NZ First visa plan, family payments pledge and 50-candidate list explained
New Zealand First says it would scrap the Accredited Work Visa and replace it with a shortage-led Skilled Work Visa if re-elected.
The promise was reported by 1News on 11 October. The party has not released drafting. It describes the replacement as shortage-led.
Visa and income promises
The Accredited Work Visa is the current system where approved employers can bring in overseas staff. A shortage-led visa would work more like a shortlist. Only roles with a proven shortage of local workers would qualify.
The visa pledge followed a separate income support promise. NZ First has vowed to permanently raise Working for Families payments, according to 1News on 11 October. Working for Families tops up the incomes of families with children. The party also says it would lift the minimum wage across the three-year term to match inflation. No rates or thresholds were included in the verified material.
Foreign aid clash and debates week
Peters criticised ACT over foreign aid. ACT proposed cutting foreign aid to 2017 levels, according to 1News election live coverage on 10 October. Peters described the policy as "mindless". The exchange came after ACT revealed its alternative Budget on Sunday.
That week was covered by RNZ on 11 October under the title "Live: Winston Peters' half-century in politics 'not a matter of enjoyment'". RNZ noted two debates in the same week. A TVNZ-RNZ simulcast debate was scheduled for Tuesday. NZME was scheduled to host the two major party leaders on Wednesday.
The 50-person list
On 6 October, New Zealand First announced its party list for the 2026 General Election. The list contains 50 candidates. Under MMP, the party vote decides how many seats a party gets, and the list order decides who fills them.
Rt Hon Winston Peters is ranked first as List Only, Hon Shane Jones is second and standing in Northland, Hon Casey Costello is third and standing in Port Waikato, and Hon Mark Patterson is fourth and standing in Taieri, according to NZ First. Standing as list-only means Peters is not contesting a local seat. The party vote is what would bring him back to Parliament.
Six Māori candidates feature in the top 10, according to Te Ao News. Former All Black Taine Randell features on the list. Former National MP Harete Hipango-Brownlie also features.
Earlier policies and campaign launch
On 6 September 2026, NZ First announced a campaign policy titled 'NZ Super for Citizens Only' by leader Winston Peters. Peters said the policy was about economic fairness and putting New Zealanders first, according to 1News reporting on 6 September. The party had declared a 'war on woke' in 2025, according to 1News on 3 October.
On organisation, New Zealand First says its 2026 Convention will formally launch the party's Election Campaign. The convention was advertised with a lineup of speakers including Rt Hon Winston Peters.
The broader context here is positioning, not just policy. A 50-name list with ministers at the top and electorate candidacies below keeps incumbents visible in the regions while the leader relies on the party vote. Pairing a tighter, shortage-led immigration offer with higher family payments and an inflation-linked wage floor lets NZ First argue for restraint on migrant numbers and extra help for households at the same time. The direct language on ACT over aid points to where post-election talks could be difficult if numbers require negotiation.
