Electrification NZ

2026 New Zealand election

New Zealand political party policies on energy and electrification

Compare recent official party policies on renewable energy, electricity, solar, batteries, electric vehicles, public transport, homes and industry. Election policies, party positions and coalition-government actions are labelled separately.

Policies and positions

The tracker uses official party sources checked on . Announcements older than 4 months and media summaries are excluded.

National

New Zealand National Party

Current coalition government

  • Electricity-network efficiency consultation

    The Government is consulting on distribution-network collaboration and standardisation, performance monitoring and benchmarking, and stronger governance and accountability.

    Current government action, Official source

  • New generation for data centres

    National proposes requiring new data centres to be accompanied by new firmed electricity generation.

    2026 election policy, Official source

  • Electricity-market competition rules

    New Electricity Authority rules prevent the four largest gentailers from favouring their own retail businesses when supplying hedge contracts.

    Current government action, Official source

  • Smart EV-charger requirements

    New chargers above 2.4 kW will need smart functionality and labelling so charging can shift away from high-demand periods.

    Current government action, Official source
Labour

New Zealand Labour Party

  • Office-building energy performance standards

    Labour supports a member's bill to introduce energy performance standards for office buildings to reduce energy use and business power bills.

    Current party position, Official source

  • SolarSaver household and community solar

    Labour proposes government-backed low-interest finance, targeted subsidies, plug-in solar for renters, and a $30 million community-battery fund within a $160 million four-year programme.

    2026 election policy, Official source

  • Weekly public-transport fare cap

    Labour proposes a $20 weekly cap in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch and $10 elsewhere from 1 July 2027.

    2026 election policy, Official source

  • Business electrification support

    Labour says government should partner with businesses to electrify. The speech sets a direction for business support without setting out a complete industry programme.

    Current party position, Official source
Greens

Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand

  • Renewable-energy standards for data centres

    The Greens call for renewable-energy requirements, community engagement, and water-use and environmental standards for new data centres.

    Current party position, Official source

  • Kiwipower public generation company

    The Greens propose a publicly owned company to invest in renewable generation, address dry-year security, and support independent electricity-market participants.

    2026 election policy, Official source

  • Zero-interest solar and battery loans

    The policy includes zero-interest clean-energy loans, a renters' right to solar, and legalised plug-in solar systems.

    2026 election policy, Official source

  • Community and public-housing renewables

    The Greens propose $200 million for community-owned renewable energy, solar on more than half of public homes within four years, and $80 million for renewable energy in Māori housing.

    2026 election policy, Official source

  • Expanded Warmer Kiwi Homes

    The Greens propose widening the home-upgrade programme, including support for households transitioning away from gas.

    2026 election policy, Official source
ACT

ACT New Zealand

Current coalition government

  • Market-led generation and near-term LNG backup

    ACT argues the electricity market should remain investment-led, supports LNG for near-term dry-year security, and identifies transmission and distribution connections as a constraint on new generation.

    Current party position, Official source

  • Battery-services market and simpler small-scale solar

    ACT supports faster development of frequency-service markets to improve battery economics and removing unnecessary procedures for residential and small commercial solar.

    Current party position, Official source
NZ First

New Zealand First

Current coalition government

  • Separate power generation and retail

    NZ First reaffirms its proposal to break up power companies by separating electricity generation from retail.

    2026 election policy, Official source

  • National subsurface energy survey

    NZ First proposes an initial $1 billion survey covering oil and gas basins, geothermal resources, and potential carbon-storage sites.

    2026 election policy, Official source

  • Business gas-transition support and fuel reserves

    NZ First says Budget 2026 includes $1.2 billion to help businesses transition from gas and $150 million for additional strategic fuel reserves.

    Current government action, Official source

  • Marsden Point special economic zone

    NZ First proposes a special economic zone focused on energy generation and distribution, maritime activity, and reduced planning constraints.

    2026 election policy, Official source
Te Pāti Māori

Te Pāti Māori

  • Community-owned renewables and solar

    Te Pāti Māori calls for investment in community-owned renewable energy, solar on homes and marae, and energy storage.

    Current party position, Official source

  • Storage and flexible electricity demand

    Te Pāti Māori argues energy security should prioritise storage and demand flexibility rather than an LNG import facility.

    Current party position, Official source
TOP

The Opportunity Party

  • Business EV tax incentives

    TOP proposes immediate depreciation and a two-year fringe-benefit-tax exemption on the first $50,000 of new business EV purchases, or $75,000 for light commercial EVs, with both measures ending in 2030.

    2026 election policy, Official source

Policy theme key

  • Renewable power
  • Grid and electricity market
  • Batteries and flexibility
  • Electric vehicles and charging
  • Public transport
  • Homes and buildings
  • Industry and fuel security

Flag marks a member of the current coalition government.

Policy tracker methodOfficial sources and freshness rules

What is included

Official party policy pages, campaign releases, and speeches published within the previous 4 months. Distinct commitments from one announcement may be listed separately when that makes the policy easier to scan.

How labels work

Election policies, current party positions, and actions taken by the coalition government are labelled separately. The tracker does not infer promises from media coverage, voting history, or older policy documents.

Sources last checked . Announcements older than four months are not shown.