Labour and National both want a policy costing unit. It's time to put petty politics aside and make it happen. 

The Opportunity Party (TOP) is calling on both National and Labour to stop the political point-scoring and work together to establish the independent policy costing unit they both say they support.

“A costing unit would bring trust and integrity to our election debates,” said TOP spokesperson David Webb. “It would help voters make informed choices by putting a clear price tag on political promises. Instead of mudslinging over phantom ‘fiscal holes,’ we could have serious conversations about what’s affordable, what’s fair, and what trade-offs are involved.”

A policy costing unit is a small, permanent Parliamentary office that independently assesses the fiscal impact of parties’ election promises. Similar offices overseas have saved taxpayers money by exposing unrealistic or misleading pledges before they become expensive mistakes.

National committed to establishing such a unit during the 2023 campaign. Labour supports the concept too, with a slightly different structure. Yet despite agreement in principle, no action has been taken.

“They’re really not far apart,” said Webb. “Labour’s model prioritises independence. National’s keeps the costs down. Both approaches are workable. The real barrier is political posturing.”

Webb said it was unacceptable that ACT and New Zealand First, who together represent less than 15 percent of voters, appear to be blocking progress. “It’s time for National and Labour to show leadership. If both major parties agree this is the right thing to do, they should find a way to get it done.”

TOP argues the unit must be independent, permanent, and available to all parties, including those outside Parliament. “If we’re serious about restoring public trust and levelling the playing field, the unit can’t be another tool for insiders. It has to serve democracy, not just the parties already at the table,” Webb said.

With the 2026 election approaching, Webb warned that another campaign filled with misleading claims and fiscal one-upmanship would only deepen public cynicism.

“If politicians believe their promises stack up, they should welcome independent scrutiny,” he said. “Kiwis deserve better. National and Labour need to stop playing games and give voters the clear, honest numbers they need.”