New Zealand First – Party Overview
Last updated: 3 August 2026
New Zealand First is a nationalist and populist political party that places strong emphasis on national sovereignty, regional development, public ownership of strategic assets, economic resilience and what it describes as practical, common-sense government.
The party is led by Rt Hon Winston Peters, with Hon Shane Jones serving as deputy leader.
New Zealand First returned to Parliament at the 2023 General Election and entered the current coalition Government with National and ACT.
Its influence on transport extends beyond a conventional party spokesperson structure.
Winston Peters is the current Minister for Rail and remains the dominant New Zealand First figure on rail, Cook Strait transport and nationally important infrastructure. Shane Jones is Minister for Regional Development and one of the party’s principal voices on ports, energy, Northland infrastructure and regional investment. Andy Foster is New Zealand First’s Associate Transport spokesperson and Chair of Parliament’s Transport and Infrastructure Committee.
New Zealand First’s transport policy is generally framed through:
Regional connectivity.
Rail and freight.
Fuel and energy security.
Public ownership.
Ports and coastal shipping.
Infrastructure supporting economic development.
Auckland transport governance.
Long-term national planning.
Support for older New Zealanders.
Greater political accountability.
The party’s approach is neither consistently left-wing nor right-wing.
It supports government investment and public ownership in areas it considers strategically important, including rail, energy, banking and infrastructure. At the same time, it supports mining, oil and gas exploration, faster consenting, road construction and measures intended to reduce regulation.
New Zealand First has now announced several transport and infrastructure policies for the 2026 election.
These include:
Building the Mill Road corridor as a priority.
Creating a $100 billion Future Fund connected with a 30-year infrastructure plan.
Investing $1 billion in a National Subsurface Development Survey.
Establishing a Special Economic Zone at Marsden Point.
Advancing the Marsden Point rail link, Northland Expressway and dry dock.
Withdrawing New Zealand from the Paris Agreement.
These policies sit alongside New Zealand First’s current coalition record in rail funding, fuel reserves, Auckland transport reform and regional infrastructure.
However, the party has not yet released a single, comprehensive 2026 transport manifesto covering every mode, project and funding mechanism.
Its detailed 2023 transport policy remains valuable context, but policies from that document should not automatically be described as current 2026 commitments unless they have been repeated or reconfirmed.
Leadership and Key People
Party Leadership
Rt Hon Winston Peters – Leader of New Zealand First, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister for Rail and Minister for Racing.
Hon Shane Jones – Deputy Leader of New Zealand First, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Resources and Minister for Oceans and Fisheries.
Winston Peters remains the central political figure within New Zealand First.
His current Rail portfolio gives the party direct responsibility for KiwiRail network investment, rail-freight performance, metropolitan rail infrastructure and the proposed Marsden Point connection.
Shane Jones became New Zealand First’s official deputy leader during the current parliamentary term. He is also the party’s spokesperson for Economic Development and Infrastructure. His ministerial responsibilities make him central to the Regional Infrastructure Fund, energy development, mining, Northland investment and regional economic policy.
Transport Leadership
Andy Foster – New Zealand First Associate Transport spokesperson.
Foster is a New Zealand First List MP based in Wellington and Chair of Parliament’s Transport and Infrastructure Committee.
He is also the party’s spokesperson for Local Government, Housing, Civil Defence, Internal Affairs, Conservation and several education portfolios.
Before entering Parliament, Foster served for many years on Wellington City Council and as Mayor of Wellington. His background includes investment finance, economics, urban planning and local government.
New Zealand First’s official profile describes him as recognised for leadership in transport, urban planning and finance.
Foster should therefore be presented as New Zealand First’s formal Associate Transport spokesperson and principal parliamentary transport figure outside Winston Peters’ specific Rail responsibilities.
Rail Leadership
Rt Hon Winston Peters – Minister for Rail and New Zealand First’s leading rail spokesperson.
Rail is one of the clearest transport areas in which New Zealand First has direct influence in government.
Peters has led announcements involving:
KiwiRail network funding.
Rail-freight performance.
Metropolitan rail renewals.
South Island locomotive replacement.
Christchurch rail maintenance infrastructure.
The Marsden Point rail link.
Interislander performance and fleet replacement.
Regional Infrastructure
Hon Shane Jones – New Zealand First spokesperson for Economic Development and Infrastructure and Minister for Regional Development.
Jones is particularly relevant to:
The Regional Infrastructure Fund.
Ports.
Marsden Point.
Northport.
Energy infrastructure.
Regional roads and airports.
Mining and resources.
Fast-track consenting.
Regional economic development.
New Zealand First’s transport direction is therefore spread across several senior figures rather than controlled by one spokesperson.
New Zealand First’s Transport Philosophy
New Zealand First’s transport philosophy is based on the idea that transport is a strategic national system rather than a collection of isolated commercial services.
Its 2023 policy described an integrated network of land, air and sea links supporting both social connection and economic growth.
The party argued that transport planning had become overly concentrated on major urban centres and should give greater attention to regional New Zealand.
This remains consistent with its current public positioning.
New Zealand First’s wider transport approach can be grouped into several themes:
Rebuilding and maintaining the national rail network.
Connecting ports with road and rail infrastructure.
Protecting national fuel and energy security.
Supporting regional roads and transport links.
Maintaining public control of strategic infrastructure.
Returning greater transport authority to elected representatives.
Using infrastructure to support manufacturing, exports and employment.
Reducing reliance on overseas supply chains.
Investing beyond the three-year electoral cycle.
Giving regions a larger share of national infrastructure spending.
The party often treats transport, energy, ports, industry and regional development as parts of the same economic strategy.
This is especially apparent at Marsden Point, where New Zealand First proposes combining road, rail, port, maritime, energy and industrial development.
Current Government Programme Versus New Zealand First Election Policy
New Zealand First is currently part of the coalition Government.
Some transport decisions identified strongly with the party have already been funded, legislated or placed into delivery.
These include:
Investment in the national rail network.
Funding for strategic fuel reserves.
Progress on the Marsden Point rail link.
Auckland transport-governance reform.
Cancellation of Auckland Light Rail.
Cancellation of most of Let’s Get Wellington Moving.
Investigation of Marsden Point fuel-security options.
Support for a Northland Expressway and Brynderwyns alternative.
Regional Infrastructure Fund investment.
Work toward a dry dock at Marsden Point.
These are current coalition policies or achievements.
They are not automatically the same as New Zealand First’s new election promises.
The party has also released separate 2026 commitments that go beyond the current Government programme, including the Mill Road announcement, the Future Fund and the National Subsurface Development Survey.
Confirmed 2026 Policy: Mill Road
At its July 2026 annual convention, New Zealand First announced that it would campaign on building the Mill Road corridor as a priority.
Mill Road is a proposed major transport corridor through south Auckland, intended to support rapid housing and population growth around Drury, Takanini, Papakura and surrounding areas.
The wider project has been proposed, altered, deferred and partially revived under successive governments.
New Zealand First argues that both Labour and National have failed to deliver it despite continued development in the south of Auckland.
Winston Peters described Mill Road as an example of the two major parties repeatedly promising infrastructure without completing it and committed New Zealand First to getting the corridor built as a priority.
What the Commitment Confirms
The announcement establishes Mill Road as a formal New Zealand First 2026 election priority.
It does not yet provide:
The final route.
The number of lanes across every section.
The complete project cost.
The construction start date.
The delivery model.
Whether the project would be tolled.
How it would connect with public transport.
Which properties would be required.
Whether all stages would be funded at once.
National’s current transport pipeline includes parts of Mill Road but advances different sections at different speeds.
New Zealand First’s promise appears intended to move the entire corridor forward more quickly.
The policy will need to explain whether New Zealand First supports the current NZTA design or intends to alter the route, scale or staging.
Confirmed 2026 Policy: $100 Billion Future Fund
New Zealand First has announced a policy to establish a $100 billion Future Fund connected with a 30-year national infrastructure plan.
Winston Peters says the Fund would operate separately from day-to-day political influence and would be based partly on Singapore’s Temasek investment model.
The proposal signals a significant development from New Zealand First’s 2023 policy.
That earlier platform proposed working toward a Crown-owned New Zealand Infrastructure Bank capable of financing long-term publicly owned assets.
The new Future Fund appears broader and substantially larger.
Potential Transport and Infrastructure Role
A $100 billion investment fund could potentially participate in:
Roads.
Rail.
Ports.
Energy.
Water infrastructure.
Housing infrastructure.
Regional development.
Domestic manufacturing.
Telecommunications.
Strategic industries.
However, the party has not yet published a complete policy document explaining:
How the Fund would reach $100 billion.
What existing Crown assets would be transferred.
Whether government borrowing would be used.
Whether private investors could participate.
What annual return would be required.
Who would appoint its governors.
What infrastructure it could own.
Whether it would issue loans or take equity.
Whether projects would remain publicly owned.
How political independence would be protected.
How losses would be treated.
How the Fund differs from Labour’s proposed New Zealand Future Fund.
The proposal may become one of the most important infrastructure-funding debates of the election.
Its scale is substantial enough that the source of the capital, governance and investment rules will matter as much as the headline figure.
Confirmed 2026 Policy: National Subsurface Development Survey
New Zealand First has announced a further 2026 policy involving an initial $1 billion investment over one parliamentary term in a National Subsurface Development Survey.
The proposed survey would create a national dataset covering:
Oil and gas prospects.
Geothermal resources.
Carbon dioxide storage sites.
Other subsurface energy and resource opportunities.
New Zealand First argues that New Zealand may hold major offshore oil and gas resources that have not been adequately surveyed using modern technology.
The party presents the survey as an investment in national energy security and future economic development.
Transport Relevance
Although the policy is primarily about energy and resources, it has direct transport implications.
New Zealand remains dependent on imported petrol, diesel, aviation fuel and maritime fuel.
A serious interruption to international fuel supply could affect:
Road transport.
Freight.
Aviation.
Maritime services.
Emergency response.
Agriculture.
Public transport.
Tourism.
Construction.
Food distribution.
New Zealand First argues that identifying domestic oil and gas resources would improve national resilience and reduce dependence on geopolitical decisions made overseas.
Questions and Risks
The policy raises major questions about:
Whether commercially recoverable reserves would be found.
How long exploration and development would take.
Whether domestic production would reduce local fuel prices.
Who would own or operate any discoveries.
Environmental effects.
Climate-policy consequences.
Offshore spill risk.
Whether New Zealand would refine domestic crude.
Whether private companies would receive access to publicly funded survey data.
Whether investment in fossil-fuel exploration would displace renewable-energy investment.
The survey is now a confirmed New Zealand First campaign commitment.
Development of any discovered resource would require separate commercial, regulatory and environmental decisions.
Fuel Security
Fuel security has become one of New Zealand First’s most prominent transport and infrastructure issues.
The party argues that energy security is national security and that closing the Marsden Point refinery left New Zealand excessively dependent on imported refined fuel.
New Zealand First says this dependence creates vulnerability to:
War.
Shipping disruption.
International sanctions.
Refinery outages overseas.
Natural disasters.
Exchange-rate movements.
Global oil-price shocks.
The party has repeatedly criticised the previous Labour Government for allowing the refinery to close and has called for investigation of reopening or repurposing the site.
Strategic Fuel Reserves
Budget 2026 included $150 million for additional strategic fuel reserves.
New Zealand First presents the funding as one of its principal coalition achievements and part of its wider programme to strengthen national resilience.
Strategic reserves can provide a temporary buffer during supply disruption.
They do not remove New Zealand’s dependence on imported fuel and cannot by themselves prevent price increases caused by global markets.
Important policy questions include:
How many additional days of supply the funding will provide.
Which fuels will be stored.
Where reserves will be held.
Whether the stock will be Crown-owned.
Which sectors receive priority during shortages.
How reserves will be rotated and maintained.
When emergency stocks can be released.
Reopening Marsden Point
New Zealand First’s 2023 policy committed to investigating reopening the Marsden Point refinery and establishing a Fuel Security Plan for transport, logistics and emergency services.
The current coalition programme includes an investigation into reopening the refinery or developing other fuel-security functions at the site.
New Zealand First has continued to campaign strongly on the issue but has not yet published a final commercial model for restoring domestic refining.
Questions include:
Whether the original refinery can be economically restarted.
How much capital investment would be required.
Whether government ownership would be necessary.
Whether private shareholders would participate.
Whether the facility would refine imported or domestic crude.
Whether biofuels or sustainable aviation fuel would be produced.
Whether the refinery could compete with larger Asian facilities.
How consumer fuel prices would be affected.
Marsden Point Special Economic Zone
In May 2026, New Zealand First announced a policy to establish a Special Economic Zone at Marsden Point.
The proposed zone would include the former refinery site and Northport.
It would focus on:
Energy generation and distribution.
Maritime activities.
Ship repair.
A dry dock.
Industrial development.
Export-related businesses.
Transport and communications infrastructure.
The policy proposes faster planning decisions through a government-appointed panel rather than ordinary local and regional consenting processes.
New Zealand First is also considering tax and investment incentives and changes intended to attract selected overseas investment while retaining national control of strategic assets.
The party presents the Special Economic Zone as part of an integrated development programme involving:
Northport.
Marsden Point.
The Northland Expressway.
The Marsden Point rail link.
A dry dock.
Energy development.
Regional manufacturing.
Potential Benefits
The zone could potentially support:
Regional employment.
Port growth.
Ship maintenance.
Energy security.
Export industry.
New transport infrastructure.
Manufacturing.
Maritime capability.
Defence and emergency resilience.
Potential Risks
A Special Economic Zone could also raise questions about:
Reduced environmental safeguards.
The role of councils.
Public participation.
Foreign ownership.
Tax concessions.
Crown financial exposure.
Competition with other ports.
The cost of supporting infrastructure.
Effects on Whangārei and surrounding communities.
Whether incentives produce investment that would not otherwise occur.
Northport and the Marsden Point Rail Link
New Zealand First has long supported connecting Northport with the North Auckland rail line.
The proposed Marsden Point rail link is approximately 19 kilometres long.
In June 2026, KiwiRail identified three potential construction partners—Acciona, a Downer and HEB joint venture, and Martinus Rail—to participate in a competitive design process.
The objective is to develop lower-cost design options and provide greater confidence about the project’s final cost before the Government commits construction funding.
The current work includes examining:
Rail alignment.
Earthworks.
Construction sequencing.
Ground conditions.
Bridge design.
Level crossings.
Alternative engineering approaches.
Winston Peters argues that Northport should have a rail connection comparable with New Zealand’s other major ports.
The project is closely connected with:
Port growth.
Northland exports.
Freight resilience.
Road congestion.
Marsden Point industrial development.
Auckland port strategy.
National supply chains.
Current Status
The rail link is progressing through design and commercial assessment.
It is not yet a fully funded construction project.
New Zealand First supports building it, but the final cost, delivery structure and Crown commitment remain to be confirmed.
National Rail Investment
Rail is the strongest and most developed area of New Zealand First’s current transport record.
Budget 2026 committed:
Up to $1.075 billion for KiwiRail’s planned network investment between 2027 and 2030.
$106.9 million for critical metropolitan rail renewals in Auckland and Wellington.
The Government says this is the first time a full three-year national rail-network programme has been funded in advance.
KiwiRail freight customers are also expected to contribute approximately $60 million through track-user charges.
The programme is intended to support:
Track maintenance.
Bridge and tunnel renewals.
Signalling.
Network reliability.
Freight services.
Metropolitan passenger rail.
Long-term asset condition.
New Zealand First presents rail as an economic enabler rather than primarily an environmental policy.
Its argument is that a reliable rail network supports:
Exporters.
Ports.
Freight companies.
Regional industry.
Road resilience.
National supply chains.
Urban passenger transport.
Commercial Discipline
Winston Peters has placed strong emphasis on KiwiRail’s commercial performance.
In February 2026, he highlighted a half-year operating surplus of $73.4 million and a seven per cent increase in freight volumes as evidence that improved reliability and commercial discipline were producing results.
The Government has also funded:
New South Island locomotives.
Freight wagons.
Shunting locomotives.
Christchurch maintenance capability.
Network renewals.
New Zealand First’s approach combines ongoing Crown investment in track infrastructure with an expectation that commercial rail freight should cover its direct operating costs.
Regional Passenger Rail
New Zealand First’s 2023 policy supported further investigation of reopening the Wairoa-to-Gisborne railway.
It also supported rebuilding and improving the Christchurch-to-Picton corridor.
The party has not yet published a comprehensive 2026 passenger-rail network.
Its current rail announcements are focused predominantly on:
Freight.
Network maintenance.
Metropolitan rail renewals.
Marsden Point.
KiwiRail performance.
New Zealand First still needs to clarify its position on:
Auckland-to-Hamilton passenger rail.
Tauranga passenger rail.
The Capital Connection.
Wairarapa services.
Auckland-to-Wellington rail.
Christchurch-to-Dunedin passenger services.
Tourism rail.
Sleeper trains.
The Wairoa-to-Gisborne route.
Private passenger-rail proposals.
The party has historically been more supportive of rail than National or ACT, but its current programme is primarily centred on national freight and strategic infrastructure rather than a broad new passenger-rail expansion.
Cook Strait Ferries
The Cook Strait connection is another major area of New Zealand First influence through Winston Peters’ Rail portfolio.
The coalition Government cancelled the previous iReX programme and has been developing a replacement ferry and port-infrastructure solution.
New Zealand First supports retaining a reliable publicly controlled Cook Strait connection and has emphasised the need for cost discipline and operational reliability.
In July 2026, Peters reported that Interislander reliability had reached 98 per cent, pending final audit, while KiwiRail had achieved its earnings target.
The long-term replacement programme remains one of New Zealand’s most important unresolved infrastructure projects.
A full New Zealand First election policy should clarify:
The number and size of replacement vessels.
Rail-enabled capability.
Port-terminal investment.
Delivery dates.
Ownership.
Total project cost.
Freight capacity.
Passenger capacity.
Resilience and redundancy.
Coastal Shipping and the Merchant Fleet
New Zealand First’s 2023 policy proposed greater use of coastal shipping under a concept it called Blue Highways.
That platform included:
Expanding New Zealand’s merchant fleet.
Developing coastal-shipping capability.
Building a dry dock in Northland.
Supporting New Zealand-built inshore vessels.
Strengthening maritime resilience.
These policies align with the party’s current Marsden Point Special Economic Zone and dry-dock programme.
However, New Zealand First has not yet reconfirmed the full Blue Highways and merchant-fleet package for 2026.
A current policy should explain:
Whether the Government would own ships.
Whether coastal freight would receive subsidies.
How New Zealand-crewed vessels would be supported.
Which ports would receive investment.
How coastal shipping would compete with road and rail.
What role shipping would play during natural disasters.
How maritime training would expand.
Whether cabotage rules would change.
Roads and Highways
New Zealand First supports major road construction where it believes roads enable regional growth, freight, housing and national resilience.
Its current confirmed road priority is Mill Road.
The party also supports major Northland road investment, including:
The Northland Expressway.
A resilient alternative through or around the Brynderwyn Hills.
Road connections supporting Northport and Marsden Point.
Improved links between Northland and Auckland.
New Zealand First’s public position is that regional roads have historically received insufficient investment relative to Auckland and other large urban centres.
Northland Expressway
The party’s Marsden Point policy treats the Northland Expressway as part of a larger economic corridor rather than a stand-alone motorway.
The intended system would connect:
Auckland.
Whangārei.
Northport.
Marsden Point.
Regional industrial areas.
Rail and maritime infrastructure.
New Zealand First supports greater use of fast-track consenting to advance these projects.
Road Ownership and Private Finance
New Zealand First’s 2023 transport policy stated that roads should not be privatised or corporatised.
This distinguishes it from ACT, which is more open to privately financed and operated toll-road concessions.
However, the coalition agreement has included investigation of private finance for parts of the Northland road programme.
New Zealand First’s final 2026 policy should explain:
Whether private finance is acceptable.
Whether road tolling is acceptable.
Whether ownership must remain with the Crown.
Whether private consortiums may operate roads.
How long-term payment arrangements would work.
Whether a free alternative route must remain.
Road-User Charges and Fuel Excise
New Zealand First’s 2023 policy proposed a select committee inquiry into replacing fuel excise with road-user charges.
The party argued that a national RUC system should support both urban and regional New Zealand and provide adequate funding for the wider road network.
The coalition Government is now progressing a transition toward electronic RUC for the wider light-vehicle fleet.
New Zealand First has not yet published a separate detailed 2026 position on:
RUC rates.
Electronic monitoring.
Privacy.
Advance or post-payment.
Vehicle weight.
Rural travel.
Electric vehicles.
Commercial fleets.
Administrative fees.
Foreign vehicles.
The relationship between RUC, tolls and congestion charging.
Its earlier support for an inquiry suggests the party recognised the need for reform but wanted a more comprehensive assessment before making major changes.
The final 2026 policy should clarify whether New Zealand First now supports the Government’s proposed model without alteration.
Time-of-Use Charging and Tolling
New Zealand First has not released a detailed 2026 policy on time-of-use charging.
The party supported the current coalition Government, which passed legislation enabling councils and NZTA to develop congestion-charging schemes.
However, New Zealand First’s cost-of-living focus and regional orientation may make it more cautious than National or ACT about imposing additional road charges where people have few alternatives.
Important questions include:
Whether New Zealand First supports an Auckland charging scheme.
Whether public transport must improve first.
Whether lower-income households would receive assistance.
Whether commercial and essential vehicles would be exempt.
Whether revenue must remain within the affected region.
Whether tolls should be used for existing roads.
How charges would interact with RUC.
New Zealand First’s earlier opposition to road privatisation does not necessarily mean opposition to every toll.
A formal position has not yet been published.
Auckland Transport Governance
The existing New Zealand First page correctly identifies Auckland transport governance as one of the party’s clearest transport positions.
In August 2024, New Zealand First introduced a Member’s Bill intended to disestablish Auckland Transport and return transport decision-making authority to Auckland Council.
The party argued that Auckland Transport had accumulated too much authority while remaining insufficiently accountable to elected councillors and the public.
The coalition Government later enacted a wider restructuring of Auckland transport governance.
Under the new model:
Most planning and policy functions transfer to Auckland Council.
Road-control and capital-delivery responsibilities move toward the council.
Auckland Transport remains as a smaller public-transport delivery organisation.
A regional transport committee coordinates Auckland Council and central government.
Local boards receive greater influence over selected local decisions.
The final legislation does not completely disestablish Auckland Transport in the way New Zealand First’s original Bill proposed.
It does, however, move the system substantially toward the party’s objective of restoring authority to elected representatives.
What the Reform Means
The reform creates opportunities for:
Greater democratic accountability.
Better integration of transport and housing.
Stronger local-board influence.
Clearer central-local planning.
A long-term regional transport programme.
It also creates risks involving:
Institutional disruption.
Political interference.
Loss of specialist staff.
Confusion over responsibility.
Duplication.
Another expensive restructuring.
Tension between local and regional priorities.
New Zealand First should clarify whether it considers the enacted model complete or would seek to disestablish the remaining Auckland Transport organisation after the election.
Public Transport
New Zealand First’s 2023 policy supported quality, affordable public transport in urban and rural areas.
The party also has a long-standing association with the SuperGold Card and free off-peak public transport for older New Zealanders.
New Zealand First’s history page credits its 2005 confidence-and-supply agreement with delivering the SuperGold Card programme.
SuperGold Transport
Free off-peak travel for SuperGold Card holders remains one of New Zealand First’s most durable transport achievements.
The programme provides eligible older New Zealanders with free off-peak travel on participating public buses, trains and ferries.
Budget 2026 included $36 million to modernise the SuperGold Card as both a physical and digital form of identification.
The modernisation is broader than public transport but may make eligibility and service access easier.
New Zealand First has not yet announced a major new 2026 public-transport fare policy comparable with:
Labour’s weekly fare cap.
The Green Party’s expanded free fares.
Opportunity’s universal free-public-transport proposal.
Urban and Regional Public Transport
The party’s 2023 support for affordable public transport should remain on the page as historical policy.
New Zealand First needs to confirm its current position on:
Public-transport fare levels.
Government operating subsidies.
Regional council funding.
Bus and rail service frequency.
Rural and interregional buses.
Public or private operation.
National ticketing.
Driver shortages.
Fleet electrification.
Total Mobility.
School transport.
On-demand services.
Its strongest public-transport policy remains the established SuperGold programme rather than a newly announced network-wide reform.
Auckland Airport Rail
New Zealand First’s 2023 transport policy opposed Auckland Light Rail and proposed a heavy-rail spur from Puhinui Station to Auckland Airport.
The coalition Government cancelled the Auckland Light Rail programme.
However, a heavy-rail airport spur has not been adopted as a funded government project.
New Zealand First should clarify whether it still supports:
Heavy rail from Puhinui to the airport.
A different rapid-transit connection.
Bus rapid transit.
Integration with airport-to-Botany public transport.
Future use of the existing airport designation corridor.
The question remains important because Auckland Airport is one of the country’s principal transport, freight and tourism gateways.
Wellington Transport
New Zealand First’s 2023 policy supported ending most of Let’s Get Wellington Moving while retaining:
A new road tunnel.
Improved State Highway 1 access to Wellington Airport.
The concept described as “four lanes to the planes.”
The coalition Government subsequently cancelled the wider programme.
New Zealand First has not yet released a complete replacement Wellington transport plan.
Important questions include:
The future of the Mount Victoria Tunnel.
Bus priority.
Wellington railway station access.
The Basin Reserve.
Airport connections.
Central-city road changes.
Walking and cycling.
Regional rail.
Resilience of State Highways 1 and 2.
Local-government funding.
Andy Foster’s Wellington background makes him a likely central figure in any updated policy.
Cycling and Road Safety
New Zealand First’s 2023 policy proposed:
A moratorium on new cycle lanes funded through the National Land Transport Fund.
Requiring local government to finance new cycle lanes.
Cancelling the Road to Zero strategy.
Redirecting funding toward local and regional road engineering.
Restoring higher speed limits on selected roads.
Several elements of this direction were included in the coalition programme, including reduced central funding for cycleways, replacement of Road to Zero and reversal of selected speed-limit reductions.
The party has not yet confirmed whether its full 2023 cycling and road-safety policy remains unchanged for 2026.
A current policy should address:
School-zone safety.
Vulnerable road users.
Rural-road deaths.
Median barriers.
Intersection upgrades.
Drink and drug driving.
Driver licensing.
Motorcycle safety.
Road policing.
Cycling infrastructure.
Speed management.
National safety targets.
New Zealand First tends to favour targeted engineering improvements and enforcement over broad nationwide speed reductions.
Regional Infrastructure Fund
New Zealand First’s influence in the current Government is also visible through the Regional Infrastructure Fund administered by Shane Jones.
The Fund supports infrastructure intended to improve regional productivity, resilience and economic development.
Projects can involve:
Roads.
Airports.
Energy.
Flood protection.
Industrial land.
Water systems.
Regional facilities.
Transport connections.
The Regional Infrastructure Fund follows New Zealand First’s earlier Provincial Growth Fund, which operated during the 2017–2020 Labour–New Zealand First Government.
New Zealand First presents both programmes as evidence that it directs investment toward regions that may not receive sufficient funding through conventional national infrastructure systems.
Regional Development Philosophy
The party argues that transport infrastructure should not be based only on population size.
Regional roads, ports, airports and rail may carry national economic value because they support:
Exports.
Agriculture.
Forestry.
Tourism.
Energy.
Mining.
Food production.
Emergency access.
New Zealand First’s challenge is demonstrating that regional investment is selected through transparent economic assessment rather than political discretion.
Important questions include:
How projects are ranked.
Whether decisions are independently assessed.
How loans and grants are divided.
How conflicts of interest are managed.
Whether projects achieve measurable outcomes.
How unsuccessful investments are treated.
Whether funding survives changes of government.
Aviation and Regional Airports
New Zealand First has not yet released a comprehensive 2026 aviation policy.
However, regional aviation is consistent with its focus on connectivity outside the largest cities.
Regional airports can be essential for:
Healthcare.
Business travel.
Tourism.
Civil defence.
Emergency response.
Communities distant from major centres.
The Regional Infrastructure Fund has supported selected airport infrastructure, including a $4.2 million upgrade for Wairoa Airport announced in February 2026.
This is a government investment rather than a complete New Zealand First aviation policy.
The party should clarify its position on:
Regional air-route support.
Airport ownership.
Air New Zealand regional services.
Aviation regulation.
Pilot and engineer shortages.
Sustainable aviation fuel.
Airport resilience.
International connectivity.
Drone and advanced aviation technology.
Transport Emissions and the Paris Agreement
New Zealand First has announced that it will campaign on withdrawing New Zealand from the Paris Agreement.
The party argues that the international agreement imposes disproportionate economic costs on New Zealand and could result in large payments overseas.
It says domestic resources should instead be invested in New Zealand’s own environment, infrastructure and economy.
This position has significant implications for transport and infrastructure policy.
Transport emissions policy is currently influenced by:
International climate commitments.
Domestic emissions budgets.
The Emissions Trading Scheme.
Vehicle-efficiency standards.
Public-transport investment.
Electric-vehicle policy.
Rail and coastal shipping.
Aviation and maritime emissions.
Withdrawal from Paris would not automatically remove every domestic climate law or target.
New Zealand First would need to explain which domestic policies it would:
Retain.
Repeal.
Replace.
Delay.
Refinance.
Electric and Hydrogen Vehicles
New Zealand First’s 2023 policy supported developing infrastructure with industry to expand the use of electric and hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles.
That position sits alongside the party’s current support for oil, gas and mineral exploration.
The two positions are not necessarily incompatible.
New Zealand First’s energy approach appears to favour multiple technologies rather than a rapid government-mandated transition away from fossil fuels.
The party should confirm its current policy on:
Electric-vehicle charging.
Hydrogen refuelling.
Vehicle-efficiency standards.
EV purchase incentives.
Heavy-vehicle transition.
Biofuels.
Renewable diesel.
Sustainable aviation fuel.
Public-transport fleet emissions.
Import restrictions on fossil-fuel vehicles.
Infrastructure Planning and the Future Fund
New Zealand First’s 2023 policy proposed:
A Ministry of Infrastructure.
A Crown-owned Infrastructure Bank.
A visible national project pipeline.
Long-term publicly owned assets.
A multimodal national supply-chain and freight strategy.
The party’s new $100 billion Future Fund may replace or absorb parts of that earlier model.
However, New Zealand First has not yet explained whether it still supports:
Abolishing the Infrastructure Commission.
Creating a Ministry of Infrastructure.
Establishing a separate Infrastructure Bank.
Using the current 30-year National Infrastructure Plan.
Transferring Crown assets into the Future Fund.
Borrowing through a state investment entity.
This is an important area requiring clarification.
The current Government has supported the independent Infrastructure Commission and adopted its National Infrastructure Plan.
New Zealand First’s 2023 policy proposed abolishing the Commission and moving its role into a ministry.
Its 2026 Future Fund proposal refers to a 30-year infrastructure plan but does not explain which institution would prepare or govern it.
Public Ownership and New Zealand Control
New Zealand First places greater emphasis than National or ACT on public ownership of strategic assets.
Its transport and infrastructure policies have historically supported:
Crown control of roads.
Public ownership of rail.
New Zealand control of ports and strategic infrastructure.
A state infrastructure bank.
A state investment fund.
Domestic procurement.
National fuel-security assets.
New Zealand-crewed maritime capability.
The party is not opposed to all overseas investment.
Its Marsden Point Special Economic Zone policy contemplates selected foreign investment and possible changes to Overseas Investment Act settings.
However, New Zealand First argues that strategic assets should remain subject to a strong national-interest test.
Procurement and New Zealand Industry
New Zealand First’s 2023 policy supported procurement settings that give greater weight to domestic goods and service providers, within the limits of international agreements.
This aligns with its wider focus on:
New Zealand employment.
Manufacturing.
Regional development.
Domestic ownership.
Apprenticeships.
Supply-chain resilience.
In transport and infrastructure, this could affect:
Construction contracts.
Rail equipment.
Ferry construction.
Vehicle procurement.
Road maintenance.
Engineering.
Maritime services.
Domestic manufacturing.
The party still needs to explain the practical weighting it would apply and how it would balance domestic preference against:
Cost.
Quality.
Competition.
International trade commitments.
Specialist capability.
Project urgency.
New Zealand First’s Previous Government Record
New Zealand First’s transport and infrastructure record extends across several coalition governments.
SuperGold Public Transport
The party’s most recognisable passenger-transport achievement is the SuperGold Card and associated free off-peak public transport for eligible older New Zealanders.
Provincial Growth Fund
During the 2017–2020 Labour–New Zealand First Government, Shane Jones administered the $3 billion Provincial Growth Fund.
The programme financed regional transport, tourism, rail, forestry, skills and economic-development projects.
New Zealand First argues that the Fund restored attention to regions overlooked by conventional national investment.
Critics questioned the consistency of project selection, political influence and the commercial performance of some investments.
Rail Investment
New Zealand First also credits its previous period in government with:
Rebuilding sections of the regional rail network.
Lowering Northland rail tunnels to carry modern containers.
Reopening the Kauri-to-Otiria line.
Investing in rolling stock.
Rebuilding Hillside Workshops.
Strengthening rail-freight capability.
Its current rail programme continues that emphasis.
2023 Coalition Commitments
New Zealand First’s current coalition achievements include:
Cancelling Auckland Light Rail.
Cancelling most of Let’s Get Wellington Moving.
Restoring the name New Zealand Transport Agency.
Reviewing fuel security.
Investigating Marsden Point refinery options.
Advancing Northland road and rail projects.
Reducing national cycleway funding.
Reforming Auckland transport governance.
Funding KiwiRail.
Developing a dry-dock business case.
Supporting the Regional Infrastructure Fund.
These achievements should be distinguished from newly announced 2026 election policies.
What Has Been Announced for the 2026 Election?
New Zealand First’s principal current transport and infrastructure commitments include:
Building the Mill Road corridor as a priority.
Establishing a $100 billion Future Fund connected with a 30-year infrastructure plan.
Investing $1 billion in a National Subsurface Development Survey.
Establishing a Marsden Point Special Economic Zone.
Supporting the Marsden Point rail link.
Supporting the Northland Expressway.
Developing a dry dock at Marsden Point.
Withdrawing New Zealand from the Paris Agreement.
Expanding domestic energy and resource development.
The party also points to current government achievements including:
$1.075 billion for KiwiRail’s planned network programme.
$106.9 million for metropolitan rail renewals.
$150 million for additional strategic fuel reserves.
Progress on the Marsden Point rail-link design.
Auckland transport-governance reform.
Regional Infrastructure Fund investment.
Improved KiwiRail and Interislander performance.
Which 2023 Policies Still Require Confirmation?
The following policies remain part of New Zealand First’s published 2023 platform but have not all been formally reconfirmed for 2026:
A heavy-rail spur from Puhinui to Auckland Airport.
“Four lanes to the planes” in Wellington.
Blue Highways coastal shipping.
Expansion of the merchant fleet.
Reopening the Wairoa-to-Gisborne railway.
Rebuilding the Christchurch-to-Picton rail corridor.
Supporting quality, affordable urban and rural public transport.
No privatisation or corporatisation of roads.
A national RUC inquiry.
Expanded electric and hydrogen vehicle infrastructure.
A moratorium on nationally funded cycle lanes.
Establishing a Ministry of Infrastructure.
Establishing an Infrastructure Bank.
A multimodal national supply-chain and freight strategy.
These policies remain useful evidence of New Zealand First’s direction.
They should be labelled as previous policy until the party confirms their current status.
What Is Still Unclear Ahead of the Election?
New Zealand First still needs to provide detailed policy on:
The complete transport investment programme.
The full route, cost and timing of Mill Road.
The capital and governance structure of the $100 billion Future Fund.
Which transport projects the Future Fund would finance.
The final Marsden Point development cost.
Construction funding for the Marsden Point rail link.
The Northland Expressway timetable.
Tolling and private finance.
Electronic RUC.
Time-of-use charging.
Public-transport fares.
Regional and interregional buses.
Passenger rail.
Auckland Airport rapid transit.
Wellington transport.
Cook Strait ferry replacement.
Coastal shipping.
Aviation.
Road safety.
Cycling.
Transport emissions.
Electric and hydrogen vehicles.
Infrastructure institutions.
Local-government transport funding.
Procurement and domestic-content rules.
Transport Spokespeople: Current and Historical
Andy Foster
Andy Foster is New Zealand First’s Associate Transport spokesperson and Chair of Parliament’s Transport and Infrastructure Committee.
He is the party’s principal parliamentary figure for general transport and local-government policy.
Winston Peters
Winston Peters is Minister for Rail and New Zealand First’s central political figure on rail, KiwiRail, Cook Strait transport and national infrastructure.
Shane Jones
Shane Jones is New Zealand First’s deputy leader, Economic Development and Infrastructure spokesperson and Minister for Regional Development.
He is particularly relevant to regional roads, ports, energy, Marsden Point and the Regional Infrastructure Fund.
Frequently Asked Questions – New Zealand First Transport Policy
Who is New Zealand First’s transport spokesperson?
Andy Foster is New Zealand First’s Associate Transport spokesperson and Chair of Parliament’s Transport and Infrastructure Committee.
Who is responsible for rail?
Winston Peters is the Minister for Rail and New Zealand First’s principal rail figure.
Who leads New Zealand First?
Winston Peters is party leader. Shane Jones is deputy leader.
What is New Zealand First’s main new road policy?
The party has committed to building the Mill Road corridor in south Auckland as a priority.
What is the $100 billion Future Fund?
It is a proposed independently managed investment fund connected with a 30-year infrastructure plan. Detailed capital, governance and investment rules have not yet been published.
What is the National Subsurface Development Survey?
It is a proposed $1 billion national programme to identify oil, gas, geothermal, carbon-storage and other subsurface resources.
What is New Zealand First’s fuel-security policy?
The party supports strategic fuel reserves, investigation of Marsden Point refinery options, greater domestic energy exploration and stronger protection against international supply disruption.
How much was provided for fuel reserves in Budget 2026?
Budget 2026 included $150 million for additional strategic fuel reserves.
What is the Marsden Point Special Economic Zone?
It is a proposed industrial and energy zone including the former refinery and Northport, with faster planning decisions and possible investment and tax incentives.
Does New Zealand First support the Marsden Point rail link?
Yes. The party has consistently supported the link, and KiwiRail is currently working with three potential construction partners on lower-cost design options.
Has construction funding for the rail link been confirmed?
Not yet. Design and commercial work are progressing before a final government funding decision.
Does New Zealand First support rail?
Yes. Rail is one of the strongest parts of the party’s transport programme, particularly freight rail, network maintenance and port connections.
How much rail funding was announced in Budget 2026?
The Government committed up to $1.075 billion for KiwiRail’s planned 2027–2030 network programme and $106.9 million for metropolitan rail renewals.
Does New Zealand First support passenger rail?
The party has supported selected regional passenger and rail-reopening proposals, but it has not yet released a complete 2026 passenger-rail network.
What is New Zealand First’s position on Auckland Transport?
The party originally proposed disestablishing Auckland Transport and returning authority to Auckland Council. Coalition reforms have since transferred most policy and planning responsibilities to the council while retaining a smaller public-transport delivery agency.
Does New Zealand First support public transport?
Its 2023 policy supported quality, affordable public transport in urban and rural areas. It is also strongly associated with free off-peak SuperGold travel.
Has New Zealand First announced a new public-transport fare policy?
No comprehensive new 2026 fare policy has yet been announced.
Does New Zealand First support toll roads?
Its 2023 policy opposed road privatisation, but its final position on tolling and private finance has not yet been clearly published.
Does New Zealand First support road-user charges?
It previously supported a select committee inquiry into replacing fuel excise with RUC. It has not yet released detailed policy on the current electronic-RUC proposal.
What is New Zealand First’s position on climate policy?
The party has announced that it will campaign on withdrawing New Zealand from the Paris Agreement.
Does it support electric vehicles?
Its 2023 policy supported infrastructure for electric and hydrogen vehicles. Its full updated 2026 vehicle policy has not yet been released.
Has New Zealand First released a complete 2026 transport manifesto?
No. It has announced several significant transport and infrastructure policies, but a single comprehensive manifesto covering the entire system has not yet been published.
Contact and Interview Status
Transport 2026 has sought engagement with New Zealand First regarding its transport and infrastructure priorities.
At the time of this update, Transport 2026 has not completed a formal interview with Andy Foster, Winston Peters, Shane Jones or another authorised New Zealand First representative.
New Zealand First will be invited to:
Review the factual record.
Correct errors or omissions.
Confirm which 2023 transport policies remain current.
Provide the route, cost and delivery plan for Mill Road.
Publish the full structure of the Future Fund.
Clarify the Marsden Point and Northland programme.
Provide its complete rail and passenger-rail policy.
Explain its position on RUC, tolling and congestion charging.
Release its public-transport and regional bus policy.
Explain its Cook Strait and coastal-shipping programme.
Provide its aviation policy.
Clarify the transport effects of withdrawing from the Paris Agreement.
Identify its first-term transport priorities.
Any attributable response or formal policy document will be incorporated into a future update.
Related Transport 2026 Pages
Transport 2026: New Zealand’s Transport Outlook
The main overview page for Kiwi Coaches’ Transport 2026 project, bringing together election context, industry pressures, infrastructure issues, and the key transport debates shaping New Zealand ahead of the 2026 General Election.
https://www.kiwicoaches.co.nz/transport-2026-nz-transport-outlook
Transport 2026 News
The live news, commentary, and analysis page for the Transport 2026 project, covering fuel prices, transport politics, infrastructure developments, operator issues, and wider election-related transport stories.
https://www.kiwicoaches.co.nz/transport-2026-news
Transport 2026: Infrastructure Tracker
A factual tracker of major transport and infrastructure projects across New Zealand, helping separate what is funded, under way, delayed, proposed, or politically announced ahead of the election.
https://www.kiwicoaches.co.nz/transport-2026-infrastructure-tracker
ACT New Zealand – Transport Policy 2026
Kiwi Coaches’ overview of ACT’s transport and infrastructure direction, including funding reform, user-pays principles, tolling, infrastructure planning, and current party transport leadership.
https://www.kiwicoaches.co.nz/act-new-zealand-2026-transport
Green Party – Transport Policy 2026
A summary of the Green Party’s current transport direction, including public transport, rail, active modes, emissions reduction, and the party’s wider approach to mobility and access.
https://www.kiwicoaches.co.nz/green-party-transport-2026
National Party – Transport Policy 2026
An overview of National’s current transport and infrastructure direction, including delivery priorities, major projects, economic growth, and the government’s broader transport approach.
https://www.kiwicoaches.co.nz/national-party-transport-2026
Labour Party – Transport Policy 2026
Kiwi Coaches’ current overview of Labour’s transport position, including public transport, infrastructure funding, rail, integrated planning, and the party’s likely transport priorities heading into the 2026 election.
https://www.kiwicoaches.co.nz/labour-party-2026-transport
Te Pāti Māori – Transport Policy 2026
A page exploring Te Pāti Māori’s transport relevance through the lenses of access, regional fairness, infrastructure, whānau wellbeing, and community outcomes.
https://www.kiwicoaches.co.nz/te-pati-maori-transport-2026
The Opportunity Party – Transport Policy 2026
A Kiwi Coaches overview of The Opportunity Party’s current transport direction, including free public transport, long-term infrastructure planning, electrification, energy, and practical transport-system reform.
https://www.kiwicoaches.co.nz/the-opportunity-party-2026-transport
Kiwi Coaches Transport 2026 Note
This page forms part of Kiwi Coaches’ wider Transport 2026 project, which aims to build a factual, accessible, and transport-focused reference point on the major political parties, spokespeople, and policy directions shaping transport in New Zealand ahead of the 2026 election.