Oct 28, 2026
Media
The 'electric election': energy policies, side by side

Humans are comparative creatures and they're particularly comparative during election season. That's why we've created a rundown of all the energy-related election policies that have been announced by the parties so far.

  • See all the policies here

We're not ranking policies and we don't endorse any party. We're just independently laying out all the policy announcements side-by-side so that voters can make an informed decision. Existing Government policies have been excluded.

These are summaries only and they are based on published information as at 21 October 2026. We recommend you read each party's official policies.

It's good to see that most of the parties support access to finance to help more New Zealanders get past the upfront cost barrier of solar, batteries and electric upgrades. This was one of our main policy asks and it will help deal with the rising cost of grid electricity and gas.

But the comparisons show there's a clear gap when it comes to reducing our reliance on imported fuel. Record-high petrol and diesel costs are hurting households and the economy as a whole and the EV Salary Boost scheme, our second main policy ask, can help address that by getting more working New Zealanders into electric vehicles.

A recent survey by Talbot Mills showed that 68% of respondents said long-term solutions to lower energy and transport bills would be critical or one of the main factors in their vote. The chance to win votes is there for the taking and, if history is any guide, there's still time to make policy announcements. So we look forward to updating this page before election day on November 7.

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