Labour’s Hipkins pushes capital gains tax to fund healthcare, targets Māori seats, rejects wealth tax, and aims for 2026 win.

Labour leader Chris Hipkins is rebuilding the party for the 2026 election, distancing it from its 2023 defeat and introducing a 2025 capital gains tax on investment and commercial property—excluding a wealth tax—to fund healthcare initiatives like three free annual doctor visits, expanded cervical screening, a Future Fund, and a GP loan scheme. Hipkins insists revenue will not reduce general debt or boost the budget, emphasizing urgent healthcare needs and fiscal responsibility. He rejects unrealistic promises, calls Te Pāti Māori a “shambles,” and aims to win all seven Māori electorates to block its influence, while leaving open the possibility of partnering with New Zealand First. Despite a tight race with National and Christopher Luxon, Hipkins focuses on credible, deliverable policies amid leadership changes.