Policy comparison
Immigration and visas
Migration settings, work and family visas, refugees, settlement and migrant rights.
17 registered parties reviewed. 6 have citable material and 17 claims are recorded.
| Party | Published claims or coverage status | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| NationalThe New Zealand National PartyGovernment coalition49 seats | Policy proposal What this means The Government proposes extending from 10 to 20 years the period in which a residence-class visa holder can become liable for deportation after serious criminal offending. | Evidence and checksVerification note: As at 28 May 2026 the bill was still before Parliament and must not be described as law. |
| Policy proposal What this means The bill would raise the maximum migrant exploitation sentence from seven to 10 years. Budget 2026 also provides NZ$18 million over four years and about 22 additional staff for three compliance, investigations and labour inspectorate teams. | Evidence and checksVerification note: The higher maximum sentence is proposed. The funding and staffing are announced government measures. | |
| Policy proposal What this means The Government created Skilled Work Experience and Trades and Technician pathways with requirements for relevant experience, work in New Zealand, wage thresholds and eligible qualifications. | Evidence and checksVerification note: The settings take effect on 24 August 2026 and include red and amber occupation lists that restrict eligibility. | |
| Policy proposal What this means From the 10 November 2026 selection, 90% of expressions of interest will be selected by submission date and 10% by ballot. The annual cap stays at 2,500 and expressions of interest no longer expire after two years. | Evidence and checksVerification note: The Government says the change does not increase visa places or remove waiting times. | |
| LabourNew Zealand Labour PartyParliamentary opposition34 seats | No published position found No citable party publication on this topic was found in material checked through 10 August 2026. This does not prove the party has no view. | Profile source Open the full party page |
| Green PartyThe Green Party of Aotearoa New ZealandParliamentary opposition14 seats | Party position What this means Green Party policy is to increase New Zealand's refugee quota and the resources needed to provide adequate refugee services. | Evidence and checksVerification note: The current policy gives a direction but no target number, timetable or cost. |
| Party position What this means The party proposes specific provision in immigration law for people displaced by climate change, based on need. | Evidence and checksVerification note: No visa category, quota or eligibility test is specified. | |
| Party position What this means The party proposes advocating for a Pacific Passport that would allow free movement between Pacific island countries and New Zealand. | Evidence and checksVerification note: This would require agreement with other countries and is not a policy New Zealand could implement alone. | |
| Party position What this means The party proposes requiring employers to pay temporary migrant workers no less than local workers and provide the same working conditions. | Evidence and checksVerification note: The policy summary does not specify an enforcement mechanism or penalties. | |
| ACTACT New ZealandGovernment coalition11 seats | Election promise What this means ACT would allow residence-class visa holders convicted of offences carrying sentences of 10 years or more to be deported regardless of how long they have lived in New Zealand. | Evidence and checksVerification note: The party page has no publication date. It can only be confirmed as public by about May 2026. |
| Election promise What this means ACT would make each Accredited Employer Work Visa skill category expire every year unless current evidence of labour demand supports keeping it open. | Evidence and checksVerification note: The policy gives no implementation timetable or agency responsible for reassessing demand. | |
| Election promise What this means ACT would apply a five-year stand-down from jobseeker support, the accommodation supplement and other income-tested benefits to all residence-class visa holders. | Evidence and checksVerification note: The policy does not say whether existing residents would be affected or how reciprocal social security agreements would be handled. | |
| Election promise What this means ACT would add a NZ$6 per day infrastructure surcharge to temporary work visas on top of existing charges. | Evidence and checksVerification note: The estimate of about NZ$80 million a year is the party's figure and has not been independently verified. | |
| Election promise What this means ACT would create a dedicated Immigration New Zealand enforcement unit, require platform employers to verify and report work rights, and remove accreditation from employers that facilitate overstaying. | Evidence and checksVerification note: The overstayer count cited by ACT is a party-supplied number and should not be presented as an unattributed official statistic. | |
| NZ FirstNew Zealand First PartyGovernment coalition8 seats | Party position What this means In September 2025 New Zealand First invoked the coalition agree-to-disagree provision over new residence pathways for existing migrant work visa holders. | Evidence and checksVerification note: This records a 2025 coalition disagreement and has not been republished as a 2026 campaign promise. |
| Party position What this means New Zealand First said it would support extending existing work visas for workers already in New Zealand by three years to meet short-term demand, rather than granting residence. | Evidence and checksVerification note: The position comes from the same 2025 statement and has not been republished as a 2026 immigration policy. | |
| Te Pāti MāoriParliamentary opposition4 seats | No published position found No citable party publication on this topic was found in material checked through 10 August 2026. This does not prove the party has no view. | Open the full party page |
| Opportunity PartyNo seats in Parliament0 seatsCurrently has no seats in Parliament | No published position found No citable party publication on this topic was found in material checked through 10 August 2026. This does not prove the party has no view. | Profile source Open the full party page |
| Alliance PartyAlliance Party of Aotearoa New ZealandNo seats in Parliament0 seatsRegistered on 5 August 2026 | No published position found No citable party publication on this topic was found in material checked through 10 August 2026. This does not prove the party has no view. | Profile source Open the full party page |
| Te Tai Tokerau PartyNo seats in Parliament0 seatsLeader is a sitting MP, with no parliamentary caucus | No published position found No citable party publication on this topic was found in material checked through 10 August 2026. This does not prove the party has no view. | Open the full party page |
| Free PalestineNo seats in Parliament0 seatsRegistered on 5 August 2026 | No published position found No citable party publication on this topic was found in material checked through 10 August 2026. This does not prove the party has no view. | Profile source Open the full party page |
| NZ LoyalNew Zealand LoyalNo seats in Parliament0 seatsRegistered on 5 August 2026 | No published position found No citable party publication on this topic was found in material checked through 10 August 2026. This does not prove the party has no view. | Open the full party page |
| Outdoors & FreedomNZ Outdoors & Freedom PartyNo seats in Parliament0 seatsCurrently has no seats in Parliament | No published position found No citable party publication on this topic was found in material checked through 10 August 2026. This does not prove the party has no view. | Profile source Open the full party page |
| Conservative PartyConservative Party NZNo seats in Parliament0 seatsCurrently has no seats in Parliament | Party position What this means Limit low-skilled immigration when youth unemployment is high, and require new migrants to adapt to the New Zealand way of life. | Evidence and checks |
| Vision NZVision New ZealandNo seats in Parliament0 seatsCurrently has no seats in Parliament | Election promise What this means Proposes pausing mass immigration, extending the residence requirement for citizenship to 10 years, and making English an official language. | Evidence and checks |
| Women's Rights PartyNo seats in Parliament0 seatsCurrently has no seats in Parliament | No published position found No citable party publication on this topic was found in material checked through 10 August 2026. This does not prove the party has no view. | Profile source Open the full party page |
| Animal Justice PartyAnimal Justice Party Aotearoa New ZealandNo seats in Parliament0 seatsCurrently has no seats in Parliament | No published position found No citable party publication on this topic was found in material checked through 10 August 2026. This does not prove the party has no view. | Open the full party page |
| Legalise Cannabis PartyAotearoa Legalise Cannabis PartyNo seats in Parliament0 seatsCurrently has no seats in Parliament | No published position found No citable party publication on this topic was found in material checked through 10 August 2026. This does not prove the party has no view. | Open the full party page |