ACT's Energy Policy
ACT supports all forms of energy generation including fossil fuels, opposes politically mandated renewable targets, wants to remove regulatory barriers to new energy investment, and supports nuclear energy exploration for New Zealand. They prioritise energy security and low prices.
In simple terms
Allow all types of energy production including gas and nuclear, remove rules that favour renewables over other energy sources, and focus on keeping electricity affordable.
Impact to New Zealanders
Gas and nuclear projects attract investment capital away from renewable infrastructure, slowing solar and wind farm construction despite lower upfront costs.
Lower electricity prices benefit manufacturers and heavy industry, but regional communities lose renewable energy jobs faster than gas/nuclear sectors create new ones locally.
Energy infrastructure becomes locked into gas/nuclear assets requiring 30-year operation to recoup costs, limiting future flexibility to pivot toward cheaper renewable technology.
Green Party's Energy Policy
The Green Party supports 100% renewable energy by 2030, community energy ownership, eliminating fossil fuel subsidies, building new wind, solar and geothermal capacity, and ensuring all homes have access to affordable, clean energy.
In simple terms
Get to 100% renewable electricity by 2030, let communities own their own solar and wind power, cut fossil fuel subsidies, and ensure clean energy is affordable for everyone.
Impact to New Zealanders
Construction jobs spike in renewable sectors, but coal miners and power station workers face redundancy without guaranteed retraining pathways.
Community solar ownership creates wealth for participating suburbs, but rural areas without capital struggle to build projects, widening regional inequality.
New Zealand's electricity becomes cheap and abundant, attracting energy-intensive industries, potentially changing rural land use and character permanently.
Labour's Energy Policy
Labour set a target of 100% renewable electricity by 2030, supported new wind and solar generation, invested in the Lake Onslow pumped hydro scheme, banned new coal boilers, and opposed reopening offshore oil and gas. They also funded the just transition away from fossil fuels.
In simple terms
Power all of NZ with 100% renewables by 2030, build big pumped hydro storage, ban new coal boilers, and help workers and communities transition away from fossil fuels.
Impact to New Zealanders
Construction of pumped hydro dams in rural areas displaces farming communities and increases living costs for those relocating.
Manufacturing jobs shift from coal-reliant regions to tech hubs, creating skills gaps and higher unemployment in traditional mining towns initially.
NZ becomes energy-independent but vulnerable to global lithium and rare-earth mineral shortages needed for battery storage and renewables.
National's Energy Policy
National has lifted the ban on offshore oil and gas exploration, supports fast-tracking new energy generation, opposes early closure of the Huntly coal-fired power station, and is reviewing the renewable energy target. They focus on energy security and affordable prices.
In simple terms
Restart oil and gas exploration, keep coal power available as a backup, ensure electricity stays affordable, and fast-track new power stations.
Impact to New Zealanders
Oil companies invest heavily in exploration, creating high-wage jobs in regions like Taranaki, but international climate investors pull out of NZ renewable projects.
Coal plants stay open longer than planned; electricity stays cheap for households and manufacturers, but NZ's carbon costs rise sharply, making exports less competitive globally.
Stranded fossil fuel assets leave taxpayers liable for cleanup costs; renewable energy jobs grow elsewhere; NZ locked into carbon-heavy economy while other nations lead clean tech exports.
NZ First's Energy Policy
NZ First supports maintaining New Zealand's energy sovereignty, opposes closing down existing gas and coal capacity before alternatives are ready, supports the offshore oil and gas sector, and is cautious about renewable targets that risk energy security or high electricity prices.
In simple terms
Keep oil and gas as part of the energy mix for security, don't rush to renewables before alternatives are ready, and keep electricity prices affordable for households and businesses.
Impact to New Zealanders
Lower power bills help households, but oil/gas infrastructure investment delays renewable manufacturing jobs that could have started now.
As other countries move faster to renewables, NZ companies lose export market access to climate-conscious buyers, costing manufacturing jobs.
Delayed renewable transition leaves NZ dependent on imported oil/gas longer, making future price shocks hit harder when global supplies tighten.
Te Pāti Māori's Energy Policy
Te Pāti Māori supports rapid decarbonisation of the energy sector, community and hapū ownership of renewable energy, ensuring Māori share in renewable energy revenues, and addressing energy poverty in Māori communities through subsidised clean energy.
In simple terms
Move quickly to renewable energy, let Māori communities own wind and solar projects, ensure Māori benefit from NZ's renewable energy wealth, and fix energy poverty in Māori households.
Impact to New Zealanders
Māori communities invest capital in wind/solar projects, reducing available funds for healthcare, education, and housing initiatives in those same areas.
Energy prices initially rise for all households as grid infrastructure upgrades proceed; lower-income non-Māori communities struggle more than wealthy suburbs with fixed incomes.
Māori-owned renewable assets generate long-term wealth, but regional economic power imbalances shift—some provincial areas thrive while others dependent on old industries decline faster.
TOP's Energy Policy
TOP supports reaching 30GW of renewable generation by 2050, household electrification through low-interest government loans for heat pumps and solar panels, merging electricity regulators to reduce costs and complexity, and opposing any LNG import terminals. They support community energy ownership models.
In simple terms
Build 30GW of renewable energy, help households electrify with cheap government loans for solar and heat pumps, simplify the electricity regulator, and block any new LNG gas import terminals.
Impact to New Zealanders
Government loans for solar and heat pumps boost construction jobs, but banks lose profitable lending business, potentially reducing their dividend payouts to Kiwi investors and superannuation funds.
Cheaper household electricity from renewables reduces energy bills for urban homeowners, but rural communities relying on gas heating face higher costs without equivalent electrification infrastructure investment.
LNG terminal ban locks New Zealand out of profitable export markets during global energy crises, limiting future government revenue for other services while competitors gain market share.