According to the latest survey from leading provider of business management solutions, MYOB, 36% of SME owners and decision-makers surveyed expect to cast their party vote for National in the upcoming election, while 28% intend to vote Labour.
As for the rest of the votes, the nationwide poll of just over 500 SME owners and decision-makers reveals that ACT has 7% of the SME vote – equal standing with the Greens (7%), while NZ First is on 6%, Opportunity is sitting at 4% and Te Pati Māori has 1%. Just under one-in-10 are still undecided on their vote.
While the combined current right-bloc parties have a clear edge over the Opposition, figures from MYOB’s pre-election polling show there has been notable movement since 2023 – with ACT's support among SMEs halving (from 15% to 7%) and Labour's almost doubling (from 15% to 28%), narrowing the current coalition's hold on the SME vote over the Opposition from 37 points to just 13.
“More than a third of SME owners and decision-makers we polled say their party vote this election is likely to be different to their 2023 vote”, explains MYOB CEO, Paul Robson. “This shift in voting intentions – including the gains amongst the current Opposition parties – shows this contest is far from settled.
“There are more than 600,000 small businesses in New Zealand, and the business owners and the people they employ represent an important voter base.
“The country’s economic success relies on this engine room operating at its full potential, and it’s encouraging to see a greater focus on policy for small and medium-sized businesses across the political spectrum during this election campaign.”
Election uncertainty bites
Economic confidence remains mixed as businesses enter the tail end of the year with a third (33%) of SMEs expecting the New Zealand economy to improve in the next 12 months, while a quarter (25%) expect it will stay the same, and 38% expect it will decline.
Further insights from MYOB’s polling shows that for 41% of SME owners and decision-makers, uncertainty around the outcome of the General Election is having a negative impact on their confidence, while just over a third (35%) say it’s having no effect on their confidence. Only 16% say it is having some positive effect.
In terms of what actions local business owners are taking in response to this uncertainty, keeping a tight rein on finances is the leading strategy.
Just over a third (34%) are reviewing budgets and cashflow more closely, 33% are reducing business spending, 29% are looking for new revenue opportunities, and 24% say they are holding more cash or being more cautious financially.
“While data shows that SMEs are taking action to drive sales activity over the next few months and investing in improving areas of their business, it’s clear that this is still being balanced with a fair amount of caution,” explains Paul.
“It’s not unusual to see businesses take a wait-and-see approach – particularly on bigger investments – in the lead-up to the General Election, and for now, many are choosing to hold their position until there’s more certainty about what lies ahead. Once that clarity arrives, generally more businesses shift from holding steady to making the investments needed to grow as they head into 2027.”
Prioritising SME support
Whatever the shape of the new government elected in November, SME leaders have a clear view of the actions to support local businesses they would most like to see prioritised over the next term.
Reducing business compliance requirements and red tape, such as tax reporting deadlines and simplifying consents, are top of the list (36%), alongside investment in regional infrastructure resilience (36%), including roads, internet connectivity and energy.
The sector is also looking for action on tax and rates, with a third (33%) supporting a drop in the company tax rate to 25%, while 30% want to see the ACC No Claims Discount reinstated and 28% support the cap on council rates.
“Creating the right conditions for businesses to start, invest, innovate and employ is incredibly important for New Zealand’s economic future, and a clear, longer-term vision for how we get there will be important in enabling businesses to do this with confidence.
“But like any longer-term vision, this needs to be balanced with practical action that removes roadblocks to productivity and supports businesses to succeed in the near-term. SMEs are looking for a clear direction, alongside practical measures that ease the day-to-day pressures of running a business. With that balance in place, local businesses can continue to grow, create jobs and support communities across New Zealand.”
ENDS
About the research
MYOB’s survey of SMEs (with fieldwork conducted by Dynata) comprises a nationally representative sample of 502 owners and decision-makers in small to mid-sized businesses in New Zealand. The survey was conducted between 17th August – 8th September 2026. Respondents were sampled randomly from the Dynata online panel and screened to ensure they met the qualifying criteria. Quotas were maintained on industry sector, business size/FTEs and region to ensure a reliable and diverse cross section of SME opinions were obtained. The margin of error for the total sample is +/- 5%.