National Party Policies on Democracy and Equal Citizenship
The National Party’s stated values include “Loyalty to our country, its democratic principles and our Sovereign as Head of State,” as well as a commitment to equal citizenship and equal opportunity. However, National has not published a comprehensive 2026 policy framework that specifically addresses constitutional issues, democracy, and equal citizenship. Nor has it adopted an explicit policy platform framed around principles such as “one law for all.”
The only National Party policies and positions to be found relevant to these principles include:
- Equal citizenship: National's current core values explicitly include “equal citizenship and equal opportunity.”
- Democratic principles: National also identifies loyalty to New Zealand's “democratic principles” as a core value.
- Need rather than race: In government, National supported a “need not race” approach to public services.
- Property-owning democracy: At its 2026 conference, National reiterated its belief in a “property-owning democracy”, reflecting its emphasis on individual ownership and participation in a free society.
- Māori seats: National has not released a specific 2026 policy committing either to abolishing or permanently entrenching the Māori electorates. National is, however, standing candidates in Māori electorates.
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