New Zealand’s governing National Party took an early lead over Labour as votes were counted in the New Zealand election 2026 on Saturday, with the first results pointing to a tight race and coalition talks ahead. With about 14 per cent of the vote counted, National was on 30.9 per cent and Labour on 28.4 per cent, according to the Electoral Commission.
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- Early result: National on about 31 per cent and Labour on about 28 per cent in the first preliminary results.
- Votes counted: The first figures covered about 14 per cent of the vote; the Electoral Commission aims to report preliminary results from 95 per cent of polling stations by the end of election night.
- Smaller parties: The centrist Opportunity Party is expected to clear the 5 per cent threshold to enter parliament.
- Official result: The final count, including special votes from overseas voters, is expected on 27 November.
- Government: No new government is expected until after the official results and coalition negotiations; there is no fixed deadline for forming a government.
Early count in the New Zealand election 2026 puts National ahead
Polling stations opened at 9am on Saturday and closed at 7pm local time. An early seat projection pointed to the incumbent three-party coalition led by National remaining in control, but the count was still in its early stages and the figures are likely to change as more voting places report.
Labour lawmaker Kieran McNulty told public broadcaster TVNZ that National was “a bit higher than we expected”, while cautioning that only a relatively low number of votes had been declared. “We’re not reading too much into it,” he said.
Coalition talks likely under proportional system
New Zealand holds a general election every three years under a mixed-member proportional system, in which voters choose a local candidate and a party. There are 71 constituency seats and at least 49 party seats in the typically 120-seat parliament, and a party or coalition needs a majority to form a government. With the race so tight, one or more of the smaller parties will almost certainly take part in a governing coalition.
Special votes, including ballots from New Zealanders overseas and voters outside their own electorate, will not be counted until 27 November. Historically, special votes have favoured the left, and they could yet shift the final seat numbers.
Economy dominated the campaign
The campaign was dominated by a struggling economy and the cost of living. New Zealand has emerged only slowly from a prolonged downturn, with unemployment rising to 5.7 per cent in the third quarter, its highest level in 11 years. National pledged to return the budget to surplus through fiscal discipline while expanding the national pension scheme; Labour promised cheaper healthcare and transport.
Labour is aiming to make the National-led coalition the first one-term government in nearly 50 years. Advance voting has been open since 26 October, and nearly 1.67 million people had already voted by Thursday, more than a third of those eligible.
What happens next
The Electoral Commission expects to report preliminary results from 50 per cent of voting places by 10pm local time, and from 95 per cent of polling stations by the end of election night. The official result follows on 27 November, after which coalition negotiations will decide the shape of the next government.
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