A nine-year fight to create a publicly funded election policy-costing unit has come to an end. 

Act and New Zealand First have shot down Finance Minister Nicola Willis's proposal to create one. 

Metiria Turei, then-Green Party co-leader, first proposed the idea in 2016. 

Former Finance Minister Steven Joyce told Mike Hosking Willis's proposal was different from those that have come before. 

He says to cost individual policies at the request of parties would have dealt with a problem that happens when you're in Opposition. 

Joyce says that's when you don't have access to the information. 

LISTEN ABOVE