2026 Election Policy Roundup

Election day is almost upon us, and we thought it useful to collate all the different parties’ policies for Auckland to help inform your vote. (Note: this is an updated version of a post that went out earlier this morning)

We have also created a handy scorecard, based on how (and whether) the parties answered our policy questionnaire. You’ll want to check their longer statements to see why some answers are marked as “conditional” – and we’ve used our best judgement about what counts as yes/ no/ maybe.

You can also check out some of our previous coverage and views on key election policies here, and here.

Feel free to discuss in the comments any other Auckland-related policies we may have missed.

Here’s the scorecard – with crucial voting information below; then notes on policies from the major parties.

Voting information

You have until 7pm on Saturday 7th November to vote. If you are in line to vote, you should stay in line after that time.

Reminder: you do not need an EasyVote card (or other identification) to cast your vote. Staff at the polling locations can look you up by your name.

While enrolments have already closed, if you’re unsure whether or not you’re on the roll (or on the dormant roll) you can go to a polling station anyway, and you may be able to cast a special vote. More about that here.

You can find voting places here.

Notes on policies from the parties

Labour

Labour has come out with three main policies relevant to Auckland:

• Weekly Public Transport Fare Caps of $20 in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, and $10 everywhere else in New Zealand
• ‘Fair go for drivers‘
• Fuel tax freeze

(See our previous coverage of the fare cap, and fuel tax freezes.)

National

National has these policies for Auckland:

• Removing the ban on minimum carparking requirements (except areas identified for intensification around city centres and rapid transit)
• Progressing Mill Road Stage 1 through a $1.8billion Crown Grant
• Public Transport Police

They have also stated a desire to progress:

• Northwest Busway
• The next Harbour Crossing

And they say they are committed to the:

• National Infrastructure Plan
• Auckland Deal

And have endorsed:

• the Auckland Motorway Strategic Plan

(See our previous coverage of fuel tax freezes, the Auckland Motorway Strategic Plan, the anticipated costs of the next recently ground-broken Road of National Significance, and the Waitematā Harbour Crossing reset, also here.)

Greens

The Green Party is running on these key priorities:

• Universal $2 public transport fares, and free for under 25’s, Community Card Holders, Total Mobility Users
• Immediate improvements to bus routes on planned Mass Rapid Transit routes in Auckland, Christchurch, and Wellington
• Long term planning for Mass Rapid Transit
• Regional Public Transport
• Level Crossing removal

(See our previous coverage of Greens announcements along with other parties here)

ACT

From ACT’s transport policy:

• Require major projects to public the lowest-cost safe option alongside the preferred option
• Build roads ‘ahead of growth’ where hitting thresholds will ‘trigger’ planning and building additional lanes
• Require Councils to repair roads before funding street redesigns by ring fencing renewal funding
• Stop the National Land Transport Fund paying for art
• Scrap vehicle emission settings

NZ First

NZ First’s policy is focused on rail:

• Heavy Rail Investment
• Reforming Auckland and Wellington Metro rail organisations to a joint run central and local government organisation
• Make Te Huia pemanent
• Level Crossings
• Third and Fourth Mains on the Southern Line and Avondale Southdown

Although they also support Mill Road Stage 1.

Opportunity

[Updated 9.50 am 5 November 2026] Opportunity supports universal free Public Transport and has a list of transport policies here:

• Making public transport free to users.

• Increasing long-term public infrastructure investment.

• Developing a 30-year infrastructure framework.

• Reducing the cancellation of projects after elections.

• Giving maintenance and renewals greater protection.

• Completing the replacement of the Resource Management Act.

• Using user-pays and value-capture funding where appropriate.

• Expanding renewable electricity generation.

• Electrifying public-transport systems.

• Accelerating business purchases of electric vehicles.

• Using long-term savings capital to support infrastructure and national development.

They also have commitments to the National Infrastructure Plan, and want to ensure 60% of future infrastructure goes to maintenance and renewals (while also making it more difficult to cancel large projects).

Te Pāti Māori

[Updated 9.45am 5 November 2026] Te Pāti Māori has a cost-of-living policy package that includes transport affordability. Under the heading Make Public Transport Free Immediately, they propose to:

• Make public transport free for tamariki, students, and Community Service card holders and reinstate half-price fares for everyone else
• Extend free public transport to everyone within 5 years
• Expand and strengthen public transport in the regions

That’s our quick roundup – feel free to note anything we’ve missed, and above all, remember to vote!

As a great New Zealander once said: “Do not think your single vote does not matter much. The rain that refreshes the parched ground is made up of single drops.”

Appropriately orange-tinged image for election vibes: Patrick Reynolds

Share this