# Labour's election funding gap

> Labour needs $3.2m more to run election campaign after $900k public funding.
- Title: Labour's election funding gap · RNZ | Shortify
- Summary: Labour needs $3.2m more to run election campaign after $900k public funding. Labour Party raised $890,391 in large donations but needs $3.2m to cover…
- Keywords: labour party, election funding, political donations, new zealand, national party, act party, green party, donation cap, broadcasting allocation, political campaign, politics, news
- Source: RNZ — https://rnz.co.nz/news/political/1867875/inside-the-multimillion-dollar-hustle-to-fund-an-election-campaign
- Author: RNZ | Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa
- Published: 2026-10-12T22:04:32+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: labour party, election funding, political donations, new zealand, national party, act party, green party, donation cap, broadcasting allocation, political campaign, politics, news
## Labour's election costs
Labour Party president Jill Day says election costs about $5 million to run.
## Annual operating costs
Labour has annual operating costs of $1.5m to $2m to cover party expenses.
## Three-year cycle costs
In a three-year cycle, Labour needs $11m to stay competitive.
## Public funding
Labour gets $900,000 from broadcasting allocation for election campaign.
## Fundraising gap
Labour needs $3.2m more to cover election costs after public funding.
## Large donations
Labour raised $890,391 in large donations this year.
## National and ACT donations
National and ACT raised more than $4.1m in large donations this year.
## Green Party donations
Green Party raised $395,000 in large donations this year.
## Green Party costs
Green Party expects $2m campaign cost this election with inflation adjustment.
## Green Party funding
Green Party uses membership subscriptions and merchandise sales to stay afloat.
## Cost of living impact
Green Party members have dropped to lower subscription levels due to cost of living.
## National donations
National received $4.3m from small donations in 2023.
## Labour small donations
Labour received $2.7m from small donations in 2023.
## Donation averages
Labour's donations average $50 per donor while National's average $99.
## Union donations
Unions donated $210,000 to Labour this year.
## Largest donation
Labour's largest donation came from Murray Jones' estate at $219,178.
## Key takeaway

Labour Party raised $890,391 in large donations but needs $3.2m to cover election costs after $900k public funding.