# 2026 Party Position Matrix — Retirement Villages and ORAs | Field | Detail | | ------------------ | --------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Type** | Party position matrix — retirement villages and occupation right agreements | | **Status** | Final (data from party profiles as at June 2026) | | **Date** | June 2026 | | **Classification** | Neutral business/campaign intelligence | --- ## Summary This matrix maps the positions of **all six parties currently represented in Parliament** on key issues relating to **retirement villages, Occupation Right Agreements (ORAs), and consumer protection for village residents**. The data is extracted from party profiles and issue briefs in this Knowledge Base. **Context:** The Retirement Villages Act 2003 is under its first significant review. Consumer NZ is running a high-profile campaign (the "Fair Repayment Campaign") demanding reform covering both existing and new ORAs. Minister Cameron Brewer (Commerce) leads the reform process. --- ## Matrix | Issue | National | Labour | ACT | NZ First | Greens | Te Pāti Māori | Evidence Quality | Notes | | ------------------------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **RV Act reform — general approach** | Proceeding slowly; light-touch regulation; Minister Brewer portfolio holder | Support stronger consumer protections; likely to back full reform package | Cautious about regulatory burden; favours deregulation; reduce compliance costs | **Strongest advocate for reform** — signature seniors policy; title reform and ORA protections | Support strong consumer protections; independent ombudsman; resident rights | Focus on kaumātua housing rather than retirement villages; supports consumer protections generally | ✅ **Confirmed** — party profiles and issue brief; NZ First position from coalition agreement | NZ First driving change from within Cabinet | | **Deferred Management Fees (DMFs)** | May support moderate caps if well-designed | Support limits on DMFs to protect residents | Oppose new regulations that increase operator costs | **Support DMF reform / caps** — championing fairer fees | Support DMF caps and transparency | No specific position — focus on kaumātua housing | 🟡 **NZ First confirmed** — others inferred from general positions | Consumer NZ proposes caps of 10-15% (currently 20-30%) | | **Capital repayment timeframes** | May support shorter timelines but cautiously | Support mandatory 20-day repayment (Consumer NZ position) | Oppose mandatory repayment timeframes as regulatory burden | **Support faster repayment** — resident fairness focus | Support mandatory short timeframes | No specific position | 🟡 **Consumer NZ campaign positions aligned with Labour/Greens** | Currently 6-12+ months; Consumer NZ wants 20 working days | | **Application to existing ORAs** | Likely favours grandfathering — not applying new rules to existing contracts | Support application to existing ORAs (Consumer NZ position) | Oppose retrospective application | **Advocating for existing residents** — key test of reform | Support application to existing ORAs | No specific position | 🟡 **Unclear — position inferred from general approach** | This is the central fight in the reform debate | | **Statutory supervisor independence** | May strengthen but cautiously | Support stronger independence and powers | Oppose new regulatory requirements | Support stronger resident protections | Support independent oversight with enforcement powers | Support Māori representation in oversight | 🟡 **Limited detail** — inferred from general positions | Current supervisors appointed by operators | | **Ombudsman / dispute resolution** | May support voluntary scheme | Support independent ombudsman with binding powers | Oppose binding ombudsman — prefer voluntary/industry-led | **Support independent dispute resolution** | Support binding ombudsman scheme | Support culturally appropriate dispute resolution | 🟡 **NZ First and Greens likely strongest supporters** | No party opposed to ombudsman in principle | | **Disclosure and transparency standards** | Support improved disclosure but light-touch | Support comprehensive disclosure requirements | Oppose heavy-handed disclosure mandates | **Support stronger disclosure** for resident protection | Support full disclosure and plain language | Support disclosure in te reo Māori and accessible formats | 🟡 **General support across all parties for improved disclosure** | Degree of regulation is the disagreement | | **Title reform / property rights** | Cautious — complex legal change | Support stronger property rights for residents | Oppose title reform as regulatory overreach | **Property title reform is a signature policy** — changing ORA ownership model | Support residents owning their units | Focus on papakāinga / kaumātua housing models | ✅ **NZ First confirmed** — coalition agreement commitment | Would fundamentally change RV business model | | **Consumer advocacy / enforcement** | MBIE-led enforcement (current model) | Support Commerce Commission enforcement role | Reduce enforcement bureaucracy | Support stronger enforcement | Support dedicated consumer enforcement body | Support Māori-enforcement mechanisms | 🟡 **Limited detail** — general positions only | Consumer NZ acting as de facto advocate | | **Development / supply of new villages** | Support housing supply generally — RV development welcome | Support new supply with appropriate regulation | Support deregulation to enable more supply | Support new supply with resident protections | Cautious — ensure quality and consumer protections | Focus on kaumātua villages rather than commercial RVs | 🟡 **Limited specific policy** | All parties support more seniors housing generally | | **Interaction with aged residential care** | Mixed model — public/private | Public funding focus; aged care quality | Market-based; reduce regulation | Aged-care bed investment; focus on quality | Public/not-for-profit aged care model | Kaumatua-focused, iwi-led care | 🟡 **Limited specific policy linking RV and ARC** | RV and ARC regulation are separate (RVs = MBIE/Commerce; ARC = Health NZ) | | **Resident representation / governance** | Support resident committees but not binding | Support resident representation on village governance | Oppose mandated governance roles | Support strong resident voice in village management | Support resident governance representation | Support whānau/iwi representation | 🟡 **Limited detail across all parties** | Resident committees currently exist but have limited power | | **Cooling-off period for ORAs** | May support moderate cooling-off | Support extended cooling-off period | Oppose — market freedom | Support stronger cooling-off rights | Support extended cooling-off | Support culturally appropriate advice before signing | 🟡 **Limited specific policy** | Some consumer protection support likely | | **Fair Trading Act application** | Current FTA applies; no major changes | Support stronger FTA enforcement for RVs | Oppose new FTA-specific RV provisions | Support explicit RV protections under FTA | Support strongest consumer law protections | Support Māori consumer protections | 🟡 **General positions only** | FTA currently applies but Consumer NZ argues it is insufficient | | **Alternative models (kaumātua housing)** | No specific policy | Support some kaumatua housing investment | Market-based — no specific kaumātua focus | Support some kaumatua housing | Support kaumatua housing and papakāinga | **Strongest advocate** — dedicated kaumatua housing programme | ✅ **Te Pāti Māori confirmed**; others inferred | Te Pāti Māori focuses on kaumātua housing rather than RVs | --- ## Key Insights | Insight | Detail | | ----------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Strongest reform advocate** | NZ First — retirement village reform is a signature seniors policy with title reform as centrepiece | | **Most cautious on reform** | ACT — favours deregulation, resists new compliance costs for operators | | **Coalition fault line** | NZ First (reform) vs ACT (deregulation) creates tension that slows legislative progress | | **Consumer NZ alignment** | Labour and Greens align most closely with Consumer NZ's full reform package | | **Existing vs new ORAs** | The biggest fight is whether reform applies to existing 40,000+ residents (retrospective application) | | **Te Pāti Māori alternative** | TPM focuses on kaumātua housing and papakāinga rather than commercial retirement villages | | **Business implications** | DMF caps, mandatory repayment, and title reform would fundamentally change RV business models | | **Legislative timeline** | Bill expected 2026-2027; election year may slow progress or accelerate populist reforms | --- ## Coalition Dynamics on RV Reform ``` NZ First (reform press) ←——→ National (middle ground) ←——→ ACT (regulatory caution) ``` | Factor | Impact | | -------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | **NZ First leverage** | Holds Seniors portfolio; needs to deliver on signature policy for electoral survival | | **ACT leverage** | Holds Regulation portfolio; can slow or block regulatory increases | | **National position** | Minister Brewer is cautious; wants reform to be moderate and business-friendly | | **Election 2026 pressure** | All parties will use reform as campaign issue — especially NZ First and Consumer NZ | | **Time constraint** | Reform bill before election? Or campaign promise for next term? | --- ## Consumer NZ Campaign — Fair Repayment Campaign The Consumer NZ campaign is the primary external advocacy driving reform. Key demands: | Demand | Consumer NZ Position | Party Alignment | | -------------------------- | -------------------- | ---------------------------------------------- | | DMF capped at 10-15% | Yes | NZ First, Labour, Greens most aligned | | Mandatory 20-day repayment | Yes | Labour, Greens, NZ First most aligned | | Apply to existing ORAs | **Essential** | Most contested — NZ First favours, ACT opposes | | Independent ombudsman | Yes | Broad support but scope disputed | | Stronger enforcement | Yes | Labour, Greens, NZ First strongest | --- ## Evidence Quality Scale | Symbol | Meaning | | ----------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | ✅ **Confirmed** | Official party policy, manifesto commitment, coalition agreement text, or direct statement | | 🟡 **Inferred** | Clear from party platform, stated positions, or consistent with ideology | | ⚠️ **Unverified** | Not in current party profile — position inferred from general approach | --- ## Sources | Source | Location | | --------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | National Party profile | `02_Political_Parties/2026 Party Profile - National.md` | | Labour Party profile | `02_Political_Parties/2026 Party Profile - Labour.md` | | ACT Party profile | `02_Political_Parties/2026 Party Profile - ACT.md` | | NZ First Party profile | `02_Political_Parties/2026 Party Profile - NZ First.md` | | Green Party profile | `02_Political_Parties/2026 Party Profile - Green Party.md` | | Te Pāti Māori profile | `02_Political_Parties/2026 Party Profile - Te Pati Maori.md` | | Issue Brief — Retirement Village Reform | `11_Issue_Briefs_for_Campaigning/2026 Issue Brief - Retirement Village Reform and Political Positions.md` | | Consumer NZ — RV Act Review Update | KB `03_Retirement_Villages/2026 - Consumer NZ - Web Capture - RV Act Review Update.md` | | Consumer NZ — Top 10 Fixes | KB `03_Retirement_Villages/2026 - Consumer NZ - Web Capture - Top 10 Fixes for Retirement Villages.md` | --- _Part of the NZ Seniors Knowledge Base — Political & Campaign Intelligence layer_ _Last updated: June 2026_