Climate · Party position

Labour on Climate

Fix the ETS, back Paris Agreement, and make solar accessible to all

Labour plans to fix the Emissions Trading Scheme so it puts a real price on emissions, and stay committed to the Paris Agreement. They also want to make solar power available to everyone through their SolarSaver plan — government-backed loans with nothing to pay upfront, repaid from power bill savings. Renters can use plug-in solar panels. Low- and middle-income households get a subsidy of up to $3,000. The whole solar scheme costs $160 million over four years.

What they say they'll do

Fix the Emissions Trading Scheme as an urgent priority, maintaining a genuine price on emissions
Restore credibility and certainty to the carbon market, investing revenues in affordable energy and resilience
Stay fully committed to the Paris Agreement and put New Zealand on course to meet its targets
Offer government-backed, long-term, low-interest loans so homeowners pay nothing upfront for solar and batteries
Provide a kickstart subsidy of up to $3,000 for low- and middle-income homeowners and renters
Fix regulations so renters can use plug-in solar panels that connect to a normal power point
Set up a $30 million community battery fund for councils, iwi, charities and lines companies
Have EECA run a free, independent one-stop shop to help households choose systems, get quotes and find finance

Who this affects

Homeowners

They can access long-term, low-interest loans to install solar panels and batteries with nothing to pay upfront, repaying gradually through their power bill.

Renters

Labour says it will change regulations so renters can use plug-in solar panels, and eligible renters can receive a subsidy of up to $3,000 to help cover the cost.

Low- and middle-income households

They can receive a kickstart subsidy of up to $3,000 to help with the cost of solar, whether they own or rent their home.

Neighbourhoods and communities

Councils, iwi, charities and lines companies can apply to a $30 million fund to set up shared community batteries, so residents without rooftop panels can still benefit from local solar power.

Businesses and industries covered by the ETS

Fixing the Emissions Trading Scheme would restore a genuine price on emissions, affecting businesses and industries that must account for their carbon output.

In their own words

“A Labour government will fix the broken Emissions Trading Scheme as an urgent priority, and put New Zealand on course to meet its Paris Agreement targets.”

“SolarSaver removes the barrier that locks most families out of solar power with Government-backed finance, kickstart subsidies, plug-in options for renters and a community battery fund for neighbourhoods.”

“Labour will set up the EECA shop front, the subsidy scheme, and have the lines company and Ratepayer Assistance Scheme loans up and running within the first year of government.”

Verify at Labour — official policy page

Summarised neutrally from Labour’s own official policy (as at 2026-10-21) and checked by an editor. Nothing is paraphrased without the source linked. Read the original ↗ Politika is non-partisan. Compare all parties on Climate →

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Labour on Climate

What they say they'll do

Who this affects

In their own words

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