Economy · Party position

National on Economy

No new taxes, reduce debt, grow savings and competition

National says it will introduce no new taxes if re-elected. It plans to make KiwiSaver contributions compulsory from 2028, add a $1,500 Baby Boost at birth, extend paid parental leave KiwiSaver top-ups, reduce student loan repayment rates, pursue supermarket competition reforms, streamline building consents for commercial projects, invest in South Island infrastructure, reset International Visitor Levy funding to regions and conservation, and return the government budget to surplus by 2028/29.

What they say they'll do

Will introduce no new taxes if re-elected and lock in Budget Responsibility Rules
Will make KiwiSaver contributions compulsory for all workers from 1 July 2028 and add a $1,500 Baby Boost at birth from 1 July 2027
Will pursue a separation of New World and PAK'nSAVE, subject to Commerce Commission assessment, to increase supermarket competition
Will reduce the compulsory student loan repayment rate from 12 per cent to 10 per cent from 1 April 2027
Will allow qualified engineers to sign off certain commercial building work without a council inspection, and create a dedicated Building Consent Authority for large commercial buildings
Will invest $50 million in the Rolleston intermodal freight hub and reset International Visitor Levy funding so councils receive a direct financial return from visitors they host
Will issue a Budget Policy Statement showing a return to surplus and lower debt and spending

Who this affects

workers and employees

From 1 July 2028, all workers will be required to contribute to KiwiSaver, with combined default contributions rising to 12% by 2032.

grocery shoppers

National would require the Commerce Commission to assess separating New World and PAK'nSAVE into independent competing chains, which it says could save shoppers an average of $560 a year.

recent graduates with student loans

The compulsory repayment rate would drop from 12 cents to 10 cents in the dollar from 1 April 2027, leaving more take-home pay each fortnight.

commercial property developers and businesses

Qualified engineers would be able to sign off certain building work without a council inspection, and a dedicated Building Consent Authority would handle large commercial projects through a single national pathway.

regional councils and tourism areas

Remaining International Visitor Levy revenue would be distributed directly to councils based on their share of international visitor guest nights, with $100 million per annum to conservation and $50 million to a Tourism Priorities Fund.

newborns and their families

From 1 July 2027, every child born would be automatically enrolled in KiwiSaver with a $1,500 Baby Boost payment to start their retirement savings.

In their own words

“The choice is clear – a Labour Government propped up by the Greens, Te Pāti Māori and Opportunity with nine new taxes, or National with no new taxes and a plan to grow our economy.”

“From 1 July 2028, National will make contributions to KiwiSaver (or an equivalent scheme) compulsory for all workers.”

“National will pursue a separation of New World and PAK'nSAVE so they compete harder against each other for shoppers with better pricing, specials and range.”

Verify at National — official policy page

Summarised neutrally from National’s own official policy (as at 2026-10-26) and checked by an editor. Nothing is paraphrased without the source linked. Read the original ↗ Politika is non-partisan. Compare all parties on Economy →

In depth, from National’s policy document

Compulsory KiwiSaver, and three changes around it

National proposes making KiwiSaver contributions compulsory for all workers from 1 July 2028, at the default rate on a glidepath reaching 6 percent each from employee and employer by 2032. Alongside it: a $1,500 Baby Boost with automatic enrolment at birth, a government KiwiSaver contribution for people on paid parental leave whether or not they contribute themselves, and compulsory employer contributions for workers over 65all from 1 July 2027.

Compulsory from

1 July 2028

Contribution glidepath

6% each by 2032

In depth, from National’s policy document

Paid parental leave: 26 weeks to 30

National proposes lifting paid parental leave from 26 weeks to 30 in three annual steps between 2027 and 2029, and separately allowing both parents to take their leave at the same time rather than only one after the other. It would also keep in force the change letting annual leave accrue during parental leave so returning parents are paid in full. The stated longer-term aim is 40 weeks.

Party	Economy	Housing	Health	Education	Climate	Environment	Crime & Justice	Treaty & Māori Affairs	Immigration	Foreign Policy	Democracy & Government
National
Labour
Green
ACT
NZ First
Te Pāti Māori
The Opportunities Party
Parties not in Parliament
	Economy	Housing	Health	Education	Climate	Environment	Crime & Justice	Treaty & Māori Affairs	Immigration	Foreign Policy	Democracy & Government
Women’s Rights
Animal Justice
ALCP
Conservative
Outdoors & Freedom
Vision NZ
Alliance
Free Palestine
NZ Loyal											∅
Te Tai Tokerau											∅

Get email updates

Explore Politika’s tools