<[link removed]>Dear Friend,

Our supporters have spoken, and we have listened!

I am delighted to announce that the official Election Bribe-O-Meter <[link removed]> is back for 2026!

The short point is the Government has no money.

Deficits remain.

That means every extra dollar of political promises represents new borrowing (or a new tax!).

And, to be frank, the parties are at it again. Some politicians are playing fast-and-loose with their costings...

For example, as exposed on Monday, the Greens' so-called "KiwiMart" costings are a joke. They're saying they can do it for $2.8 billion.

Our boffins estimate Chlöe Swarbrick has underestimated the true cost by $1.9 billion!

So, after being retired back in 2017, we've had to dust off the old girl.

James, Ray, and Levi have been burning the midnight oil to research, clarify, and cost all the political campaign spending promises announced up to Sunday night.

It's been a huge job!

And every week up until 7 November, James and his team will be updating you (and the media) on how much each party's new bribes promises will reach deeper into taxpayers' pockets.

The Bribe-O-Meter <[link removed]>, the most comprehensive independent policy costing project in New Zealand.

It's all about transparency. 

Week 1: Greens and Opportunity are fast out of the gate! <[link removed]>

Friend, here's the numbers so far based on the promises each party has announced (in 2026 dollars) over the next four years (the usual Government Budget "forecast period").

PartySpending PromiseCost Per Household🔵 National Party <[link removed]>$1.94 billion$936🟡 ACT Party <[link removed]>$2.63 billion$1,271🔴 Labour Party <[link removed]>$50.47 billion$24,358⚫️ NZ First <[link removed]>$45.22 billion$21,822🟣 The Opportunity Party <[link removed]>$200.99 billion$97,005🟢 Green Party <[link removed]>$236.50 billion$114,139🟤 Te Pāti MāoriUncostable - manifesto too vagueN/A

As you can see, the big spenders so far are the Greens and Opportunity, and it's not even close!

So much for the Opportunity claims of being 'sensible centrists' 👀

Some of the Greens' 'gimmes' are:

KiwiMart supermarket buyout — $4.68 billion, i.e. $2,259 per household

Student loan write-off — $16.2 billion ($7,829 per household).

Extend ACC to all injuries, disability and illness — $96 billion ($46,332 per household!!). 🤨

But all of those promises are dwarfed by The Opportunity's Party policy to put all kiwis on the benefit of what they call a 'Citizens' Income' – a universal handout. 

At least though, Opportunity want to cut other spending, which brings their net spending figure to sit just below the Greens  (read more, and see The Opportunity Party's manifesto cost breakdown, here <[link removed]>).

In the lead-up to the 2014 and 2017 elections, the Bribe-O-Meter's policy costings incentivised parties to publicly correct and clarify policy details. As with then, we will be delighted for the politicians to engage with our experts and improve both the Bribe-O-Meter and voters' understanding of the policies that November's election is all about.

🎰 Click here to check the Bribe-O-Meter 🎰 <[link removed]>

As always, thank you for backing this work. Someone has to keep score, and we are delighted you make it possible.

<[link removed]>

Thank you for your support,


Jordan Williams
Executive Director
New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union

New Zealand Taxpayers' Union · 117 Lambton Quay, Level 4, Wellington 6011, New Zealand
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