We recently attended the South Island Election Conference 2026 in Christchurch, which brought together political leaders, business representatives and regional stakeholders to discuss the future of the South Island and the wider New Zealand economy.
With the general election approaching, the conference provided a useful opportunity to hear directly from the major political parties about their priorities for economic growth, infrastructure, business investment, employment, immigration, education, energy and regional development.
This article is intended as a general and politically neutral summary of discussions at the South Island Election Conference 2026. It does not represent an endorsement of any political party or policy.
Key Takeaways for Businesses
While there were clear political differences, several common themes emerged throughout the conference. Most parties acknowledged that New Zealand needs:
- Higher productivity
- More investment
- Better infrastructure
- Stronger vocational training and skills development
- Greater certainty for long-term business investment
- More reliable energy
- Better regional planning
- Improved maintenance of existing public assets
- A stronger connection between infrastructure, housing, immigration and workforce planning
For South Island businesses in particular, there was significant recognition across the political spectrum of the region’s contribution to exports, tourism, agriculture, manufacturing and New Zealand’s overall economic performance.
With the election approaching, the details of many policies will continue to develop. For businesses, it will be important to monitor proposals relating to tax, investment incentives, employment law, immigration, infrastructure and government support for business, as these could have practical implications over the coming years.
Table of Contents
- Christopher Luxon – National Party
- Chris Hipkins – Labour Party
- Small Business and Investment
- Infrastructure and the South Island
- Chris Bishop and Kieren McAnulty – Infrastructure Debate
- Queenstown Transport and Gondola Proposal
- Housing and Growth Infrastructure
- Fast Track Consenting and RMA Reform
- Act Party
- New Zealand First
- Green Party
- Immigration
- Education, Skills and Apprenticeships
- Employment Relations
- Artificial Intelligence
- Energy and Manufacturing
1. Christopher Luxon – National Party
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon focused strongly on economic growth, productivity and the South Island’s role in New Zealand’s future prosperity.
He spoke about the changing global environment and the need for New Zealand to become more resilient, productive and internationally competitive. National’s South Island plan included a number of areas of focus:
- Continued investment in South Island infrastructure and transport
- Proposed investment in the Rolleston Intermodal Freight Hub
- Transport improvements aimed at easing congestion in Queenstown
Continued Resource Management Act reform and use of fast-track consenting - Support for agriculture, tourism, mining and natural resources
- Unlocking further renewable energy generation
- Requiring new data centre developments to bring additional firmed electricity generation
- Completing Tower 3 at Christchurch Hospital, with additional hospital-bed capacity
- Continued support for business investment through the Government’s Investment Boost policy
Mr Luxon also emphasised fiscal discipline, lower debt, productivity growth, international trade and investment, technology and innovation.
His overall message was that the South Island has significant economic potential and can play a leading role in New Zealand’s next phase of growth.
2. Chris Hipkins – Labour Party
Labour leader Chris Hipkins also focused heavily on economic growth, but placed greater emphasis on government investment, small-business support, workforce development and maintaining continuity in major infrastructure projects. Labour’s proposals discussed during the conference included:
- Increasing the low-value asset write-off threshold from $1,000 to $10,000
- Increasing the GST registration threshold
- Measures aimed at ensuring small businesses are paid on time
- Giving New Zealand small businesses greater access to government procurement opportunities
- A proposed target for at least 15% of government procurement to go to small New Zealand businesses
- Expanding Apprenticeship Boost
- Supporting businesses to adopt AI and new technology
- Investing in renewable energy through policies such as Solar Saver
- Continued investment in housing, schools, hospitals and other public infrastructure
- Establishing a Future Fund to support infrastructure, renewable energy and growing New Zealand businesses
- Providing greater certainty around long-term infrastructure projects
Mr Hipkins also spoke about the importance of helping innovative New Zealand companies grow domestically rather than having to move offshore to access capital or opportunities.
Labour’s broader message was that economic recovery should be supported by strategic investment rather than relying primarily on spending reductions.
3. Small Business and Investment
Small-business policy was one of the strongest themes throughout the conference.
Labour highlighted its proposal to increase the immediate asset write-off threshold to $10,000, arguing that this would provide more direct assistance to smaller businesses.
National defended its existing Investment Boost policy, which provides businesses with an upfront deduction relating to qualifying capital investment.
There was considerable debate about which approach would provide greater benefit, particularly for small and medium-sized businesses.
Despite the differences in policy design, there was broad agreement that New Zealand needs businesses to invest more in:
- Technology
- Machinery and equipment
- Automation
- Productivity improvements
- Research and development
- Skills and trainings.
4. Infrastructure for the South Island
Infrastructure was one of the dominant issues across the conference.
There was widespread agreement that New Zealand needs greater certainty around long-term infrastructure investment and less stopping and starting of major projects when governments change.
Key issues included:
- Roads and bridges
- Rail and freight connections
- Regional airports
- Coastal Shipping
- Hospitals
- Electricity infrastructure
- Housing infrastructure
- Water and local-government infrastructure
- Resilience to severe weather events
There was also significant discussion about whether the South Island receives an appropriate share of national infrastructure investment given its contribution to exports, tourism, agriculture and regional economic growth.
5. Chris Bishop and Kieran McAnulty – Infrastructure Debate
A dedicated infrastructure discussion between Chris Bishop and Kieran McAnulty highlighted some notable areas of agreement between National and Labour.
Both acknowledged that New Zealand has historically struggled with:
- Poor long-term asset management
- Major project cost overruns
- Stop-start infrastructure investment
- Insufficient maintenance of existing assets
- Political changes affecting projects already underway
- A lack of long-term visibility for the construction sector
There was support for stronger involvement from the Infrastructure Commission, more independent project assessment and better long-term planning.
Chris Bishop highlighted National’s intention to focus more on value for money, asset management, transport resilience, maintenance and alternative infrastructure funding mechanisms.
These could include:
- Tolling
- Time-of-use charging
- Private sector financing
- Public-private partnerships
- Other infrastructure funding and financing arrangements
Kieran McAnulty emphasised Labour’s position that infrastructure projects which are properly funded and already underway should generally be honoured by an incoming government to provide greater certainty to businesses and investors.
6. Queenstown Transport and Gondola Proposal
Queenstown’s transport challenges featured prominently.
National indicated that if a privately funded gondola project becomes viable, obtains local-government support and is included in the regional transport plan, it could potentially receive the same type of public-transport operating subsidy currently available to buses, trains and ferries.
The discussion made clear that the Government was not proposing to fully fund construction of a gondola.
More broadly, there was agreement that Queenstown requires creative transport solutions because continued road expansion alone is unlikely to resolve congestion.
7. Housing and Growth Infrastructure
Housing availability was discussed as a significant constraint on regional economic growth.
Queenstown was highlighted, but similar issues were raised in other growing South Island communities.
Businesses can struggle to attract workers where:
- Housing is unavailable or unaffordable.
- Transport infrastructure is inadequate.
- Schools, health services and other community infrastructure have not kept pace with population growth.
There was discussion about the respective roles of central government, local government and private developers in addressing these issues.
A recurring principle was that infrastructure investment needs to occur ahead of or alongside growth, rather than after significant capacity problems have already developed.
8. Fast Track Consenting and RMA Reform
Resource management reform was another major area of discussion.
National and ACT strongly supported simplifying consenting and reducing regulatory barriers.
Fast-track consenting was presented as an important mechanism for progressing:
- Housing
- Renewable energy
- Infrastructure
- Mining
- Agriculture
- Aquaculture
- Commercial development
However, concerns were also raised about housing developments being approved outside councils’ planned growth areas.
One issue is that new developments can create significant costs for councils where roads, water and other supporting infrastructure have not already been planned. National indicated that future changes would allow councils greater ability to recover the actual infrastructure costs associated with certain out-of-sequence developments. The principle discussed was that growth should pay for growth.
9. Act Party
ACT representatives focused heavily on reducing regulation and improving the environment for private investment. Key themes included:
- Resource management reform
- Property rights
- Reducing regulatory compliance
- Greater employment flexibility
- Reform of the Holidays Act
- Making it easier for businesses to hire employees
- Ensuring infrastructure projects that make economic sense can access appropriate funding and financing
ACT’s broader position was that government should focus on providing effective regulation, infrastructure and essential services while allowing businesses greater freedom to invest and grow.
10. New Zealand First
New Zealand First placed strong emphasis on regional development and argued that more investment should be directed towards areas where economic growth is occurring.
Key issues raised included:
- South Island transport investment
- Regional roads and bridges
- Rail
- Infrastructure for agriculture and resources
- Mining and regional development
- Training New Zealand workers
- Encouraging skilled New Zealanders living overseas to return
- Ensuring infrastructure is delivered ahead of regional growth
New Zealand First representatives repeatedly highlighted the economic potential of Southland, Otago, Canterbury and the West Coast.
11. Green Party
The Green Party focused on:
- Climate resilience
- Electrification
- Renewable energy
- Long term infrastructure planning
- Climate adaptation
- Worker protections
- Fair Pay Agreements
- Innovation
- AI safeguards and regulation
- Greater investment in public infrastructure
The Greens also argued that New Zealand needs greater long-term consistency in infrastructure and climate policy, with less change when governments alternate
12. Immigration
Immigration policy generated considerable discussion.
National highlighted recent changes aimed at providing employers with better access to skilled and seasonal workers, while maintaining a focus on employment opportunities for New Zealanders.
There was discussion about potentially developing more flexible regional immigration settings in future.
Labour emphasised the importance of regional workforce planning and linking immigration policy with regional skills needs.
New Zealand First favoured a more restrictive approach to immigration, with greater emphasis on training New Zealanders and attracting skilled Kiwis back from overseas.
There was broad recognition that major infrastructure and development opportunities in the South Island will require access to sufficient skilled labour.
13. Education, Skills and Apprenticeships
There was significant agreement that New Zealand needs stronger vocational and trades pathways.
National discussed:
- Expanding trades academy places
- Introducing industry-led subjects
- Better aligning secondary education with employer requirements
- New areas including advanced manufacturing and applied intelligent systems
Labour proposed expanding Apprenticeship Boost, particularly to help businesses continue training apprentices through weaker economic periods.
Across the political spectrum there was recognition that a university degree should not be considered the only pathway to a successful career and that trades and vocational education need to be valued more highly.
14. Employment Relations
Employment law highlighted some of the clearest differences between political parties.
Labour confirmed that it intends to reintroduce Fair Pay Agreements or similar industry-wide bargaining arrangements.
Labour argues these arrangements can improve consistency in pay and conditions and reduce competition based primarily on lowering employment costs.
The Greens also supported this approach.
National and other centre-right representatives emphasised the importance of a flexible labour market and policies such as 90-day trial periods, arguing that reducing hiring risk can encourage businesses to take on more employees.
Despite different approaches, speakers from both sides acknowledged that successful businesses and productive employees ultimately depend on each other.
15. Artificial Intelligence
AI was another significant topic. There was broad agreement that AI will have a major effect on:
- Business productivity
- Employment
- Education
- Skills
- Government services
- Future economic competitiveness
Some representatives argued that New Zealand should move quickly to adopt AI because of the productivity opportunities available. Others emphasised the need for stronger safeguards covering:
- Privacy
- Data
- Education
- Cognitive development
- Government use
- Employment disruption
There was also discussion about introducing AI-related education at secondary-school level and ensuring students still develop fundamental skills such as literacy, writing and critical thinking.
16. Energy and Manufacturing
Energy security and electricity costs were identified as major issues for New Zealand businesses, particularly manufacturers.
National emphasised increasing electricity generation and improving consenting processes for renewable projects.
There was also discussion about ensuring sufficient firm generation is available during periods when renewable supply is constrained.
The conference also considered the role of government support for strategically important industries, including the recent support provided to Golden Bay Cement.
This raised a wider question about when government should intervene to retain industries considered important to New Zealand’s economic resilience.