Palmerston North business owner Ankit Bansal, 36, has been selected by local party members as National’s candidate for Palmerston North in the 2026 General Election. Bansal previously was National’s candidate for Palmerston North in 2023.
“It is an honour to be selected again as National’s candidate for Palmerston North,” Bansal said.
Bansal has most recently served as the chair of the Dairy and Business Owners Group, an association representing thousands of small business owners.
He succeeded Manish Thakkar and former Chair Sunny Kaushal, who played a key role in bringing the issue of retail crime to national attention.
Born in India, Bansal moved to New Zealand twelve years ago. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration and an MBA from Punjabi University, along with a procurement diploma, and has worked in several procurement roles in both New Zealand and India.
“National is fixing the basics while building for the future. Under National’s watch inflation has halved, the average saving on a mortgage is more than $10,000 a year, and vital infrastructure like roads, housing and renewable energy is getting built faster, ensuring we have what we need for the future, while creating more jobs,” he said.
Bansal said residents in Palmerston North often tell him how important financial security is for them and their families. “That is why it was great to see National’s policy to raise Kiwisaver contributions to 12 per cent total because it will mean that the average New Zealander could be hundreds of thousands of dollars better off when they retire,” he added.
Having spent years advocating on behalf of retailers across the country, Bansal said he can see the progress National is making on law and order.
“Cracking down on gangs, increasing Police foot patrols, giving Police more powers, and tougher sentences for criminals has resulted in 38,000 fewer victims of violent crime, a 16% reduction in youth offending and an 85% decrease in ram raids. It all helps to make retailers and Kiwis in general feel safer,” he said.
Since moving to New Zealand, Bansal has made Palmerston North his home. “I am excited to get back to work as the local candidate to help re-elect a National Government,” he added.