Compare the parties.

Party proposal

National says it would introduce no new taxes if re-elected. This is not an explicit blanket freeze on existing taxes or levies. It separately promises no increase in the International Visitor Levy for at least three years.

Who it covers

Taxpayers generally. The specific levy commitment covers overseas visitors who pay the International Visitor Levy.

Timing

The proposed next term of government; the visitor-levy freeze is for at least three years.

Cost & funding stated by the party

The visitor-levy reset starts 1 July 2027; its $105.1m net operating effect over 2027/28–2030/31 is included in the new fiscal schedule. The 12 October plan does not allocate a costed income-tax cut or an indexation timetable; it leaves future relief conditional on growing surpluses.

The fiscal paper explicitly acknowledges bracket creep as wages and prices rise. The visitor-levy freeze is not a guarantee about every existing tax, levy, fee or charge. Extra receipts from existing tax rules are not the same as a new tax rate.

Party proposal

National would make KiwiSaver or an equivalent scheme compulsory for workers, lift combined default contributions to 12% by 2032, add $1,500 at birth and fund parental-leave contributions.

Who it covers

Workers, including the self-employed at the employee rate only. Equivalent employer schemes, parental leave and hardship have specified exceptions. Compulsory employer contributions would extend to contributing workers over 65.

Timing

Baby payments, parental-leave top-ups and over-65 employer contributions from 1 July 2027. Compulsory savings from 1 July 2028; employee and employer defaults reach 6% each on 1 April 2032.

Cost & funding stated by the party

The new plan implies $784m net over 2027/28–2030/31: $1,290.1m costs less a $506.1m net tax offset. Crown-employer costs are $140.2m above the original paper; changed assumptions need explanation. The tax offset already deducts reduced income tax.

The original paper excluded uncertain tax receipts. The consolidated plan includes them without publishing the model. The separate parental top-up revision is explained by longer parental leave; a costing revision alone is not a funding hole.

Party proposal

National would extend paid parental leave from 26 to 30 weeks in stages and allow parents to share or overlap the same combined entitlement. A 40-week longer-term ambition depends on future fiscal conditions.

Who it covers

Eligible parents under existing eligibility and maximum weekly-payment settings. Sharing the entitlement does not double the total weeks available for a child.

Timing

27 weeks from 1 July 2027, 28 from 1 July 2028 and 30 from 1 July 2029, for entitlements commencing on or after each date.

Cost & funding stated by the party

Displayed extension costs sum to $327.5m over 2027/28–2030/31, matching the fiscal plan. The standalone $327.4m total differs by $0.1m, consistent with rounding. The $121.9m KiwiSaver top-up is a separate row; shared-leave administration uses existing baselines.

Party proposal

National would add intensive employment support, reduce Jobseeker payments after two of the previous three years, introduce random drug tests and extend the main-benefit residency requirement.

Who it covers

The employment programme targets 30,000 work-ready Jobseekers. Long-term payment reductions are smaller for households with children; Supported Living Payment is unchanged. Existing main-benefit recipients, refugees and protected persons retain specified protections from the residency change.

Timing

Long-term payment reductions and the five-year residency requirement from 1 April 2028. The employment and savings table covers 2027/28–2030/31.

Cost & funding stated by the party

The plan uses $583m net savings, including $11m initial net cost. The welfare paper’s main saving is $572m from reduced payments, with other assistance offsetting one-fifth of the reduction; it does not assume extra employment-response savings from that payment change. Drug testing uses around $1.5m annually from MSD baselines.