National claims Swarbrick would be finance minister under a left government

The National Party has claimed that Green Party MP Chloe Swarbrick would become finance minister if the left takes power after the election. The finance minister is the cabinet minister responsible for the government's budget and spending.

In a statement published on 26 October, National said a Labour-led coalition with Swarbrick as Finance Minister would spend recklessly, borrow more and tax more. A coalition is a government made up of more than one party. National's 100 Day Plan to secure our future sets out its own priorities for the first months of a new government.

Swarbrick has responded to National's attacks, according to RNZ's Morning Report.

Separately, the Green Party said in a statement on 25 October that the right-wing had impersonated the Greens during the election campaign. The statement was published under the heading "National's campaign of lies hits a new low".

The election is on 7 November. RNZ is running live coverage of the campaign through to election day, with Political Editor Jo Moir and Deputy Editor Craig McCulloch among the team providing updates, breaking news and analysis. Its Election 2026 news hub is at rnz.co.nz/news/politics_election-2026.