2026 New Zealand general election

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 2026 New Zealand general election is planned to be held on 7 November 2026.[1][2][a] Voters will elect 120 members to the House of Representatives under New Zealand's mixed-member proportional (MMP) voting system, comprising 71 members elected from single-member electorates and 49 members elected from closed party lists to achieve proportionality.

Quick facts All 120 seats (plus any overhang) in the House of Representatives 61 seats needed for a majority, Leader ...
2026 New Zealand general election

 2023
7 November 2026

All 120 seats (plus any overhang) in the House of Representatives
61 seats needed for a majority
Opinion polls
 
Leader Christopher Luxon Chris Hipkins Marama Davidson
Chlöe Swarbrick
Party National Labour Green
Leader since 30 November 2021 22 January 2023 8 April 2018
10 March 2024
Leader's seat Botany Remutaka List
Auckland Central
Last election 48 seats, 38.06% 34 seats, 26.91% 15 seats, 11.60%
Current seats 48 34 15
Seats needed Increase 13 Increase 27 Increase 46

 
Leader David Seymour Winston Peters Debbie Ngarewa-Packer
Rawiri Waititi
Party ACT NZ First Te Pāti Māori
Leader since 4 October 2014 18 July 1993 15 April 2020
28 October 2020
Leader's seat Epsom List Te Tai Hauāuru
Waiariki
Last election 11 seats, 8.64% 8 seats, 6.08% 6 seats, 3.08%
Current seats 11 8 4
Seats needed Increase 50 Increase 53 Increase 57

Results by electorate, shaded by winning margin

Incumbent Prime Minister and coalition

Christopher Luxon (National)
NationalACTNZ First



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After the previous election, the centre-right National Party, led by prime minister Christopher Luxon, formed a coalition government with the ACT and New Zealand First parties. The main opponent to the National–ACT–NZ First government is the centre-left Labour Party, led by former prime minister Chris Hipkins. Other opposition parties include the left-wing Green Party and the indigenous rights-based Te Pāti Māori.

Electoral system

New Zealand uses the mixed-member proportional (MMP) voting system to elect the House of Representatives. Each voter gets two votes, one for a political party (the party vote) and one for a local candidate (the electorate vote). Political parties which meet the threshold (5% of the party vote or one electorate seat) receive seats in the House in proportion to the percentage of the party vote they receive. At this election, 71 of the 120 seats will be filled by the MPs elected from the electorates, with the winner in each electorate determined by the first past the post method (i.e. most votes wins). The remaining 49 seats will be filled by candidates from each party's closed party list. If a party wins more electorates than seats it is entitled to under the party vote, an overhang results; in this case, the House will add extra seats to cover the overhang.

The political party or party bloc with the majority of the seats in the House forms the Government. Since the introduction of MMP in 1996, a party has only won an outright majority of seats once, when the Labour Party won 65 out of 120 seats in 2020. As a result, parties typically negotiate with other parties to form a coalition government or a minority government.

Electorate boundaries

Electorate boundaries in New Zealand are redrawn after every census. The number of South Island general electorates is fixed at 16,[4] with the number of North Island general electorates and Māori electorates increasing or decreasing in proportion. For the 2020 and 2023 elections, there were 49 North Island general electorates and seven Māori electorates, leaving 48 seats to be elected from party lists.[5][6]

On 25 October 2024, Statistics New Zealand announced that, following the 2023 census, the number of North Island general electorates would decrease from 49 to 48, with the number of list seats increasing from 48 to 49. Nearly half of North Island electorates were outside the permitted ±5% population tolerance, necessitating extensive boundary changes across Auckland, Wellington, and the Bay of Plenty.[7][8] The Representation Commission released draft boundaries for public consultation on 25 March 2025,[9] and finalised boundaries on 8 August 2025.[10]

In western Auckland, New Lynn, Kelston and Te Atatū were reconfigured into Waitakere, Glendene and Henderson. In southern Auckland, the electorate of Panmure-Ōtāhuhu became Ōtāhuhu after losing the Panmure area. In Bay of Plenty, Tauranga and Bay of Plenty were substantially reconfigured, with Bay of Plenty renamed Mount Maunganui. On the East Coast, East Coast was renamed East Cape.

In the lower North Island, Ōtaki, Mana and Ōhāriu were reconfigured into the Kenepuru and Kapiti electorates. In Wellington, Wellington Central and Rongotai were renamed Wellington North and Wellington Bays respectively following substantial boundary changes.[10]

Changes to electoral system

On 16 December 2025, the New Zealand Parliament passed the Electoral Amendment Act 2025, which amended the Electoral Act 1993 ahead of the 2026 general election. The new law limits voter enrolment to 13 days before polling day, banned prisoners from voting, raised the threshold for voluntary donations from NZ$5,000 to NZ$6,000 and banned the distribution of food and most drinks near polling booths.[11][12] The law change was supported by the governing National, ACT and New Zealand First parties but was opposed by the opposition Labour, Green parties, and Te Pāti Māori, who described it as amounting to voter suppression and discriminatory against younger and ethnic minority voters.[12][13]

On 15 July 2026, the Electoral Commission announced that it would default to sending electoral information (including the EasyVote cards and information about candidates) to voters via email instead of mail. From 2026, voters will only receive their information in the post if the Electoral Commission does not have their email addresses on their file. Chief Electoral Officer Karl Le Quesne attributed the switch from post to email to the shrinkage of New Zealand Post's services. Te Hapori Matihiko founder and chief executive Katie Brown expressed concerns that this digital switch could create barriers for many people.[14]

Election date and schedule

Unless an early election is called or the election date is set to circumvent holding a by-election, a general election is held every three years. The last election was held on Saturday, 14 October 2023.[15]

The governor-general must issue writs for an election within seven days of the expiration or dissolution of the current Parliament.[16] Under section 17 of the Constitution Act 1986, Parliament expires three years "from the day fixed for the return of the writs issued for the last preceding general election of members of the House of Representatives, and no longer." The writs for the 2023 election were returned on 9 November 2023. As a result, the 54th Parliament would expire, if not dissolved earlier, on Monday, 9 November 2026. Consequently, the last day for issuance of writs of election would be 16 November 2026. The writs must be returned within 60 days of their issuance (save for any judicial recount or death of a candidate), which would be Friday, 15 January 2027.[17] Because polling day must be a Saturday,[17] and two weeks is generally required for the counting of special votes, the last possible date that this election could be held is Saturday, 19 December 2026.

On 21 January 2026, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced that the election will be held on 7 November 2026.[18] The schedule for the election under legislation is as follows:[19]

21 January 2026 (Wednesday) Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announces the general election will be held on 7 November.
6 August 2026 (Thursday) Last day for registration of parties and party logos; last day to change roll type (general or Māori) for Māori voters.
7 August 2026 (Friday) The regulated election advertising period begins.
7 September 2026 (Monday) Candidate nominations open.
1 October 2026 (Thursday) The 54th Parliament is dissolved.
4 October 2026 (Sunday) Writ day – Governor-General issues formal direction to the Electoral Commission to hold the election.

Last day to ordinarily enrol to vote (late enrolments must cast special votes). Official campaigning begins; radio and television advertising begins.

8 October 2026 (Thursday) Nominations for candidates close at 12:00 noon.
21 October 2026 (Wednesday) Overseas voting begins.
25 October 2026 (Sunday) Last day to enrol to vote.
26 October 2026 (Monday) Advance voting begins.
6 November 2026 (Friday) Advance and overseas voting ends.

The regulated election advertising period ends; all election advertising must be taken down by midnight.

7 November 2026 (Saturday) Election day – polling places open 9:00 am to 7:00 pm.

Preliminary election results released progressively after 7:00 pm.

27 November 2026 (Friday) Official election results declared.
3 December 2026 (Thursday) Writ for election returned; official declaration of elected members (subject to judicial recounts).

Parties

Since the 2023 election, seven parties have been deregistered: DemocracyNZ on 15 February 2024,[20][b] Leighton Baker Party on 27 May 2024,[21][c] New Zealand Loyal on 26 July 2024,[22][d] Democratic Alliance on 27 November 2024,[23] New Nation Party on 29 January 2025,[24][e] Freedoms New Zealand on 1 May 2025,[25][f] and NewZeal on 31 March 2026.[26][g]

More information Party, Leader(s) ...
Party Leader(s) Founded Ideology 2023 election result Current seats Status
% party vote seats
National Christopher Luxon 1936 Conservatism 38.08%
48 / 123
48 / 123
Coalition
Labour Chris Hipkins 1916 Social democracy 26.92%
34 / 123
34 / 123
Opposition
Green Marama Davidson
Chlöe Swarbrick
1990 Green politics
Social democracy
11.61%
15 / 123
15 / 123
Opposition
ACT David Seymour 1994 Classical liberalism
Right-libertarianism
Conservatism
8.64%
11 / 123
11 / 123
Coalition
NZ First Winston Peters 1993 Nationalism
Social conservatism
Right-wing populism
6.09%
8 / 123
8 / 123
Coalition
Te Pāti Māori Debbie Ngarewa-Packer
Rawiri Waititi
2004 Māori rights
Tino rangatiratanga
3.08%
6 / 123
4 / 123
Opposition
Opportunity Qiulae Wong 2016 Radical centrism 2.22%
0 / 123
0 / 123
Extra-parliamentary
Legalise Cannabis Maki Herbert
Michael Appleby
1996 Cannabis legalisation 0.45%
0 / 123
0 / 123
Extra-parliamentary
Outdoors Sue Grey 2015 Environmentalism
Conspiracism
Social conservatism
0.34%[h]
0 / 123
0 / 123
Extra-parliamentary
Vision NZ Hannah Tamaki 2019 Christian nationalism
0 / 123
0 / 123
Extra-parliamentary
Animal Justice Robert McNeil
Dannette Wereta
2023 Animal rights 0.17%
0 / 123
0 / 123
Extra-parliamentary
New Conservative Helen Houghton 2011 Conservatism
Traditionalism
0.15%
0 / 123
0 / 123
Extra-parliamentary
Women's Rights Jill Ovens
Dawn Trenberth
2023 Gender critical ideology 0.08%
0 / 123
0 / 123
Extra-parliamentary
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Candidates

MPs not standing for re-election

Damien O'Connor announced on 26 January 2026 that he would not stand in the West Coast-Tasman electorate again, and subsequently transitioned to standing in the Waitaki electorate. Andrew Bayly similarly announced on 3 March 2026 that he would not stand in the Port Waikato electorate again, and is exploring whether or not to stand on the list.[27] Greg O'Connor announced he would seek a list-only position after boundary changes disestablished his electorate of Ōhāriu. However, on 8 June 2026, it was revealed he decided to not put his name forward for the Labour list.[28] Similarly, Bayly announced on 20 June he would not be seeking a place on the National list and would leave parliament at the election.[29]

More information Name, Party ...
Name Party Electorate/List Term in office Date announced
Duncan Webb Labour Christchurch Central 2017–present 21 October 2025[30]
Paulo Garcia National New Lynn 2019–2020, 2023–present 16 December 2025[31]
Maureen Pugh National West Coast-Tasman 2016–2017, 2018–present 23 January 2026[32]
Celia Wade-Brown Green List 2024–present 28 January 2026[33]
Judith Collins National Papakura 2002–present 28 January 2026[34]
Shane Reti National Whangārei 2014–present 10 March 2026[35]
Brooke van Velden ACT Tāmaki 2020–present 24 March 2026[36]
Greg O'Connor Labour Ōhāriu 2017–present 8 June 2026[37]
Andrew Bayly National Port Waikato 2014–present 20 June 2026[29]
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MPs standing for re-election as list-only MPs

More information Name, Party ...
Name Party Electorate/List Term in office Date announced Notes
Megan Woods Labour Wigram 2011–present 3 August 2025[38]
Nicola Willis National List 2018–present 22 December 2025[39]
Deborah Russell Labour List 2017–present 8 June 2026[40] Contested New Lynn at every general election from 2017 to 2023.
Gerry Brownlee National List 1996–present 19 June 2026[41]
Nancy Lu National List 2023–present 19 June 2026[42]
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List MPs standing for re-election as electorate-only candidates

More information Name, Party ...
Name Party Electorate Term in office Date announced Notes
Mark Cameron ACT Northland 2020–present 8 June 2026[43][44]
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Fundraising

Under New Zealand electoral law, registered political parties are required to report any individual donations above $20,000 to the Electoral Commission within 20 days during an election year. During a non-election year, political parties are required to report all donations above $6,000, most anonymous donations over $1,000 (except those protected from disclosure), any overseas donations over $50 and the quantity and total sum of any large donations that were not made anonymously in their annual returns.[45]

By 30 April 2026, the following parties had received the following amounts in electoral donations during the 2025 calendar year.[46]

More information Party, Donation amount (NZD) ...
Party Donation amount (NZD) Notes
National $6,275,234.46 Includes $100,000 from Van Den Brink Karaka Limited,[45] $100,000 from GMP Environmental Ltd (a subsidiary of Greymouth Petroleum),[45] $100,000 from Auckland construction businessman Michael Sullivan,[45] $50,000 from real estate businessman Garth Barfoot,[45] $30,000 from former National MP Jim Gerard,[45] $210,000 from the late Nelson philanthropist Robert Wares,[46] $201,993.91 from American New Zealand tech entrepreneur Brian Cartmell.[46]
ACT $2,445,225.79 Includes $100,000 from GMP Environmental,[45] $100,000 from Van Den Brink Karaka,[45] $100,000 from toy manufacturer Nick Mowbray,[45] $25,000 from Xero founder Hamish Edwards,[45] $24,980 from Morris Hey,[45] and $200,000 from Brian Cartmell.[47] By 29 May, ACT had raised about $600,000 in donations over a 20-day period.[48]
Labour $2,403,241.93 Includes $125,000 from the Mills Family Trust[46] and $22,333 from Auckland donor Mary Theresa O'Brien.[45]
Green $1,848,678.65 Includes $132,000 from entrepreneur Robert Morgan,[46] $50,000 from Les Mills gym franchise managing director Phillip Mills.[46] and $43,014.56 from Green MP Francisco Hernandez.[45]
NZ First $1,360,272.56 Includes $204,999 from Brian Cartmell,[46] $100,000 from GMP Environmental,[45] $50,000 from Michael Sullivan[45] and unspecified amounts from businessman Troy Bowker, GMP and Van Den Bink.[45]
Opportunity $179,401.24 Includes $50,000 from Phillip Mills[49] and $100,000 from Brian Cartmell.[47]
Te Pāti Māori $141,986.50 Includes $60,000 from party president John Tamihere.[46]
Animal Justice $12,707.95
Women's Rights $9,650.50
New Conservative $9,519.73
NewZeal $8,796.00 No longer registered[46]
Vision New Zealand $6,718.43
Legalise Cannabis $336.00
Outdoors $270.00
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Campaigning

Expense limits and broadcasting allocations

Each election year, the Electoral Commission allocates funding towards political parties for electoral advertising on radio, television and the Internet. Allocations are based on several factors including the number of voters a party has received at the previous election, the number of Members of Parliament a party has, the relationships between parties, indications of public support including public opinion polls and party membership, and giving each party a fair opportunity to communicate its policies to the public. On 7 May, the commission announced its broadcasting funding allocation decision for the 2026 general election.[46]

More information Party, Broadcasting allocation (NZD) ...
PartyBroadcasting
allocation (NZD)[46][50]
National $1,079,519
Labour $913,435
Green $394,438
ACT $332,158
NZ First $290,639
Te Pāti Māori $228,359
Opportunity $114,179
NZ Loyal $83,040
Animal Justice $78,887
Legalise Cannabis $78,887
Change New Zealand $78,887
New Conservative $78,887
Free Palestine Party (New Zealand) $78,887
Outdoors $78,887
People’s Party New Zealand Incorporated $78,887
Vision New Zealand $78,887
Women's Rights $78,887
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Party campaigns

National Party

In November 2025, the National Party announced that it would gradually raise the default KiwiSaver contribution for employees and employers from 3% to 6% by 2032 if re-elected in 2026.[51] On 21 February 2026, National's conservation spokesperson Tama Potaka announced that the party would campaign on further restricting commercial fishing in the Hauraki Gulf.[52] Following a cabinet reshuffle on 2 April 2026, cabinet minister Simeon Brown replaced Chris Bishop as National's campaign chair for the 2026 general election.[53]

On 17 May, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith announced that National would campaign on scrapping "good character" sentencing discounts for sexual offending if re-elected.[54] During the party's annual conference on 21 June, Luxon announced that National would make KiwiSaver compulsory for all workers and automatically enroll babies if re-elected.[55] On 25 June, National announced it would introduce low-interest loans and planning reforms for installing home solar panels, battery storage, heat pumps, insulation and energy upgrades. The loans would come from a fund supported by the New Zealand Crown, local councils and the Local Government Funding Agency.[56]

On 2 July, National announced that it would prioritise free trade agreements with seven countries and using AI-powered tools to streamline export mechanisms.[57] On 19 July, Goldsmith announced that National would campaign on toughening sexual consent laws to clarify that silence was not consent. The opposition Labour and Green parties criticised National for abandoning efforts to seek cross-party support on sexual consent legislation.[58] On 26 July, National said it would campaign on extending parental leave from 26 to 30 weeks, and making it more flexible.[59] On 27 July, Luxon confirmed that National would not work with The Opportunity Party, citing disagreement with the party's policy of raising taxes.[60]

Labour Party

In late October 2025, Labour made two policy announcements including the establishment of an economic investment fund called the "NZ Future Fund" and the introduction of a capital gains tax based on property transactions to subsidise doctors' visits.[61][62] In early November 2025, the party proposed free cervical cancer screenings for all women aged between 25 and 69 years.[63] In mid-November, the party announced that it would repeal the Regulatory Standards Act 2025 within its first 100 days of government if it won the 2026 general election.[64] Prior to the party's annual general meeting, Labour leader Chris Hipkins confirmed that the party would contest all seven Māori electorates, citing the internal conflict within Te Pāti Māori, which holds six of those seats. The party has sought to exploit growing voter disillusionment with the National-led coalition government's handling of cost of living, health, economic and housing issues.[65]

In mid January 2026, Labour proposed a streaming levy on foreign streaming companies like Netflix in order to invest in the New Zealand film industry.[66] In early February 2026, Labour leader Chris Hipkins along with the Greens co-leaders Chlöe Swarbrick and Marama Davidson announced during a press conference at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds that the two parties would work together during the election and in a future government.[67] In late April, Labour announced that it would campaign on reinstating school boards' Treaty of Waitangi obligations and reversing the coalition government's curriculum changes, mandated testing and so-called "politicisation of the education system."[68]

In mid-May 2026, the party declined to release details of its Future Funds policy until after the 2026 general election, including the cost to the New Zealand Crown and which state assets would be merged into the fund; citing several state-owned enterprises having Treaty of Waitangi obligations.[69]

On 8 June, Labour released its party list for the 2026 election.[37] Police Commissioner Richard Chambers criticised Superintendent Rakesh Naidoo, the New Zealand Police's ethnic, iwi and community relations manager, for not earlier disclosing his intention to stand as a Labour candidate, contending that this made him untenable for him to continue serving as a senior Police leadership role.[70] In response, Hipkins and Labour's police spokesperson Ginny Andersen defended Naidoo's candidacy.[71]

On 10 June, Labour pledged to cap public transport fees in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch at $20 per week from July 2027, while a $10 cap would be rolled out in other regions and centres.[72] While Labour estimated that its proposed public fares subsidy would cost $65 million a year, the economists Sam Warburton and Brad Olsen estimated that the programme would cost between $91 million and $112 million.[73] On 16 June, Labour promised free maternity scans, as part of their Medicard proposals.[74] On 24 June, housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty announced that Labour if elected would raise the Crown guarantee for community housing builders' social bonds.[75] On 28 June, Hipkins proposed restoring the Apprenticeship Boost training scheme back to two years from 2028 and expanding the programme to include trades such as road construction, water treatment and hairdressing.[76]

On 8 July, Labour announced that it would introduce subsidies and two new loan schemes to reduce the cost of installing solar technology in homes, including low and middle-income households.[77]

Green Party

In May 2025, the Greens released their alternative "Green Budget", which proposed investing $8 billion over the next four years in various green policies including creating a Ministry of Green Works and supporting sustainable infrastructure.[78] Other notable Green Budget policies have included a new wealth tax, higher corporate taxes, a private jet tax, higher mining royalties and income tax rates.[79] In mid November 2025, the Greens confirmed they would revoke all coal, gold and seabed mining consents approved under the incumbent coalition government's Fast-track Approvals Act 2024.[80]

In early February 2026, co-leader Marama Davidson confirmed that the party would be fielding candidates in three of the Māori electorates including list MP Huhana Lyndon, lawyer Tania Waikato and former Te Pāti Māori candidate Heather Te-Au Skipworth.[81] On 12 March, the party released its draft party list of candidates, which was finalised on 22 April.[82][83] On 25 March, the party announced its housing policies including building 40,000 new social homes over a five-year period, passing a Renters' Rights Bill capping rent increases at 2% a year, and creating a national register of landlords.[84]

During the party's State of the Planet annual address on 19 April, Davidson and Swarbrick confirmed that the Greens would campaign on promoting mass electrification at the 2026 election. Swarbrick said that if elected, the Greens would prioritise solar, wind, water and geothermal energy over fossil fuels in response to the 2026 Iran War.[85]

On 21 June, the party's co-leaders announced a range of wealth, inheritance and corporate taxes to "tackle inequality and corporate greed." They also proposed a tax-free threshold for incomes below $10,000 while raising the income tax rate for those earning over $160,000.[86] Due to human error, the Greens' tax reform policy was accidentally released early on the party's website several hours prior to the Sunday press conference.[87] The following day, the party corrected the economic costings for its tax reform policy by $800 million after the IRD administration cost was recorded in the wrong place.[88] In response to the Greens' taxation policy, the National Party released a social media video alleging that the Greens were seeking to tax 45 percent of incomes above $160,000. Swarbrick criticised the social media video as an inaccurate misrepresentation of her party's tax policy and called on National's social media team to remove the video. The National Party declined to take down the video.[89]

On 6 July, the Greens released their "Drink, Swim, Fish" policy, which proposed phasing out synthetic nitrogen fertilisers, reducing the number of cows and sheep to improve river water quality, and protecting at least 30% of the ocean to restore marine ecosystems.[90] On 16 July, the Greens announced that they would campaign on introducing automatic union membership for new employees.[91] On 20 July, the Greens released their energy policy which included reducing energy bills by creating a new Crown entity called Kiwipower to invest in renewable energy and address the country's "dry year" problem.[92] On 26 July, the Greens released their election manifesto and campaign slogan "For All of Us." Swarbrick said the party would campaign on taxing the rich and basic human rights including food, shelter and jobs. She also reiterated calls for a one-year pause on consents for new AI data centres.[93]

ACT

On 15 February 2026, the ACT Party held its annual State of the Nation address in Christchurch, where party leader David Seymour stated they would campaign on decreasing government spending, and merging ministerial portfolios.[94][95] On 19 February, Seymour advocated merging the Ministry for Ethnic Communities, Ministry for Women, Ministry for Pacific Peoples, Office for Seniors, Ministry of Youth Development and Te Puni Kōkiri (Ministry for Māori Development) into the Ministry for Culture and Heritage.[96]

On 16 April, Seymour confirmed that ACT would campaign on banning unelected appointees on local council committees from having voting rights. ACT Local councillor Davina Smolders had earlier clashed with Mayor of the Far North Moko Tepania for expanding the number of Māori iwi (tribal) and hapu (clan) representatives on the Far North District Council's Te Kuaka Māori Strategic Relationships Committee.[97]

On 3 May, Seymour released ACT's immigration policies, which included deporting serious non-citizen offenders, a five-year welfare exclusion period for all residency visa holders, a $6 daily infrastructure surcharge for temporary work visa holders, strengthening English language requirements for most work visa holders, and creating a new overstayer enforcement unit within Immigration New Zealand.[98] On 5 May, Seymour said ACT would campaign on allowing pharmacists to treat and manage several medical issues in order to reduce the workload on general practitioners and nurses.[99]

On 5 June, ACT's education spokesperson Laura McClure confirmed the party would campaign on reducing the cost of school uniforms.[100] On 9 June, the party's agricultural spokesperson Andrew Hoggard proposed a new Rural Workforce Visa to provide farmers and other rural employers with a year-round supply of workers.[101] On 10 June, ACT proposed a "split-gas" emissions target to ease restrictions on so-called "short-lived gases" like methane.[102] On 29 June, ACT proposed making it mandatory for health beneficiaries to get medical certificates issued by Ministry of Social Development-approved doctors.[103] On 30 June, ACT's Porirua candidate Lyra Yan Zhang resigned from the party's candidate list after failing to declare her previous membership of the China Zhi Gong Party, which is aligned with the Chinese Communist Party.[104]

On 2 July, the party's family and sexual violence spokesperson Karen Chhour announced that ACT would seek to amend the Crimes Act 1961 to provide greater protections for pets and their owners against coercion and domestic violence.[105] On 8 July, deputy leader Nicole McKee announced that ACT would campaign on adding burglary to the three-strikes sentencing regime.[106] In late July, ACT announced that it would campaign on transferring responsibility for game animals on conservation land from the Department of Conservation to the Game Animal Council, giving hunters a stake in managing the country's conservation estate.[107] On 26 July, ACT announced it would campaign on boosting health spending including raising Pharmac's budget to 13% by 2033.[108]

New Zealand First

Despite supporting the passage of the Government's Regulatory Standards Act 2025 into law in mid November 2025, New Zealand First subsequently announced on 20 November that it would repeal the legislation if re-elected into government in 2026. NZ First leader Winston Peters said that the party had only supported the Regulatory Standards Act due to ACT New Zealand's coalition agreement with the National Party.[109]

On 10 February 2026, NZ First deputy leader Shane Jones confirmed the party would campaign on reinstating ministerial powers in approving fast-track projects during the 2026 election.[110] On 12 February, the party confirmed it would campaign for a referendum on the future of the Māori electorates.[111]

During the party's State of the Nation address in Tauranga on 22 March 2026, Peters announced that NZ First would campaign on splitting the four energy companies and reducing proper prices. Former National MP and NewZeal leader Alfred Ngaro also announced that he would be standing as an NZ First candidate during the election.[112][113] That same day, Ngaro confirmed that he and his party would align with NZ First, citing "strategic realism and shared values."[114] On 27 March, Peters announced that NZ First would commit $15 million to rebuilding the Christchurch Cathedral if it was part of the next government.[115] On 29 March, Peters said that the party would campaign on expanding mining operations and curbing the enforcement powers of the Department of Conservation.[116]

On 19 April, NZ First said it would campaign on breaking up New Zealand's supermarket duopoly as a means of lowering food prices. The party has proposed splitting grocery company Foodstuffs into two countrywide cooperatives—where one operates New World and Four Square, and the other operates Pak'nSave—in order to compete with Woolworths.[117]

On 17 May, Peters said that the party would campaign on nationalising the Bank of New Zealand and merging it with Kiwibank to form a proposed Crown-owned "National Bank of New Zealand." He also proposed enrolling all newborn citizens into a Crown-funded Kiwisaver programme.[118] On 24 May, Peters said NZ First would campaign on establishing a special economic zone at Marsden Point to provide relief from planning regulations and the Resource Management Act 1991 in the area.[119]

On 18 June, Peters said NZ First would campaign on disestablishing the Auckland Council's Independent Māori Statutory Board as part of their platform against co-governance.[120] On 5 July, Peters said that the party would campaign on restricting voting rights to those holding New Zealand citizenship. Under the current law, certain legal residents including permanent residents are eligible to vote in elections.[121] During NZ First's campaign launch in Auckland on 19 July, Peters said that the party would campaign on investing in oil and gas exploration through a newly-established Future Fund. Peters also ruled out working with Labour while deputy leader Jones confirmed that he would be contesting the Northland electorate.[122]

On 22 July 2026, Stuart Nash stood down as a NZ First candidate after receiving criticism for making sexist remarks about National MP Katie Nimon.[123]

Te Pāti Māori

In February 2025, Te Pāti Māori proposed the creation of a Parliamentary Commissioner for Te Tiriti o Waitangi, who would have extraordinary powers to audit and veto bills that did not comply with the Treaty. The party described the policy as a "bottomline" in any coalition negotiations.[124] In April 2025, Te Pāti Māori announced plans to run candidates in the general seats at the 2026 general election.[125]

In January 2026, the party stated they will campaign on abolishing prisons by 2040 to address the high Māori incarceration rate, replacing them with "community-led and community-based solutions".[126] On 27 May, Te Pāti Māori announced Ngātiwai Trust Board chairman Aperahama Edwards as its candidate for Te Tai Tokerau.[127] On 23 June, the party's co-leaders Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Rawiri Waititi announced that Te Pāti Māori's electoral strategy was to encourage Māori voters to register for the Māori roll. Waititi said that they would encourage Māori voters to give their electorate vote to Te Pāti Māori and their party vote to either Labour or the Greens.[128]

The Opportunity Party

The Opportunity Party (TOP) has announced it would campaign with several policies, including reducing house prices through a land value tax, and introducing a "Citizen's Voice", consisting of citizens' assemblies for certain major issues.[129] In mid-February 2026, party leader Qiulae Wong announced that Opportunity would campaign on replacing all forms of welfare assistance including superannuation with a means-tested "citizen's income." Unlike universal basic income, people earning more than NZ$350,000 a year would not be able to access it. The citizen's income policy would be funded by a land value tax, and savings from the benefits that would be replaced.[130] On 16 February, the party's general manager Iain Lees-Galloway announced that the party would field about 30 candidates during the 2026 election with the goal of reaching the five percent threshold for the party needed to enter Parliament.[131] During the party's State of the Nation address in Auckland on 21 February, Wong announced that the Opportunity Party would campaign on promoting national unity, banning bottom trawling and investing in renewal energy.[132]

On 20 March, the Opportunity Party released its initial list of 26 candidates.[133]

On 2 July, TOP released its economic policy, which included investing in technology and commerce, strengthening the Commerce Commission's powers and forgiving student loan interest in order to draw back emigrant New Zealanders.[134] On 31 July, the party released its party list of 40 electorate candidates.[135]

Third party promoters

On 7 June, the Maritime Union of New Zealand's (MUNZ) national council unanimously voted to affiliate with the Alliance party. The union also confirmed it would continue its long-standing affiliation with the Labour Party.[136]

Issues

According to an Ipsos Issues Monitor survey released in late May 2026, the top ten issues concerning voters during the 2026 general election were the inflation/cost of living (61%), healthcare (39%), the economy (33%), petrol prices (26%) and housing (21%), unemployment (19%), poverty/inequality (17%), crime (16%), climate change, and education. Respondents ranked Labour as the political party most capable of managing inflation, healthcare, petrol prices, housing, unemployment, poverty and education. Respondents ranked National as most capable of handling the economy and crime while the Greens were ranked as most capable of handling climate change. Ipsos surveyed 1,001 New Zealanders aged 18 and over between 15 and 20 May. Results were weighted by age, gender and region, with a maximum margin of error of ±3.1% at a 95 percent confidence level.[137]

Opinion polling

Local regression graph of opinion polls conducted

Seat projections

The use of mixed-member proportional representation allows ready conversion of a party's support into a party vote percentage and therefore a number of seats in Parliament. Projections generally assume no material change to the electorate seats held by each party (ACT retains Epsom and Tāmaki, Greens retain Auckland Central, Rongotai and Wellington Central, Te Pāti Māori retains their Māori electorates, etc). However:

  • Projections that show the National Party winning fewer than 44 total seats (44 being the number of electorate seats currently held by National) assume that National will lose enough electorates to avoid an overhang.
  • Most projections assume that Te Pāti Māori will retain Hauraki-Waikato, Tāmaki Makaurau, Te Tai Hauāuru, and Waiariki, but not Te Tai Tokerau or Te Tai Tonga (the latter two seats are held by MPs who are no longer part of Te Pāti Māori).

Parties that do not hold an electorate seat and poll below 5% are assumed to win zero seats.

When determining the scenarios for the overall result, the minimum parties necessary to form majority governments are listed (provided parties have indicated openness to working together). Actual governments formed may include other parties beyond the minimum required for a majority; this happened after the 2014 election, when National only needed one seat from another party to reach a 61-seat majority, but instead chose to form a 64-seat government with Māori, ACT and United Future.[138]

More information Pollster Date, Seats in parliament ...
Pollster
Date
Seats in parliament[i] Likely government
formation
NAT LAB GRN ACT NZF TPM TOP Total
Talbot Mills[139]
10–19 Jul 2026
39421191540120 National–ACT–NZ First (63)
RNZ–Reid Research[140]
2–9 Jul 2026
36431310154*0121 National–ACT–NZ First (61)
Taxpayers' Union–Curia[141]
1–5 Jul 2026
39411391440120 National–ACT–NZ First (62)
Roy Morgan[142]
25 May – 21 Jun 2026
373116111348120 National–ACT–NZ First (61)
1 News–Verian[143]
13–17 Jun 2026
3841178144**0122 Labour–Greens–Māori (62)
The Post/Freshwater Strategy[144]
5–11 Jun 2026
36441210154*0121 National–ACT–NZ First (61)
Talbot Mills[145]
1–10 Jun 2026
3642168154*0121 Labour–Greens–Māori (62)
Taxpayers' Union–Curia[146]
4–8 Jun 2026
384014101440120 National–ACT–NZ First (62)
Roy Morgan[147]
27 Apr – 24 May 2026
37331512135**7122 National–ACT–NZ First (62)
Talbot Mills[148]
1–10 May 2026
3645119175***0123 National–ACT–NZ First (62)
Taxpayers' Union–Curia[149]
3–7 May 2026
39411281550120 National–ACT–NZ First (62)
Roy Morgan[150]
30 Mar – 26 Apr 2026
32431413145*0121 Labour–Greens–Māori (62)
Talbot Mills[151]
16 Apr 2026
3644910195***0123 National–ACT–NZ First (65)
1 News–Verian[152]
11–15 Apr 2026
3746149125***0123 Labour–Greens–Māori (65)
Taxpayers' Union–Curia[153]
1–2 Apr 2026
37421011175**0122 National–ACT–NZ First (65)
Roy Morgan[154]
23 Feb – 22 Mar 2026
33431412145*0121 Labour–Greens–Māori (62)
RNZ–Reid Research[155]
12–20 Mar 2026
3844129135*0121 Labour–Greens–Māori (61)
Talbot Mills[156]
2–12 Mar 2026
3943149135***0123 Labour–Greens–Māori (62)
Taxpayers' Union–Curia[157]
1–3 Mar 2026
364413101340120 Labour–Greens–Māori (61)
Roy Morgan[158]
27 Jan – 22 Feb 2026
39381810124*0121 National–ACT–NZ First (61)
The Post/Freshwater Strategy[159]
6–12 Feb 2026
3846137144**0122 Labour–Greens–Māori (63)
1 News–Verian[160]
7–11 Feb 2026
42391411124**0122 National–ACT–NZ First (65)
Taxpayers' Union–Curia[161]
1–3 Feb 2026
39431381340120 Hung parliament
Roy Morgan[162]
6–26 Jan 2026
433813111140120 National–ACT–NZ First (64)
RNZ–Reid Research[163]
15–22 Jan 2026
40431291240120 National–ACT–NZ First (61)
Taxpayers' Union–Curia[164]
14–18 Jan 2026
39431091540120 National–ACT–NZ First (63)
Roy Morgan[165]
25 Nov – 21 Dec 2025
4140159124*0121 National–ACT–NZ First (62)
The Post/Freshwater Strategy[166]
5–10 Dec 2025
38481010114*0121 Labour–Greens–Māori (62)
1 News–Verian[167]
29 Nov–3 Dec 2025
4443912114***0123 National–ACT–NZ First (67)
Roy Morgan[168]
27 Oct – 23 Nov 2025
42361810114*0121 National–ACT–NZ First (63)
Talbot Mills[169]
1–10 Nov 2025
4047119104*0121 Labour–Greens–Māori (62)
Taxpayers' Union–Curia[170]
2–6 Nov 2025
39421211126**0122 National–ACT–NZ First (62)
Roy Morgan[171]
29 Sep – 26 Oct 2025
41391510126***0123 National–ACT–NZ First (63)
Talbot Mills[172]
1–10 Oct 2025
35431210156*0121 Labour–Greens–Māori (61)
1 News–Verian[173]
4–8 Oct 2025
4240149126***0123 National–ACT–NZ First (63)
The Post/Freshwater Strategy[174]
3–8 Oct 2025
38421111146**0122 National–ACT–NZ First (63)
Taxpayers' Union–Curia[175]
1–5 Oct 2025
38401581360120 Labour–Greens–Māori (61)
Roy Morgan[176]
25 Aug – 21 Sep 2025
393617111070120 Hung parliament
RNZ–Reid Research[177]
4–12 Sep 2025
4042139116*0121 Labour–Greens–Māori (61)
Talbot Mills[178]
1–10 Sep 2025
3943129126*0121 Labour–Greens–Māori (61)
Taxpayers' Union–Curia[179]
31 Aug – 2 Sep 2025
42421381060120 Labour–Greens–Māori (61)
Roy Morgan[180]
28 Jul – 24 Aug 2025
3642171396***0123 Labour–Greens–Māori (65)
Talbot Mills[181]
1–10 Aug 2025
39421310116*0121 Labour–Greens–Māori (61)
1 News–Verian[182]
2–6 Aug 2025
42401210116*0121 National–ACT–NZ First (63)
Taxpayers' Union–Curia[183]
3–5 Aug 2025
40431211106**0122 Hung parliament
Roy Morgan[184]
30 Jun – 27 Jul 2025
38391413126**0122 National–ACT–NZ First (63)
Talbot Mills[185]
1–10 Jul 2025
3942151096*0121 Labour–Greens–Māori (63)
Taxpayers' Union–Curia[186]
2–6 Jul 2025
42391211126**0122 National–ACT–NZ First (65)
Roy Morgan[187]
26 May – 22 Jun 2025
40371415860120 National–ACT–NZ First (63)
Taxpayers' Union–Curia[188]
7–9 Jun 2025
4244101286**0122 National–ACT–NZ First (62)
RNZ–Reid Research[189]
23–30 May 2025
38421481170120 Labour–Greens–Māori (63)
1 News–Verian[190]
24–28 May 2025
43371510106*0121 National–ACT–NZ First (63)
Roy Morgan[191]
28 Apr – 25 May 2025
40371415860120 National–ACT–NZ First (63)
Taxpayers' Union–Curia[192]
30 Apr – 4 May 2025
4241111296*0121 National–ACT–NZ First (63)
Roy Morgan[193]
24 Mar – 20 Apr 2025
393617111160120 National–ACT–NZ First (61)
1 News–Verian[194]
29 Mar – 2 Apr 2025
4440121196**0122 National–ACT–NZ First (64)
Taxpayers' Union–Curia[195]
29 Mar – 1 Apr 2025
4237141396*0121 National–ACT–NZ First (64)
RNZ–Reid Research[196]
21–27 Mar 2025
41401212960120 National–ACT–NZ First (62)
Roy Morgan[197]
24 Feb – 23 Mar 2025
41351810970120 Hung parliament
Talbot Mills[198]
1–10 Mar 2025
3943131286*0121 Labour–Greens–Māori (62)
Taxpayers' Union–Curia[199]
2–4 Mar 2025
42421210680120 Labour–Greens–Māori (62)
Roy Morgan[200]
27 Jan – 23 Feb 2025
3836201486**0122 Labour–Greens–Māori (62)
1 News–Verian[201]
3–7 Feb 2025
4342131166*0121 Labour–Greens–Māori (61)
Taxpayers' Union–Curia[202]
2–4 Feb 2025
39391612860120 Labour–Greens–Māori (61)
Talbot Mills[203]
7–27 Jan 2025
40421511660120 Labour–Greens–Māori (63)
Roy Morgan[204]
2–26 Jan 2025
403614111180120 National–ACT–NZ First (62)
Taxpayers' Union–Curia[205]
9–13 Jan 2025
383912141070120 National–ACT–NZ First (62)
Roy Morgan[206]
25 Nov – 15 Dec 2024
39321716970120 National–ACT–NZ First (64)
1 News–Verian[207]
30 Nov – 4 Dec 2024
46361210790120 National–ACT–NZ First (63)
Taxpayers' Union–Curia[208]
1–3 Dec 2024
44341117770120 National–ACT (61)
Labour–Talbot Mills[209]
22–28 Nov 2024
39401212890120 Labour–Greens–Māori (61)
The Post/Freshwater Strategy[210]
26–27 Nov 2024
4239161086*0121 Labour–Greens–Māori (61)
Roy Morgan[211]
28 Oct – 24 Nov 2024
373617118110120 Labour–Greens–Māori (64)
Taxpayers' Union–Curia[212]
6–10 Nov 2024
4839111186***0123 National–ACT–NZ First (67)
Talbot Mills[213]
1–10 Nov 2024
4241121296**0122 National–ACT–NZ First (63)
Roy Morgan[214]
23 Sep – 20 Oct 2024
39371811960120 Labour–Greens–Māori (61)
1 News–Verian[215]
5–9 Oct 2024
4737151066*0121 National–ACT–NZ First (63)
Taxpayers' Union–Curia[216]
3–7 Oct 2024
4438131296**0122 National–ACT–NZ First (65)
Roy Morgan[217]
26 Aug – 22 Sep 2024
4729171396*0121 National–ACT–NZ First (69)
Taxpayers' Union–Curia[218]
8–10 Sep 2024
48331411860120 National–ACT–NZ First (67)
Talbot Mills[219]
1–10 Sep 2024
4639121086*0121 National–ACT–NZ First (64)
Roy Morgan[220]
29 Jul – 25 Aug 2024
4533161296*0121 National–ACT–NZ First (66)
1 News–Verian[221]
10–14 Aug 2024
493814876**0122 National–ACT–NZ First (64)
Roy Morgan[222]
24 Jun – 21 Jul 2024
41311814880120 National–ACT–NZ First (63)
Taxpayers' Union–Curia[223]
4–8 Jul 2024
4733161196**0122 National–ACT–NZ First (67)
Roy Morgan[224]
27 May – 23 Jun 2024
4435181176*0121 National–ACT–NZ First (62)
1 News–Verian[225]
15–19 Jun 2024
473616986**0122 National–ACT–NZ First (64)
Taxpayers' Union–Curia[226]
4–6 Jun 2024
4436161276*0121 National–ACT–NZ First (63)
Roy Morgan[227]
22 Apr – 19 May 2024
4238171276**0122 Hung parliament
Taxpayers' Union–Curia[228]
5–7 May 2024
4737131276**0122 National–ACT–NZ First (66)
Talbot Mills[229]
30 Apr 2024
424115986*0121 Labour–Greens–Māori (62)
1 News–Verian[230]
20–24 Apr 2024
484018906*0121 Labour–Greens–Māori (64)
Roy Morgan[231]
25 Mar – 21 Apr 2024
45311614770120 National–ACT–NZ First (66)
Taxpayers' Union–Curia[232]
2–4 Apr 2024
4732189860120 National–ACT–NZ First (64)
Roy Morgan[233]
29 Jan – 25 Feb 2024
45271915950120 National–ACT–NZ First (69)
Talbot Mills[234]
1–10 Feb 2024
4735159860120 National–ACT–NZ First (64)
Taxpayers' Union–Curia[235]
1–7 Feb 2024
4934111766***0123 National–ACT (66)
Roy Morgan[236]
8–28 Jan 2024
49282010760120 National–ACT–NZ First (66)
Roy Morgan[237]
Dec 2023 poll
4628201288**0122 National–ACT–NZ First (66)
Curia[238]
3–5 Dec 2023 poll
46361481060120 National–ACT-NZ First (64)
Taxpayers' Union–Curia[239]
1–6 Nov 2023 poll
4635171086**0122 National–ACT–NZ First (64)
2023 election result[240]
14 Oct 2023
4834151186**0122 National–ACT–NZ First (67)
Close
* indicates an overhang seat
  1. Forecasted seats are calculated using the Electoral Commission's MMP seat allocation calculator, based on polling results.

Notes

  1. The 54th New Zealand Parliament, which expires naturally on 16 November 2026, is to be dissolved on 1 October.[3]
  2. Got 0.24% of the party vote in 2023 election
  3. Got 0.07% of the party vote in 2023 election
  4. Got 1.21% of the party vote in 2023 election
  5. Got 0.05% of the party vote in 2023 election
  6. Got 0.34% of the party vote in 2023 election
  7. Got 0.56% of the party vote in 2023 election

References

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