Labour
New Zealand Labour Party
Opposition Founded 1916
Leader of the Opposition
Chris Hipkins
Centre-left party and principal opposition to the current government
34
Seats
27.6% of 123
Overview
The New Zealand Labour Party is the country's principal centre-left party, founded by the trade union movement in 1916. Labour governed New Zealand from 2017 to 2023 under Jacinda Ardern and Chris Hipkins, and now serves as the largest opposition party in the 54th Parliament.
History
Labour has been at the heart of New Zealand's progressive tradition since its founding. The first Labour government (1935–1949) introduced the welfare state, free healthcare, and state housing. Modern Labour governments have continued this tradition through Working for Families, KiwiSaver, and major public service investments under the Ardern–Hipkins government.
Founded in 1916, one of New Zealand's oldest political parties
Core values
Fair wages, workers' rights and strong unions
Accessible public healthcare and mental health services
Affordable housing for all New Zealanders
Climate action and environmental protection
Reducing child poverty and inequality
Free and high-quality public education
Where they stand
Tap an issue to read Labour’s position on it, in our words with their source. 9 of 11 topics have a recorded position.
Labour on Housing
Capital gains tax on investment property; solar help for renters and homeowners
Labour says it will put a 28% tax on profits from selling investment properties (not the family home) from July 2027. It also has a SolarSaver programme to help homeowners and renters get solar panels without paying the full cost upfront. These are the main housing-related policies in the text provided.
What they say they'll do
- Introduce a 28% capital gains tax on profits from selling investment property (excluding the family home), applying to profits made after 1 July 2027
- Ring-fence all capital gains tax revenue for health spending
- Run SolarSaver within 12 months of taking office, helping homeowners, renters and communities get solar without upfront cost
Who this affects
Investment property owners
Owners who sell residential or commercial investment property after 1 July 2027 would pay 28% tax on the profit made since that date; the family home is excluded.
Renters
Renters are listed as people who can access the SolarSaver programme to get solar power without paying upfront costs.
Homeowners
Homeowners can access the SolarSaver programme for solar without upfront cost, but would not pay the capital gains tax on their own home.
In their own words
“a simple targeted capital gains tax on investment property profits to fund health”
“Every dollar raised is ring-fenced for health. Nine out of 10 New Zealanders will not pay the tax.”
“Labour's SolarSaver is a fully-funded programme to help homeowners, renters and communities get solar without the upfront cost.”
Summarised neutrally from Labour’s own official policy (as at 2026-09-14) and checked by an editor. Nothing is paraphrased without the source linked. Read the original ↗ Arapono is non-partisan. Compare all parties on Housing →
Legislative record this term
54th Parliament · as at 16 September 2026
As an opposition party, Labour doesn’t lead government bills (only ministers can). Its MPs advance policy through members’ bills: each MP may lodge one in a ballot, and a few are drawn at random each fortnight to be introduced. Most never are, so the ballot figure below is what’s waiting rather than what’s before Parliament.
4
Members’ bills passed into law
23
Lodged in the ballot, not yet introduced
14
Before the House now
Passed into law
Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Sales on Anzac Day Morning, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, and Christmas Day) Amendment Bill
Companies (Address Information) Amendment Bill
Evidence (Giving Family Violence Evidence in Family Court Proceedings) Amendment Bill
Employment Relations (Employee Remuneration Disclosure) Amendment Bill
Leadership
Chris Hipkins
Leader of the Opposition
At a glance
20 electorate 14 list
Total seats34
Electorate seats20
List seats14
Share of House27.6%
Founded1916
Latest coverage
News and video mentioning Labour, from the sources on our coverage page.
In the news
The one universal payment both Luxon and Hipkins refuse to touchStuff · 14 Sep'Imitation' or 'perfect solution' - Labour's KiwiSaver policyRNZ · 13 SepLabour pledges compulsory employer KiwiSaver contributions of 6% if electedStuff · 13 SepElection 2026: Labour unveils KiwiSaver policy – what’s different to National’s proposalNZ Herald · 13 SepBarbara Edmonds: Labour’s finance spokesperson set to take economic fight to Nicola Willis - Fran O’SullivanNZ Herald · 11 Sep
All news On video
Can’t afford KiwiSaver right now? Labour says your boss should still…NZ Herald — Herald NOW / Ryan Bridge · 14 Sep#Clip: 1-on-1 in 10: Barbara Edmonds — Unemployment Is Soaring. Wher…The Bradbury Group · 13 Sep#BHNqanda How do you feel about AI tools being used in education? Al…Big Hairy Network · 12 SepThree more years of Nationals means more cuts, more chaos, higher pr…Labour Party · 12 Sep
Sources
Seat counts from the 2023 General Election (Electoral Commission). Party background from parliament.nz and official party records. Leadership verified against the parliament.nz member roster.