Pitched as a way to end short-term political thinking, TOP's Future Generations policy would create an independent commissioner to speak for New Zealanders who are too young to vote or not yet born.

📋 TOP: Future Generations, October 2026 →

What it does

• A Future Generations Act would set up a Future Generations Commissioner as an independent Officer of Parliament, appointed for a five-year term, with no minister or party directing its work and funding set through the Officers of Parliament process.
• The commissioner would guide the setting of long-term national goals through citizens' assemblies and public forums designed with Māori participation, then track progress against them.
• Major policy, Budget and investment proposals would have to disclose their long-term costs, benefits, risks and effects on future generations, including the cost of doing nothing.
• The role would not have the power to force governments to act on its findings. Leader Qiulae Wong put the cost at about $5 million a year.
• The policy draws on Wales' Well-being of Future Generations Act. Wong pointed to the Welsh commissioner's role in stopping a motorway as an example of what the role could do.

The debate

• Nate Wilbourne, Future Generations lead at Wellbeing Economy Alliance Aotearoa, which has campaigned for such an Act, welcomed the announcement.
• National leader Christopher Luxon said he had not seen the proposal but it sounded like "more waffle". Labour leader Chris Hipkins said he was open to a conversation after the election but was deeply sceptical such a body would change anything, pointing to the Productivity Commission and the Families Commission.
• Asked why politicians would treat a new commissioner differently from existing watchdogs, Wong said public involvement would make long-term goals harder to dismiss.