New Zealand’s governing National Party led the opposition Labour Party in the first results of Saturday’s general election, with early projections suggesting the incumbent three-party coalition was on course to retain power.
With about one in seven results counted, National stood at 30.9 per cent of the party vote, ahead of Labour on 28.4 per cent, according to figures from the Electoral Commission. The Greens were on about 13 per cent, ACT on about 11 per cent, New Zealand First on just under 10 per cent, and the centrist Opportunity Party on about 5.6 per cent — just above the threshold for entering parliament, which could leave it holding the balance of power.
A seat projection from the Electoral Commission showed the current coalition, led by National alongside ACT and New Zealand First, heading towards remaining in control after an election dominated by a struggling economy and voter disillusionment with the two biggest parties.
Polling stations closed at 7pm local time on Saturday, and the commission expects preliminary results from half of all voting places by 10pm, with 95 per cent of polling stations reporting by the end of election night. But there may be no new government until after official results are released on 27 November and coalition negotiations are concluded. Special votes, including those from New Zealanders overseas and people voting outside their electorate, are not included in the preliminary count.
The campaign was fought largely on the faltering economy and the cost of living. Labour had aimed to make the National-led government the first one-term government in nearly 50 years, while Prime Minister Christopher Luxon argued that voters should stick with his coalition’s economic management. A final poll released on Friday, by Infrastructure New Zealand, put Labour on 30.7 per cent and National on 26.4 per cent — a reminder of how close the contest was expected to be.
Nearly 1.67 million people had already voted in advance by Thursday, more than a third of those eligible, in a country that elects its parliament every three years under a mixed-member proportional system. There are 71 electorate seats and at least 49 party seats, and a party or coalition needs a majority to form a government.
Mr Luxon, who became prime minister after National’s victory in 2023, was seeking a second term. His challenger, Labour leader Chris Hipkins, briefly served as prime minister before losing to Mr Luxon in 2023 and told supporters he was confident of emerging as the most popular party. With the early count still moving, and the smaller parties in a position to decide the next government, the night was far from over.
Sources: Reuters — “New Zealand election too close to call in early vote counting” (https://www.tradingview.com/news/reuters.com,2026:newsml_P8N3X1047:0-new-zealand-election-too-close-to-call-in-early-vote-counting/); Reuters — “New Zealand election early count shows tight race but National Party ahead in early projections” (https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/international/4003141-new-zealand-election-early-count-shows-tight-race-but-national-party-ahead-in-early-projections); New Zealand Electoral Commission preliminary results.
