No new taxes if re-elected
Pitched as letting New Zealanders keep more of what they earn, and as the central tax choice of the election.
π National: No new taxes under National, August 2026 β
What it does
- National commits to introducing no new taxes if re-elected on 7 November 2026. Christopher Luxon said the promise would be written into any coalition agreement (RNZ).
- The pledge covers new taxes only: asked whether existing taxes, levies or fees could rise, Nicola Willis did not rule it out, RNZ reported.
- Before the announcement National had ruled out a bank tax and dropped a proposed accommodation levy on short-term rentals (RNZ).
- National's fiscal plan, released on 12 October 2026, funds its promises without new taxes but says now is not the time for tax cuts, while showing a pathway to possible tax relief later.
- National says at least nine new taxes are on the table between Labour, the Greens, Te PΔti MΔori and The Opportunity Party.
The debate
Luxon said the promise reflects disciplined economic management and called tax the fundamental choice of the election. Labour campaign chair Kieran McAnulty said that ruling out new revenue means cutting spending, and asked what National would cut.
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Key milestones
National commits to no new taxes
Christopher Luxon and Nicola Willis committed a re-elected National Government to no new taxes, contrasting it with new taxes proposed by Labour and other parties.
Existing taxes not ruled out; Labour asks what would be cut
RNZ reported Willis did not rule out rises to existing taxes, levies or fees, and Luxon said the promise would be written into any coalition agreement. Labour's Kieran McAnulty said ruling out revenue means cutting spending and asked what National would cut.
Fiscal plan: no new taxes, and no tax cuts for now
National's fiscal plan repeated the no-new-taxes promise, with Nicola Willis saying now is not the time to cut taxes while debt is brought down.
Sources
- National: No new taxes under National (policy page) β
- No new taxes under National (National Party, 23 Aug 2026) β
- National promises no new taxes if re-elected (RNZ, 23 Aug 2026) β
- National's plan to secure New Zealand's future (National Party, 12 Oct 2026) β