Still undecided: What will it take to win these voters over?

An analysis of Vote Compass responses has found the issues on which New Zealanders have the most polarised opinions. 1News Reporter Aziz Al Sa'afin put them to three undecided voters and some views came quickly. Others prompted questions about cost, fairness and whether a proposed solution would actually work.

Savera has people telling her who she should vote for. Ryan wants the parties to make a more convincing case. Shanika is finding policies she likes across several different parties.

With just 21 days to go until the November 7 general election, all three are still deciding where their votes will go.

But being undecided about a party does not mean being undecided about everything it stands for.

Their responses offer a glimpse into how three people are making that choice and why agreeing with a party on one issue may not be enough.

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For Savera, who recently turned 18, this will be her first general election.

She is taking time to explore the parties’ policies, despite others trying to steer her towards - or away from - particular choices.

“I think it’s definitely more useful to kind of stick to what you believe, because of course, everyone’s going to have their own views,” she said.

Ryan is preparing to vote for the fifth time. Experience has not made this election’s decision straightforward.

“No one’s really talking the fine points that matter to me,” he said.

He wants to hear more about the cost of living and how parties intend to support people. Leadership matters too, alongside the policies.

Shanika, voting for the second time, can see things she likes in Labour, National and the Greens. She said she was leaning towards Labour, but was still considering her options.

“I can see good and bad on both.”

She has been researching how the policies would affect her and her family. With six siblings and about 16 nieces and nephews, that means thinking beyond her own circumstances.

The statement drawing the strongest opposing views in the Vote Compass analysis was: “The Māori electoral roll should be abolished.”

For Shanika, the question prompted a closer look at the difference between the Māori and general rolls.

After researching it, she opposed abolition. “I, as a Māori person myself, I want that representation in the parliament.”

Savera also disagreed with abolishing the roll, saying Māori history and representation were important to her.

“I know that people think having one general roll kind of means that there’s equality and everyone’s equal,” she said. “But I think the way that Māori people have been oppressed in the past, I think equality for them means something different.”

Ryan wanted a compelling case before supporting a change. A party campaigning to abolish the roll would put him off.

The three broadly agreed on this question, despite it producing strong opposition on both sides among Vote Compass participants.

The second proposition that brought our strongly divided opinions among Vote Compass users was: “Police should be allowed to order rough sleepers to move on.”

Ryan’s concern was what would happen next.

“So where are they going to go? It becomes another person’s problem.”

Savera opposed moving people on simply for sleeping rough, distinguishing that from situations involving threatening behaviour.

“If they’re just peacefully sleeping or they’re going and engaging in normal day-to-day activities, I don’t think that they should be told to move on.”

Shanika’s position was more qualified. She could accept people being asked to move, but wanted support to accompany it. “I think we really need to be looking at the underlying issues of why these people are on the street.”

For her, an answer needed to include somewhere people could go for help, rather than simply another street.

The third most divisive issue uncovered by Vote Compass responses prompted more uncertainty: “The government should cover the full cost of GP visits for everyone.”

Savera placed herself in the middle.

She could see the benefits, but wanted to know how universal free visits would be funded and whether there would be enough appointments.

“Where is the money going to come from?”

She suggested reducing the cost of visits could be an alternative.

Ryan leaned towards targeting support at those who needed it.

“I don’t need the cost to be subsidised for me but I do know for the most vulnerable that it absolutely should be because we should have no barriers to good healthcare in New Zealand.”

Shanika also questioned whether the health system could deliver fully funded visits for everyone.

“I feel like the healthcare system is already under a lot of pressure.”

For Savera, the challenge is deciding which issues carry the most weight.

“Of course not one party is going to have everything that I think is important and support that.”

Education and transport costs are particularly important to her as she commutes to university.

Shanika’s experience of fees-free study also shapes her thinking.

“That was one of the only reasons I was able to do it when I did.”

But the cost of living is her main concern. She described people close to her who had previously managed financially and were now struggling.

Those competing priorities help explain why a clear opinion on one policy does not automatically translate into a settled party vote.

The latest 1News Verian poll has National and Labour level on 28%, underlining the potential importance of voters still considering their options.

Ryan remains open to persuasion.

“Most people like myself, I hope, can always be swung with good debate, good discussion and just good information.”

He may hold off choosing until election day.

Shanika also expects to keep researching. Taking her time, she said, reflects how seriously she views the decision.

“I need to be making a really informed decision, because it’s going to affect how me and New Zealand live for the next few years.”

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Results are based on 114,206 respondents to Vote Compass between October 4 and 7, 2026. The data have been weighted on gender, age, education, Māori identity, region, and partisanship (past party and electorate votes) to ensure the sample composition reflects the voting-eligible population of New Zealand.