Te Pāti Māori
2 mention Pasifika2 maybe11 don’t count on
Should we vote for them?
The verdict · signed
Not with your party vote. Two seats can’t carry the tax-free threshold or the kai credit, and Labour hasn’t picked them up.
The longer version
Te Pāti Māori isn’t asking for the party vote, and on the polls it holds two electorate seats. That’s the whole verdict: eleven of its promises that touch Pasifika are don’t-count-on-it, not because they’re bad for us but because two seats can’t carry them and Labour has matched none. The first $30,000 tax-free and a kai credit worth eight weeks of food for anyone under $60,000 would land on our tables if they happened. They won’t, unless Labour adopts them, and Labour has its own tax plan.
Five promises are Māori policy that Pasifika might reach by association: Māori-led disability services, whānau-led care instead of state removal, a Māori Health Authority again. We share every one of those conditions and are named in none of them. The two promises policy.nz tags as Pasifika are foreign policy: a Pacific-focused Defence Force, Pacific-focused diplomacy. Good for the Islands; nothing for a household in Māngere.
The 2023 tax plan proposed a wealth tax at 2% to 8%; the 2026 version is 1.5% to 2.5% and GST-off-food became a credit. Promises that shrink between elections are a record too.
RX · 13 October 2026
All 14 promises that touch Pasifika
Grouped by what they touch. Tap one for why, how, the net result, and where it comes from.
Housing and rent 2
good for PasifikaSupport productive use of land with a land banking taxLand banking and vacant house taxes
Why they say so: This party says that too often land is used unproductively, resulting in land banking. For example, there are 111,700 empty houses in New Zealand.
How: This party would introduce a land banking tax of 33 percent on land which is not being used. It would also introduce a 2 percent vacant house tax to encourage homes to be filled faster.
Net result for Pasifika
Don’t count on it
Land-banking and vacant-house taxes; Labour has gone for a CGT instead.
Where this comes from
As catalogued by policy.nz, ref POL54942. Why and How are their words.
'A Kiwi Tax Plan' (PDF), 26 August 2026 (accessed 31 August 2026) — source ↗
Sorted: indirect · positive · housing
both waysImplement a 5 percent stamp duty on residential sales5% stamp duty on buyers; first-home buyers under $1m exempt
Why they say so: This party says Aotearoa's current tax regime is unequal and currently punishes the lowest earners while rewarding wealth accumulation and property speculation. To create lower taxes for the lowest earners, revenue is needed.
How: This party would create a tax of 5 percent of a home's value, paid by the people buying the home. First-home buyers buying a property worth less than $1 million would be exempt.
Net result for Pasifika
Cuts both ways
A 5% stamp duty on buyers, first homes under $1m exempt; unlikely to pass, and would cost the few of us buying above the line.
Where this comes from
As catalogued by policy.nz, ref POL54943. Why and How are their words.
'A Kiwi Tax Plan' (PDF), 26 August 2026 (accessed 31 August 2026) — source ↗
Sorted: indirect · mixed · housing, KiwiSaver and first home
Family payments 1
Māori policy · may reach PasifikaInvest in whānau-led care for Māori childrenWhānau-led care instead of removing Māori children; Pacific children also over-represented in state care, not covered
Why they say so: This party says that tamariki Māori must be protected as they are the future leaders of the country. However, current policy often results in Māori children being removed from their parents and raised in Pākeha-dominated spaces, removed from their culture
How: This party would stop removing Māori children from their parents, and invest instead in whānau-led care. It would also make the Crown accountable for the harm this practice has caused.
Net result for Pasifika
Don’t count on it
Māori children in state care; Pacific children face the same system and are not named. Two seats.
Where this comes from
As catalogued by policy.nz, ref POL55000. Why and How are their words.
'Mokopuna Māori', undated (accessed 15 September 2026) — source ↗
Sorted: maori-association · positive · family support
Jobs and benefits 1
good for PasifikaReduce the cost of livingLift incomes, strengthen welfare, cut transport costs (the card)
Why they say so: This party says that no one should have to choose between food, rent, power, transport or other necessities. The economy should work for the people.
How: This party would lift incomes, strengthen welfare, and support cost of living relief efforts, such as reducing transport costs.
Net result for Pasifika
Don’t count on it
Lift incomes, strengthen welfare, cut transport costs: the card promise, with no figures. Two seats.
Tax on low incomes 2
good for PasifikaMake the first $30,000 earned tax-freeFirst $30,000 tax-free; median Pacific income $35,200
Why they say so: This party says that argues that Aotearoa's tax system is highly unequal, given that wages are taxed more than income from wealth. Lower-earning people have less disposable income; this party seeks to reduce how much this group is taxed.
How: This party would establish six bands of income tax. The first $30,000 earned would be tax-free, while income between $30,001 and $60,000 would have a tax rate of 15%. Those earning between $60,001 and $90,001 would have a tax rate of 33%; $ 90,001- $ 180,000 would be 39%; between $180,000 and $300,000, 42%; and above $300,000, the tax rate would be 48%.
Net result for Pasifika
Don’t count on it
$30,000 tax-free with six bands. Labour has not matched it, and Te Pāti Māori has two seats.
Where this comes from
As catalogued by policy.nz, ref POL54812. Why and How are their words.
'A Kiwi Tax Plan' (PDF), 26 August 2026 (accessed 31 August 2026) — source ↗
Sorted: direct · positive · bottom-end tax
good for PasifikaAlign tax and environmental policyEnvironmental taxes not to fall on low incomes
Why they say so: This party says that Aotearoa's current tax regime is unequal and currently punishes the lowest earners while rewarding wealth accumulation, property speculation and environmental extraction.
How: This party would ensure that tax policy and environmental policy are aligned so that tax policy also protects Te Taiao. In addition, the party would ensure future environmental taxes do not disproportionately target low-income households.
Net result for Pasifika
Maybe
Environmental taxes not falling on low incomes; a principle a Labour-led government could adopt.
Where this comes from
As catalogued by policy.nz, ref POL54968. Why and How are their words.
'A Kiwi Tax Plan' (PDF), 26 August 2026 (accessed 31 August 2026) — source ↗
Sorted: indirect · positive · bottom-end tax
Doctors and medicines 3
Māori policy · may reach PasifikaImprove support for Māori with disabilitiesMāori-led disability services; same access barriers for Pacific families, not covered
Why they say so: This party says disabled Māori need support which upholds their mana and whānau, but that too often the system degrades them.
How: This party would support Māori-led disability services, make these services easier to access, and ensure dignity is preserved when the services are accessed
Net result for Pasifika
Don’t count on it
Māori-led disability services; same barriers for us, not covered.
Where this comes from
As catalogued by policy.nz, ref POL55001. Why and How are their words.
'Disabilities', undated (accessed 15 September 2026) — source ↗
Sorted: maori-association · positive · primary health costs
Māori policy · may reach PasifikaInvest in Māori-health outcomesMāori Health Authority recreated; prevention focus; Pacific health sat outside it
Why they say so: This party says that the health system as it currently stands fails Māori as the system does not understand Māori, and is not accountable to Māori.
How: This party would re-create the Māori Health Authority, and make health services accessible, accountable, and culturally safe to Māori, while shifting the health system's focus to prevention rather than crisis response.
Net result for Pasifika
Don’t count on it
A Māori Health Authority again; Pacific health sat outside the last one. Labour has not promised to recreate it.
Māori policy · may reach PasifikaSupport Māori-led disability servicesTagged Pasifika by policy.nz but the text is Māori-led disability services; mis-tag
Why they say so: This party says that disabled Māori have to fight the system to get the care they need. Making support easier to access and Māori specific will make the process of receiving care from whānau or external providers less degrading, better matching the reality for disabled Māori and their families. The focus should be on dignity, care and support, not fighting a beureaucratic system.
How: This party would make support easier to access and reduce the focus on bureaucratic requirements. Funding would be provided based on what families say they need, not bureaucratic forms.
Net result for Pasifika
Don’t count on it
Tagged Pasifika by policy.nz but it is the Māori disability policy above.
Where this comes from
As catalogued by policy.nz, ref POL54647. Why and How are their words.
'Disabilities', undated (accessed 10 August 2026) — source ↗
Sorted: maori-association · positive · primary health costs
Food and power prices 3
Māori policy · may reach PasifikaSupport Māori-owned supermarkets and kai sellersMāori-owned supermarkets and local kai sellers over the chains; South Auckland overlap
Why they say so: This party says that too many families are going hungry, even though NZ grows enough food to feed everyone. Scarcity is a product of system failure, rather than lack of food. Ending corporate control of food chains will make it easier for people to access food when they need it.
How: This party would support local kai sellers and Māori-owned supermarkets over large corporate supermarket chains.
Net result for Pasifika
Don’t count on it
Support for Māori-owned supermarkets; two seats and no Pacific line.
good for PasifikaRemove GST costs from kaiKai credit worth eight weeks of food for people under $60,000
Why they say so: This party says that food is too expensive for lower income people.
How: This party would create an 'Income Tax Kai Credit' equivalent to eight weeks of free food each year. Only people earning less than $60,000 (64 per cent of the population) would be eligible for this kai credit.
Net result for Pasifika
Don’t count on it
A kai credit for under-$60,000. Would be ours if it happened; Labour has not matched it and the party has two seats.
Where this comes from
As catalogued by policy.nz, ref POL54938. Why and How are their words.
'A Kiwi Tax Plan' (PDF), 26 August 2026 (accessed 31 August 2026) — source ↗
Sorted: direct · positive · food and power prices, family support, bottom-end tax
neutralImprove compensation for households generating power into the gridHousehold power compensation
Why they say so: This party says that while households and communities are beginning to store and produce renewable power like solar energy, they are not being properly compensated for giving the energy system a buffer.
How: This party would ensure households and communities are paid fairly for energy production and storage.
Net result for Pasifika
Maybe
Fair pay for exported power; cross-party; homeowners mostly.
Visas and family overseas 2
names Pasifika · good for PasifikaFocus the Defence Force on protection, disaster response and the PacificTagged Pasifika: Defence Force focused on Pacific disaster response; no domestic lever
Why they say so: This party says that Aotearoa should focus its foreign policy on peace, justice and Indigenous solidarity. New Zealand's foreign policy should be independent and aligned with the Pacific, rather than powerful countries and military alliances. Having a neutral military is an expression of mana motuhake.
How: This party would prioritise the Pacific, responding to disasters and providing protection as the focus of the Defence Force.
Net result for Pasifika
Don’t count on it
Defence focused on Pacific disaster response; helps the islands, not the household; two seats.
names Pasifika · good for PasifikaReview foreign policy settings and relationships to focus on the PacificTagged Pasifika: foreign policy prioritising Pacific countries; no domestic lever
Why they say so: This party says that NZ's foreign policy shouldn't be determined by powerful countries, but should remain independent. NZ should focus on peace, justice and solidarity with indigenous people in its foreign policy. Foreign policy should uphold Māori values.
How: This party would ensure foreign policy and international relationships are independent, prioritising Māori values, Pacific countries and indigenous relationships.
Net result for Pasifika
Don’t count on it
Foreign policy focused on the Pacific; same.