Labour is promising to make owning and running a vehicle cheaper, unveiling a package aimed at car repair costs, fuel pricing and increasing competition among petrol retailers.
The party says it would introduce a right to repair, requiring vehicle manufacturers to give independent mechanics fair access to the manuals, software, tools and technical information needed to service and repair modern vehicles.
Labour says the change would give motorists greater choice over where their vehicles are repaired while supporting independent workshops, skilled jobs and apprenticeships. The party points to similar reforms introduced in Australia in 2022, claiming independent mechanics there can carry out repairs at substantially lower prices than dealerships.
Fuel prices are also in Labour’s sights. Its policy would require the Commerce Commission to report weekly on fuel prices and whether reductions in underlying costs are being passed through to motorists. Labour also proposes applying its planned price-gouging legislation to wholesale and retail fuel markets, allowing potentially unfair pricing to be investigated.
The party says it would freeze fuel tax for three years, improve independent petrol stations’ access to fuel supplies and strengthen protections against restrictive supply contracts. NZTA would also be required to consider whether surplus land could be made available for independent unmanned petrol stations and EV charging facilities.
Labour Commerce and Consumer Affairs spokesperson Arena Williams says independent workshops can currently face difficulties accessing information required to repair increasingly software-dependent vehicles. Labour argues its proposals would give motorists more choice while increasing competition across both the vehicle repair and fuel sectors.
With household costs continuing to feature prominently in the 2026 election campaign, the policy puts the everyday cost of getting to work, taking tamariki to school and keeping whānau moving firmly into the political contest.
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