 August 2023 (accessed 08 August 2023)

'Stopping The Slide – Solutions For The Health Workforce Crisis', 17 August 2023 (accessed 17 August 2023)

'ACT To Streamline AML Compliance As Part Of Small Business Package', 1 October 2023 (accessed 01 October 2023)

'Fixing the Housing Crisis', undated (accessed 25 July 2023)

'ACT's solutions for building New Zealand and conserving nature' (PDF), undated (accessed 20 August 2023)

'ACT Bringing Back The Kiwi Dream', 11 September 2023 (accessed 10 September 2023)

'Real Change Needed To Build More Homes', 9 September 2023 (accessed 09 September 2023)

'Supporting New Zealand’s Seniors' (PDF), undated (accessed 23 September 2023)

'Investing in General Practices that Kiwis can access', undated (accessed 21 August 2023)

'Luxon Gives Another Reason Taxpayers Need ACT', 5 September 2023 (accessed 05 September 2023)

'PM Needs A Lesson From ACT On Cutting Waste', 1 August 2023 (accessed 01 August 2023)

'Home Detention Review Needed', 25 July 2023 (accessed 25 July 2023)

'Ensuring Sentences Fit The Crime', 10 August 2023 (accessed 09 August 2023)

'ACT Will Increase The Prison Population', 23 August 2023 (accessed 22 August 2023)

'Protecting Public Safety in Sentencing', undated (accessed 20 August 2023)

'New Zealand's Cost of Living Crisis', undated (accessed 25 July 2023)

'Bringing Back 90-day Trials A Good Start, But ACT Will Bring Real Change', 29 August 2023 (accessed 29 August 2023)

'Matariki Tax no holiday for businesses', undated (accessed 22 August 2023)

'90-day Trial Periods Member's Bill Drawn', 31 August 2023 (accessed 31 August 2023)

'Democracy or Co-Government?' (PDF), undated (accessed 25 July 2023)

'A path from co-government to democracy' (PDF), undated (accessed 23 September 2023)

The Animal Justice Party Aotearoa New Zealand is a single-issue party dedicated to animal welfare. It advocates for non-violence towards animals, conservation, the establishment of a Commissioner for Animals, and a move away from animal-based agriculture to a plant-based economy. It was registered in 2023.

Animal Justice Party

The Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party is a single-issue party dedicated to the legalisation of marijuana for medical, recreational and industrial use. It has contested every election and by-election since it was founded in 1996. Although it has never been in parliament, a number of its candidates have gone on to become MPs or mayors after leaving the party, including mayor of Invercargill Tim Shadbolt and former Green Party MPs Metiria Turei and Nándor Tánczos. 

Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party

The DemocracyNZ party was formed in 2022 by former National party MP Matt King following the anti-vaccination and anti-mandate occupation of parliament.  The party describes itself as centrist with a focus on freedom, families and farming, while its public statements have focused on NZ’s pandemic response and opposition to climate change regulations.

DemocracyNZ

The Freedoms New Zealand party is a right-wing, populist political alliance founded in 2022 by religious leader Brian Tamaki following the anti-vaccination and anti-mandate occupation of parliament. The political alliance consists of the Outdoors & Freedom Party, Vision NZ, Rock The Vote, and Yes Aotearoa. Freedoms New Zealand is campaigning for the party vote. It is anti-establishment and anti-vaccine mandate. 

Freedoms NZ

The Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand (Te Rōpu Kākāriki o Aotearoa, Niu Tīreni) is a left-wing party focused on environmental and social justice issues and honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi. It currently supports the government through a confidence and supply agreement, holds two ministerial portfolios and has nine MPs. The Green Party formed in 1990 from the Values Party and first entered Parliament in 1996 as a part of the Alliance. It stood candidates independently at the 1999 election, and supported the Labour government from 1999 to 2002,  2005 to 2008 and 2017 to 2023. 

Green Party

'A Home for Everyone - Pledge to Renters' (PDF), 2 July 2023 (accessed 26 July 2023)

'Green Party Launches Rental WOF Bill', 26 July 2023 (accessed 26 July 2023)

'Green Party makes Pledge to Renters (Press Release to Accompany Policy Document)
', 2 July 2023 (accessed 26 July 2023)

'Ending Poverty Together' (PDF), 22 June 2023 (accessed 25 July 2023)

'Green Party’s new Income Guarantee for every New Zealander', 11 June 2023 (accessed 29 July 2023)

'Change The Tax System To Support Struggling Households', 19 July 2023 (accessed 23 July 2023)

'Hoki Whenua Mai' (PDF), 17 July 2023 (accessed 26 July 2023)

'Children’s Policy' (PDF), 11 April 2023 (accessed 25 July 2023)

'Green Party Manifesto 2023' (PDF), undated (accessed 25 July 2023)

'Education Policy' (PDF), 3 April 2023 (accessed 25 July 2023)

'Agriculture and Rural Affairs Policy' (PDF), 3 April 2023 (accessed 25 July 2023)

'Climate Change Policy' (PDF), 7 December 2022 (accessed 25 July 2023)

'Labour Party Vote Down Mining Bill, Coromandel Now Threatened By Mining', 31 July 2023 (accessed 31 July 2023)

'Conservation Policy' (PDF), 19 April 2023 (accessed 25 July 2023)

'Freshwater Policy' (PDF), 7 December 2022 (accessed 25 July 2023)

'Free Dental Care for all' (PDF), 6 August 2023 (accessed 09 August 2023)

'Marama Davidson Free Dental For All Speech', 6 August 2023 (accessed 06 August 2023)

'Marama Davidson Free Dental for All Speech
', 6 August 2023 (accessed 09 August 2023)

'Green Party Promises Free Dental For All', 6 August 2023 (accessed 06 August 2023)

'Democracy and Constitutional Transformation Policy' (PDF), 11 April 2023 (accessed 25 July 2023)

'Drug Law Reform Policy' (PDF), 28 April 2023 (accessed 25 July 2023)

'Disability Policy' (PDF), 26 April 2023 

'Greens welcome Government joining the party to deal with disposable vapes', 6 June 2023 (accessed 15 August 2023)

'Free School Lunches Paid For With A Wealth Tax', 19 September 2023 (accessed 19 September 2023)

'Energy Policy' (PDF), 7 December 2022 (accessed 25 July 2023)

'Environmental Protection Policy' (PDF), undated (accessed 25 July 2023)

'Food Policy' (PDF), 3 April 2023 (accessed 25 July 2023)

The New Zealand Labour Party (Rōpū Reipa o Aotearoa) currently leads the government. It is a centre-left political party, which describes its founding principle as democratic socialism. Labour formed in 1916 out of various socialist parties and trade unions and is the country's oldest political party still in existence. Labour has been in government six times and had 10 leaders become prime minister. 

Labour Party

'Hipkins Rules Out Wealth Tax And CGT', 12 July 2023 (accessed 23 July 2023)

'Removing GST off fruit and vege', 13 August 2023 (accessed 14 August 2023)

'Supporting families during the early years' (PDF), 15 August 2023 (accessed 16 August 2023)

'Release: Labour will increase paid parental leave for partners', 15 August 2023 (accessed 16 August 2023)

'Supporting young families', 15 August 2023 (accessed 16 August 2023)

'Labour’s 10-point Cost of Living Plan' (PDF), 13 August 2023 (accessed 14 August 2023)

'Labour's Cost of Living Plan', 13 August 2023 (accessed 14 August 2023)

'More cost of living support for working families', 13 August 2023 (accessed 14 August 2023)

'First Of Its Kind Climate Fund To Back 100% Renewable Electricity', 8 August 2023 (accessed 08 August 2023)

'Protecting our environment for future generations
', 11 August 2023 (accessed 14 August 2023)

'Māori Manifesto 2023' (PDF), 19 August 2023 (accessed 20 August 2023)

'Māori Manifesto 2023', 19 August 2023 (accessed 20 August 2023)

'Release: Compulsory financial skills in schools', 20 August 2023 (accessed 22 August 2023)

'Financial Skills in Schools' (PDF), 20 August 2023 (accessed 22 August 2023)

'New Youth Vaping Regulations Set Out', 21 August 2023 (accessed 21 August 2023)

'Labour’s plan to crack down on youth vaping' (PDF), 22 August 2023 (accessed 22 August 2023)

'Release: More action to crack down on youth vaping', 22 August 2023 (accessed 22 August 2023)

'More Action To Crack Down On Youth Vaping', 22 August 2023 (accessed 21 August 2023)

'Upgrading our transport for the future', 17 August 2023 (accessed 22 August 2023)

'Nation-building Transport Projects To Grow NZ', 17 August 2023 (accessed 17 August 2023)

'Extending free basic dental care to nearly 800,000 under 30-year-olds' (PDF), 2 September 2023 (accessed 02 September 2023)

'Release: Labour commits to extend free dental care', 2 September 2023 (accessed 02 September 2023)

'Our Priorities', undated (accessed 02 September 2023)

'OUR PATHWAY FORWARD BUILDING FOR TOMORROW' (PDF), 6 September 2023 (accessed 06 September 2023)

'Manifesto 2023' (PDF), 1 October 2023 (accessed 02 October 2023)

'Safer Communities: Prevention, Protection and Responsibility' (PDF), 7 September 2023 (accessed 07 September 2023)

The Leighton Baker Party was formed by politician and businessman Leighton Barker in 2023 to contest the upcoming election. Baker was leader of the New Conservative Party from 2017 to 2020. Baker supports Christian family values.

Leighton Baker Party

New Zealand First (Aotearoa Tuatahi) is a nationalist populist party. NZ First was formed in 1993 after Winston Peters resigned from the National Party. The party has been in government twice, once with National and once with Labour from 2017 to 2020, and had a confidence and supply agreement with Labour after the 2005 election. In 2020, the party exited Parliament after its vote share fell below 5 percent.

NZ First

'New Zealand First 2023 Commitments', undated (accessed 07 September 2023)

''Give Whangarei And Northland A Fair Go'', 31 July 2023 (accessed 31 July 2023)

''Let’s Take Back Our Country'', 24 July 2023 (accessed 24 July 2023)

'2023 Law and Order Policy', undated (accessed 29 September 2023)

'New Zealand First Policy Announcement: Law And Order', 28 September 2023 (accessed 28 September 2023)

'Northland Needs Performance Not Promise', 9 July 2023 (accessed 29 August 2023)

'New Zealand First 2023 Policies', undated (accessed 05 October 2023)

'Policy Announcement: No Men In Women’s Spaces Or Sports', 16 August 2023 (accessed 16 August 2023)

'New Zealand First Policy Announcement', 20 August 2023 (accessed 20 August 2023)

'Gloriavale Slavery Warrants Commission Of Enquiry', 26 August 2023 (accessed 26 August 2023)

'2023 Agriculture Policy', undated (accessed 12 September 2023)

'“Back To Black Responsibly”: The Pre-Election Fiscal Update Changes Everything', 19 September 2023 (accessed 19 September 2023)

'NZFirst Policy Announcement: Capped Time-period For Job Seeker Beneficiaries', 26 September 2023 (accessed 26 September 2023)

'New Zealand First Policy Announcement', 2 October 2023 (accessed 02 October 2023)

The New Zealand National Party (Rōpū Nāhinara) is currently the main opposition party in parliament. A centre-right party, National tends to be economically liberal and socially conservative but is a broad church, promoting individual freedom, personal responsibility and competitive enterprise. National formed in 1936 as a combination of the Reform and United parties to oppose the growing labour movement. It has been in government five times and had eight leaders become prime ministers.

National Party

'Infrastructure for the future', undated (accessed 04 September 2023)

'Infrastructure for the Future' (PDF), undated (accessed 24 July 2023)

'Transport for the Future' (PDF), undated (accessed 04 August 2023)

'Supercharging EV Infrastructure', undated (accessed 07 September 2023)

'Supercharging EV Infrastructure' (PDF), undated (accessed 07 September 2023)

'National To Deliver 10,000 EV Chargers', 6 September 2023 (accessed 06 September 2023)

'Rebuilding the economy' (PDF), undated (accessed 22 September 2023)

'National’s 100 Day Action Plan' (PDF), undated (accessed 02 October 2023)

'FamilyBoost childcare tax rebate' (PDF), undated (accessed 24 July 2023)

'FamilyBoost', undated (accessed 04 September 2023)

'National’s Back Pocket Boost' (PDF), 30 August 2023 (accessed 04 September 2023)

'National Will Deliver Meaningful Tax Relief', 30 August 2023 (accessed 30 August 2023)

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