NZ First
New Zealand First
GoverningCoalition partner Founded 1993
Leader / Deputy Prime Minister
Winston Peters
Populist, nationalist party and coalition partner in the current government
8
Seats
6.5% of 123
Overview
New Zealand First is a populist party with a strong nationalist and sovereigntist orientation, led by veteran politician Winston Peters. Founded in 1993, NZ First is known for its focus on regional New Zealand, senior citizens, and controlling foreign ownership of New Zealand assets. The party returned to parliament in 2023 and joined the National-led coalition government.
History
Winston Peters founded NZ First in 1993 after being dismissed from the National cabinet. The party has been a significant coalition-maker in New Zealand politics, having supported both National (1996–1999, 2017 negotiations) and Labour (2017–2020) governments. After failing to return to parliament in 2020, NZ First made a comeback in 2023 with 8 seats.
Founded in 1993 by Winston Peters following his departure from the National Party
Core values
New Zealand sovereignty — NZ owned and NZ controlled
Regional development and investment outside the main centres
Supporting New Zealand's senior citizens
Controlling foreign ownership of New Zealand land and assets
A strong New Zealand Defence Force
Controlled and managed immigration settings
Where they stand
Tap an issue to read NZ First’s position on it, in our words with their source. 11 of 11 topics have a recorded position.
NZ First on Economy
Cut costs, balance books, boost wages and investigate big business
NZ First says it will balance the government's budget and cap spending to help bring down inflation and interest rates. It wants to investigate supermarkets, banks, and power companies for overcharging. It plans to make the lowest income tax bracket tax-free, look at lifting the minimum wage to at least $25 an hour, limit the time people can be on a jobseeker benefit, and build more infrastructure through a new infrastructure bank and energy ministry.
What they say they'll do
- Cap total government expenses at $165bn and core expenses at $133bn to reach a budget surplus
- Make the lowest income tax bracket ($14,000) tax-free by 1 April 2027
- Investigate supermarkets, banks, and power companies for overcharging and monopoly behaviour
- Explore lifting the adult minimum wage to at least $25 an hour via business tax concessions
- Limit the JobSeeker WorkReady benefit to a two-year lifetime entitlement
- Establish a New Zealand Infrastructure Bank and a Regional Productivity Growth Fund to support business investment
Who this affects
Wage earners
The proposal to make the first $14,000 of income tax-free would mean workers keep an extra $28.27 per week according to the party.
Low-paid workers
The party says it will explore raising the adult minimum wage to at least $25 an hour by giving businesses a tax concession to cover the cost.
Benefit recipients
People receiving the JobSeeker WorkReady benefit would have their entitlement capped at a lifetime maximum of two years under this policy.
Mortgage holders and KiwiSavers
The party says it will look at allowing KiwiSavers to use savings above a certain level to pay down their mortgage, based on a Singaporean model.
Supermarket shoppers
The party says it will require supermarket chains to sell off their distribution centres and cool-stores to increase competition and lower grocery prices.
Small and regional businesses
A Regional Productivity Growth Fund would focus on infrastructure like roads, water, power, and internet to help businesses in the regions grow and invest.
In their own words
“Balance the budget to take the heat off interest rates and inflation. Use policies to get our economy out of the red and back to black responsibly”
“NZ First will legislate to make the lowest tax bracket (currently $14,000 pa) of income tax-free no later than 1 April 2027; providing an extra $28.27 a-week for workers.”
“Foreign owned banks, supermarkets, and energy 'gen-tailers' will face a full scale pricing and monopoly investigation, as they have in other countries”
Summarised neutrally from NZ First’s own official policy (as at 2026-06-22) and checked by an editor. Nothing is paraphrased without the source linked. Read the original ↗ Arapono is non-partisan. Compare all parties on Economy →
Legislative record this term
54th Parliament · as at 28 August 2026
9
Government bills passed into law
10
Government bills led (incl. in progress)
0
Members’ bills passed
As a governing party, NZ First’s ministers lead government legislation. Government bills are the coalition’s collective programme, counted here by the party of the minister in charge rather than as one party’s alone. NZ First also has 4 members’ bills in the ballot.
At a glance
0 electorate 8 list
Total seats8
Electorate seats0
List seats8
Share of House6.5%
Founded1993
Latest coverage
News and video mentioning NZ First, from the sources on our coverage page.
In the news
Only Winston Peters is attuned to the public’s desire to abandon our bonkers voting rights – David CohenNZ Herald · 27 AugWhy Christopher Luxon blew up unwritten coalition rules – and infuriated David Seymour and Winston Peters – Audrey YoungNZ Herald · 27 AugMinerals permit backlog clearedBeehive (Govt) · 26 AugShane Jones changed funding rules to steer $50m to ‘high risk’ mining projectsNewsroom · 26 AugFormer chiefs of staff on how to negotiate with NZ First’s Winston Peters after electionNZ Herald · 26 Aug
All news On video
Minister Shane Jones on development vs kaitiakitanga debate in Aotea…Te Karere TVNZ · 27 AugGeorge Ngatai Goes Head To Head With Volunteer Announcer ShubzThe Platform · 27 AugIf you vote Labour, you're still going to need the other three.NZ First · 26 Aug#BHN Luxon is desperate to find a way to rid himself of Winston and …Big Hairy Network · 26 Aug
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.