Labour hopes its new leader Jacinda Ardern will bring more major donors back to the party.

Data compiled by Newstalk ZB shows over the past 12 months, Labour has received less in major donations than the Greens and half as much as National.

The Greens and National have also brought in nearly twice as much in declared donations over the past five years.

Labour officials expect the situation to change after Ms Ardern and her deputy Kelvin Davis took over from Andrew Little on Tuesday.

Campaign manager Andrew Kirton said the party has been receiving lots of interest from major donors over the past two days.

"There's a lot of people approaching us who have done really well out of New Zealand and the things New Zealand has done for them, and that's fantastic.

"They're coming forward and saying 'I want New Zealand to be better placed' because it's not right at the moment."

Kirton said the party had received more than $350,000 through its website since its leadership change.

"We shouldn't be satisfied with where we are with are in New Zealand at the moment. Jacinda has a positive vision to help fix things.

"It's great that people who have done well out of New Zealand are wanting to give back to our campaign."

In the 12 months to the end of July, the Labour Party declared $325,000 in donations over $25,000, including major donations from the E tu and Maritime Unions.

By contrast, the Green Party received $348,836, the National Party received $663,645, and Gareth Morgan donated $900,000 to his Opportunity Party.

Inner Mongolia Rider Horse Industry, which breeds horses and exports them to China, was National's largest donor, contributing $150,00.

The Act Party received $294,078 in donations, with Dame Jenny Gibbs and her husband Alan Gibbs donating $206,200 between them during the year.

Over the past five calendar years, Labour has received an average of $158,313 in party donations and contributions over $15,000 each year.

By contrast, National has averaged $382,867, the Greens have averaged $358,719, and the Act Party has averaged $105,711.

The Conservatives have received an average of $1,257,660 due to major contributions from former party leader Colin Craig and the Day family.

Kim Dotcom's contributions to the Internet Party and Internet Mana are also far greater than the donations Labour has received over the same period.