National Proposes First Home Loan Expansion and New Family Support in 100-Day Plan

On Sunday, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced an ambitious 26-point agenda for the first 100 days of a re-elected National-led Government. Speaking at a campaign rally in Browns Bay, Auckland, Luxon outlined priorities focused on housing, healthcare, and family support as the 2026 election enters its final fortnight. The plan comes as advance voting is set to begin on Monday, 26 October, ahead of the general election on 7 November. A significant pillar of the proposal involves easing the path to home ownership. National intends to lift the income cap for the First Home Loan scheme to $300,000. According to the party, this change would allow more eligible households to purchase their first home with a deposit as low as five percent. For Māori whānau, particularly younger households often facing barriers to the property market, the impact of this policy will depend on final design details and broader lending conditions. The 100-day plan also targets support for new parents and health outcomes. Luxon promised to introduce legislation to extend paid parental leave from 26 to 27 weeks by July 2027, with an ultimate goal of 30 weeks. The policy would also allow parents the flexibility to take leave together. In health, National proposes free cervical screening for women aged 25 to 69 and plans to redirect some foreign aid to Pharmac to improve access to cancer treatments and other life-changing medicines. Additional economic measures include a proposed cap on annual council rates increases, restricted to a 2 to 4 percent range, and a reduction in student loan repayment rates from 12 cents to 10 cents in the dollar. Waatea News reports that while the plan aims to address the cost of living, the effectiveness for communities facing the greatest barriers will rely on how accessible and culturally appropriate the resulting services are.