Who Wants What? NZ's 2026 Election Immigration Policies, Party by Party
It's election year in New Zealand, with the big voting day set for 7 November. In the midst of ongoing skill shortages, a lagging economy, and concerns about social cohesion and national identity, immigration remains at the front of socio-political debate. Recently, most of the competing political parties announced their positions and proposed immigration policies.
Here's a summary:
National (Luxon / Erica Stanford)
National is the lead party in the current coalition government. They haven't released a formal immigration policy for the campaign yet. Back in mid-September, they didn't take a firm stance and said they'd share their immigration policy in due course, so it's possible we'll see an announcement before election day.
Labour (Hipkins / Phil Twyford)
Labour plans to introduce a Government Policy Statement on immigration, focusing on workforce, demographic, housing, and infrastructure needs. While no specific numbers have been announced yet, here are some key points:
The wait time for a Permanent Resident Visa would increase from two years to four.
Migrants would be able to move between accredited employers after just three months. Labour also aims to protect those appealing against deportation for humanitarian reasons.
Children born to undocumented parents could potentially access citizenship if they have been living here continuously for 10 years. Additionally, Labour plans to review the financial criteria for parent visas.
Other initiatives include an orientation and civic education programme, along with stronger protections to prevent migrant exploitation.
Citizens from Pacific Islands Forum countries would enjoy visa-free entry with an NZeTA for up to three months, similar to 61 other countries.
Twyford emphasises that New Zealand should avoid division and scapegoating, unlike some regions in Europe and the US. Instead, he advocates for maintaining pro-immigration policies while ensuring public confidence.
Greens (Swarbrick / Davidson; spokesperson Ricardo Menéndez March)
The Greens have been advocates for an amnesty for overstayers and improved residency options for migrants. March highlighted the importance of the amnesty, emphasising that many migrants do not have connections to the countries they might be deported to.
They also aim to eliminate single-employer work visas, explaining that removing the tie between visas and one employer helps migrants avoid feeling trapped in jobs where they might face exploitation.
Their policy documents include specific provisions within immigration law to support people displaced by climate change.
Additionally, they have shown support for the Pacific visa waiver.
Overall, their message is that other parties sometimes wrongly blame immigration for issues like the infrastructure deficit, an ageing population, and low wages.
ACT (Seymour / Parmjeet Parmar)
Temporary work visa holders would pay a $6 daily infrastructure surcharge on top of existing charges, which ACT estimates would generate about $80 million annually.
New residents would face a five-year welfare stand-down period.
Serious offenders would be deported regardless of how long they've been in the country.
The AEWV occupation categories would expire each year.
Basic English requirements would be extended to all AEWVs, with lower standards still acceptable for seasonal workers.
ACT plans to establish a dedicated enforcement unit to address overstayers.
Platforms like Uber and DoorDash would need to verify work rights, and employers who facilitate overstaying could lose their accreditation.
The party also intends to eliminate the Permanent Resident Visa category. Instead, all Resident Visa holders would get a five-year travel facility, and would need to spend at least 730 days in New Zealand within any rolling five-year period to keep it.
Despite these changes, Seymour emphasises that ACT continues to support immigration.
NZ First (Winston Peters)
This package has the most restrictions, with 14 policies designed to make citizenship more valuable and more difficult to obtain, while also limiting the rights of visa holders.
Peters says NZ First plans to significantly reduce non-essential immigration, and views immigration as a privilege rather than a right.
Proposed policies include:
A referendum on capping annual resident visas at 20,000.
Automatic citizenship at birth only for children of citizens.
Doubling the qualifying periods for citizenship or permanent residence from five to 10 years, along with higher application fees.
Other initiatives involve:
Voting and superannuation exclusive to citizens.
A 10-year stand-down before accessing welfare benefits.
Stricter deportation rules.
International students losing automatic work rights.
Social housing prioritised for citizens over permanent residents.
Notably, overstayers from the Pacific would be given two years to regularise their status, which is quite unusual for NZ First.
NZ First has also put weight on the Immigration portfolio itself. Peters described it as "imperative" for NZ First to hold this position.
Te Pāti Māori
Te Pāti Māori's campaign has centred on constitutional and Tiriti reform.
The Opportunity Party (Qiulae Wong / Daniel Eb)
Immigration can bring "valuable expertise and investment" to New Zealand's economy, with an emphasis on attracting and retaining "the brightest minds" to help create an innovative and thriving economy.
Immigration should be carefully planned, with investment in the infrastructure, planning, and social programmes that have been overlooked in recent decades.
The party proposes a clear population policy aimed at stable, long-term immigration, with a long-term strategy to set population growth and outcomes through a balanced approach to net migration.
The party believes "steady, positive migration" is the right path forward, with input from businesses, unions, NGOs, and everyday New Zealanders shaping the future of the population.
Final Thoughts
With 7 November coming up quickly, the parties are sharing some very different ideas for New Zealand's immigration future.
These include everything from more restrictions on residence, citizenship, and welfare access, to more options for pathways, stronger protections for migrants, and closer connections with the Pacific.
Some parties are still working out their final positions, and with MMP, the final outcome will likely depend as much on coalition negotiations as on each party's platform.
No matter the result, change seems likely. If you're an employer who hires migrant talent or a migrant planning your route to residence, it's a good idea to stay updated as the campaign progresses and to seek professional advice on how any changes might impact you.
