Green Party proposes $30,000 donation cap and stricter lobbyist rules

Green Party co-leaders Marama Davidson and Chlöe Swarbrick outlined a set of reforms aimed at removing large-scale money from politics ahead of the 2026 election. Their plan caps all individual or candidate donations at $30,000 over an election cycle and eliminates contributions from companies and trusts. The disclosure threshold would be reduced to $1,000, with donor names and postcodes made public.

They propose establishing an independent Lobbying Integrity Commission to run a public register that requires lobbyists to report their activities every four months. Ministers would be barred from becoming lobbyists for two years after leaving office, while MPs, staff and senior public servants would have a one-year restriction. The proposals echo recommendations from the 2023 Independent Electoral Review and mirror similar policies announced by the Opportunity Party.