(Question 9) What policies does your party have to increase the supply of affordable housing for older New Zealanders?

National

We are making it easier, faster and cheaper to build more homes for all New Zealanders. The Government’s housing growth reforms are designed to make it easier, faster, and cheaper to build the houses that New Zealanders need. Housing costs over time. This includes replacing the RMA, fast-tracking housing developments, freeing up land for housing, and reducing barriers to building.

Greens

Our policy is to expand accessible public housing options, including by building more papakāinga prioritising seniors on social housing waitlists, and the establishment of a state-owned, not for profit Retirement village scheme. The Green Party would also be open to investigating easier access to bridging finance for seniors.

Labour

The Labour Party is committed to a fair system that helps people deal with the cost of living. We’ll be announcing more policies over the coming months to help Kiwis with the cost of living, including for affordable housing.

N Z First

As in (4) above.

Opportunity Party

The land value tax that forms part of our tax reset policy is a significant incentive towards development of higher density housing in urban areas with high land values. This includes townhouses and apartments as well as retirement villages. We also propose to simplify zoning rules to make it easier to build higher density developments, and incentivise the construction of new housing stock that meets high energy performance standards by returning GST to Councils.

(Question 10)

Does your party support increasing the number of public and community housing units specifically designed for seniors?

National

National have created 8,400 social housing places across the country since coming to Government, including 3,000 in Auckland. In Budget 2025, the Government also established a flexible fund to combine housing investment into a single contestable fund to better target needs in place and deliver the right types of houses. As part of the government’s new housing investment approach, we will be focusing on building the right houses in the right place for the right people, with appropriate support for those who need it. Community providers such as Abbeyfield houses are encouraged to expand, providing a great form of affordable community housing for our seniors.

Greens

Yes. We propose funding the delivery of thousands more accessible Kāinga Ora public homes with housing designs that are accessible and suitable for older people’s needs.

Labour

As above.

N Z First

as in (Question 4) above.

Opportunity Party

Yes, as part of a wider programme of expanding the supply of social housing by both Kāinga Ora and Community Housing providers.

(Question 11)

How will your party help older renters who are struggling with rising housing costs?

National

Since coming to Government, rents have come down 7% across the country. We’ve also boosted the Accommodation Supplement for people in private rentals, with Budget 2026 increasing maximum rates by between $10 and $30 per week for eligible low-income renters.

Greens

The Green Party’s energy policy will help lower power bills for households, with support for solar panels on homes and KiwiPower to bring down wholesale prices. We will also expand Warmer Kiwi Homes so more low-income people can make their homes warm, dry, and energy efficient, including through insulation, efficient heating, and other upgrades. Our public housing programme will deliver thousands more homes for low-income households, as well as making rents more affordable by limiting annual rent increases to no more than 2%.

Labour

As above.

N Z First

As in (Question 4) above.

Opportunity Party

An expansion of housing supply as described above will help improve rental affordability. As described above, our tax reset policy also introduces a universal abatable housing support payment to support renters.