electionresults.govt.nz explained: how to use the official results site
The Electoral Commission publishes every New Zealand election result at electionresults.govt.nz. Here's what's on it, what each page shows and how to read it on election night 2026.
In this guide
Every result you see on election night, on TV, in news apps and on our live results page, starts at one place: the Electoral Commission's official results site, electionresults.govt.nz. Here's what it shows and how to read it.
Quick answer
- What: the Electoral Commission's official site for preliminary and official election results.
- When: results appear from about 7:30pm on Saturday 7 November 2026, and update through the night.
- What's on it: the party vote, seats, every electorate, and results down to individual voting places.
- Official result: the same site publishes the final count, with special votes, on 27 November.
What you'll find on the site
The layout can change between elections, but results are usually organised like this:
| Section | What it shows |
|---|---|
| Overall party status | Party vote for every party, and the seats that vote is worth |
| Electorate status | Who's leading in each of the 71 electorates, and by how much |
| Individual electorates | Candidate votes and party votes for one electorate |
| Voting place results | Votes counted at each voting place in an electorate |
| Counting progress | How many voting places have reported |
Past elections stay online too. The 2023 advance vote results are one example.
How to read it on election night
- Start with the counting progress. Early in the night, the share of voting places counted matters more than any party's lead.
- Check the party vote. This decides how many seats each party gets. Watch any party near 5%.
- Look at the seats. The site shows seats calculated from the party vote with the Sainte-Laguë formula. See our worked example.
- Find the close electorates. Small margins with lots still to count can change.
- Remember it's preliminary. Special votes aren't included until the official result.
Election night, hour by hour
- 7:00pmVoting closes. Counting starts in every voting place.
- 7:30pmFirst results expected, starting with advance votes.
- 10:00pmTarget: results from 50% of voting places.
- 11:30pmTarget: results from 95% of voting places.
- LatePreliminary count finished. Special votes still to come.
- 27 NovOfficial result, including about 700,000 special votes.
- 3 DecWrit returned. Winners formally confirmed.
Why the site can feel slow on the night
Hundreds of thousands of people check results at the same time. If the official site is busy, the same numbers appear on our live results page, which is built for phones and refreshes on its own, and on broadcasters' sites.
Preliminary vs official results
| Preliminary | Official | |
|---|---|---|
| When | Election night, 7 November | 27 November 2026 |
| Includes special votes | No | Yes |
| Recounted | No | Every voting place rechecked |
| Can change | Yes | Only through a judicial recount |
In 2023 the official count moved National from 50 seats to 48. Read special votes explained.
Questions and answers
What is electionresults.govt.nz?
The Electoral Commission's official website for New Zealand election results, preliminary and official.
When does electionresults.govt.nz start showing 2026 results?
From about 7:30pm on Saturday 7 November 2026, after voting closes at 7pm.
Is electionresults.govt.nz the official source?
Yes. News organisations and this site use the Electoral Commission's figures.
Can I see results for my voting place?
Yes. Results are published down to individual voting places within each electorate.
Sources
This guide is general information about New Zealand elections, checked against the sources linked above on 4 November 2026. For anything about your own enrolment or vote, check vote.nz or call the Electoral Commission on 0800 36 76 56.
Keep reading
NZ election 2026 live results: when, where and how the vote count comes in
Live results for New Zealand's 2026 election start at 7pm on Saturday 7 November. Here's when each part of the vote count lands, where to follow it, and how to read it.
How to read election night results like a pro
Party vote or electorate vote? Percent counted or votes counted? A practical guide to reading New Zealand's live election results, with the traps that catch people out every time.
What time do NZ election results come out? Election night 2026, hour by hour
An hour-by-hour guide to election night on Saturday 7 November 2026: when voting closes, when the first results land, when most votes are counted and when it's final.