Hot off the heels of election debates and polls, political parties have released a string of policies.
Housing, infrastructure, car parks and venture capital funds were the main focus of policies released on Wednesday, with ACT proposing to abolish loss ring-fencing for rental properties.
‘A bed levy is so common sense’
Meanwhile the Green Party announced it would pass enabling legislation allowing councils to put in place a bed levy on visitor accommodation, with the rate and design set locally.
“Councils and the communities they represent want a bed levy to reduce the pressure on ratepayers and support the tourism they’re asked to absorb. The Greens will make it happen," Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick says.
“From Auckland to Queenstown, Mayors don’t care about central government politicians’ squabbles about whether a levy is a tax. They want the tools to fund the infrastructure tourism requires and we will ensure they have them.”
The Greens also want to allow councils to charge a higher levy rate on Airbnbs and other short-term accommodation, and establish a national register of Airbnbs and other short-term accommodation so every council can see where short-term rentals are and apply the levy.
“A bed levy is so common sense and well-supported because it changes with visitor numbers. When more people stay, councils have more money for the services those visitors use,” Swarbrick says.
Labour proposes redirecting up to $50 million to Elevate NZ Venture Fund
The Labour Party says it will redirect up to $50 million a year of the Government’s contribution to the NZ Super Fund to the Elevate NZ Venture Fund, a state-owned venture capital fund.
Labour finance and economy spokesperson Barbara Edmonds says her party will support Kiwi businesses “that will create tomorrow’s jobs.”
“Too many promising companies are forced to move or sell overseas before we see the full benefit," Edmonds says.
“We’ll redirect up to $50 million a year of the Government’s contribution to the NZ Super Fund into Elevate, so more innovative businesses can expand, hire and pay good wages here at home."
The Elevate NZ Venture Fund was established by the previous Labour Government to address a capital gap for mid-sized startups. It co-invests in local venture capital funds alongside private investors, typically contributing less than 50 cents for every private dollar raised.
Some venture capitalists have credited Elevate with scaling up the technology sector and helping funds reach the size needed to attract international investors.
In May, the Government announced contributions to the NZ Super Fund were forecast to total $3.1 billion over the next four years.
NZ First says ‘the cart is being put before the horse’
NZ First wants to make sure any future fast-tracked housing developments have necessary infrastructure before approval is granted.
“More housing is needed but fast-track housing developments must work in with their communities first and foremost. New Zealand First will ensure that before approvals are granted for housing projects, there will be the necessary roads, pipes, water, wastewater and other essential services approvals first,” the party says.
“New Zealand First backs growth, backs housing, and absolutely backs getting things built. But when we brought the blueprint for fast-track to the government three years ago, we did not envisage New Zealanders picking up the tab or suffering through developments being approved without adequate infrastructure in place.”
The party says the cart is being put before the horse and it will ensure that ends.
“New Zealand First will require fast-track housing developers to detail what infrastructure they need and demonstrate whether that infrastructure exists, is funded, and can be delivered when needed. Local authorities will also be required to provide advice on network capacity and delivery risks.
“The changes would also create dedicated expert panels for housing, and give them the power to decline projects if they are not satisfied the required infrastructure will be in place.
“There would be a sunset period for those already listed housing projects currently enjoying preferential access to fast-track.”
National has since responded to NZ First's proposal with leader Christopher Luxon saying it was "quite bizarre ... This is actually law and they were in the room where it happened."
But NZ First leader Winston Peters has taken to social media to challenge this, writing on X: "The National Party is wrong that our fast-track announcement we made this morning is already in the existing legislation."
"We think the fast-track test needs to be much clearer. Decision-makers should know upfront whether the roads, water, wastewater and transport links exist, who is paying for them, and when they will be available. If that cannot be shown, specialist housing panels should be able to decline the project."
The National Party is wrong that our fast-track announcement we made this morning is already in the existing legislation. If Ministers were required to consider infrastructure needs, then Chris Bishop would not have waited until two hours before a National Party campaign event in Christchurch to decline the Pegasus Golf course housing development - the first time he has declined a fast track referral for housing. The residents of Pegsaus wouldn't have been put through the wringer if consideration had been given to the infrastructure merits of the project at the outset, not just when it became politically difficult. That’s what we want put in law. While there have been changes made through the Infrastructure Financing regime, that doesn't properly deal with the core problem: projects can be pushed through before the infrastructure has been proven, funded, and deliverable. It is ambulance at the bottom of the cliff thinking and it is not good enough. We think the fast-track test needs to be much clearer. Decision-makers should know upfront whether the roads, water, wastewater and transport links exist, who is paying for them, and when they will be available. If that cannot be shown, specialist housing panels should be able to decline the project. Otherwise, New Zealanders are still left carrying the risk and ultimately the cost after the approval has been granted.
— Winston Peters (@winstonpeters) October 13, 2026
National and car parks
National transport spokesperson Chris Bishop says in a move to make Auckland commuters and residents’ lives easier, his party would reverse a “blanket ban” on minimum car parking requirements in city and district plans.
In 2020, new rules were implemented by the former Labour-led government via the National Policy Statement on Urban Development. One of these rules included removing a requirement for developers to provide car parking.
This meant councils could no longer require developers to provide car parks through their district and city plans, but developers could provide car parks if they wanted to. Mobility parking wasn’t impacted by these changes.
“The blanket ban on minimum car parking requirements has not worked. The economic theory behind it did not account for the reality of New Zealand’s suburban streets,” Bishop says.
“Many streets, especially in Auckland, are clogged and hard to get through, and people are now parking on berms and footpaths.”
“Aucklanders know all about the access and safety issues this policy has created. Some people are having to walk 10 minutes or more to get home from where they’ve parked,” Bishop says.
He says National’s changes would give councils “the flexibility to require car parks in suburban and other areas – outside locations identified for intensification in the new planning system.”
More debates and policies to come
With the election on November 7 and early voting opening on October 26, political parties have been on the campaign trail - shaking hands, taking selfies and announcing policies. Parties have been continuing to battle each other in the polls and at debates.
The latest political poll, the 1News Verian poll, released on Tuesday evening, showed the two major parties below 30% while Opportunity has reached 8%. This poll coincided with TVNZ’s multi-party debate, where party leaders squabbled in a lively, energetic back and forth.
On Wednesday evening, political parties’ finance spokespeople will face off in Queenstown at the ASB Great Debate.
The debate includes Labour’s Barbara Edmonds, Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick, ACT leader David Seymour, National’s Nicola Willis, NZ First deputy leader Shane Jones and Opportunity leader Qiulae Wong. This will be moderated by TVNZ’s Jack Tame and kicks off at 6.30pm.
Meanwhile Labour leader Christopher Luxon and National leader Chris Hipkins will take part in their second leaders’ debate hosted by the NZ Herald, and moderated by Ryan Bridge - starting at 7pm.
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