2026 Election Policy Scorecard | Recreation Aotearoa

October 15, 2026

How do the major political parties’ policies align with the priorities of Aotearoa New Zealand’s recreation sector?

Recreation matters to the wellbeing of people and communities across Aotearoa New Zealand. The places, services, programmes and people that enable recreation are shaped by decisions made across central and local government – from funding and planning to education, workforce development, accessibility and climate policy.

Our 2026 Election Policy Scorecard shows where each party’s stated positions align with Recreation Aotearoa advocacy priorities and where there are gaps or differences.

How the parties compare

Recreation Aotearoa 2026 Election Scorecard comparing seven political parties across seven recreation policy areas. National: Local Government D, Climate Change C, Urban Planning D, Te Tiriti o Waitangi C, Workforce and Education B, Disability Inclusion C, Outdoor Education B. Labour: B, B, B, B, A, B, B. Green: A, A, A, A, B, A, B. Te Pāti Māori: C, B, C, A, C, B, insufficient policy. Opportunity: C, A, B, B, B, insufficient policy, B. NZ First: C, D, C, D, C, B, insufficient policy. ACT: B, D, D, D, insufficient policy, D, insufficient policy. A indicates strong explicit alignment with Recreation Aotearoa priorities; B clear positive alignment; C mixed or partial alignment; D material conflict; IP insufficient policy.