NZ election 2026: everything you need to know
The 2026 New Zealand general election in one place: the date, key deadlines, how to vote, the parties and leaders, what's changed, and when and where to get the results.
In this guide
New Zealand votes on Saturday 7 November 2026 to elect the 55th Parliament. It's the first general election held in November since 2011, and it comes with new boundaries, new voting rules and record early voting.
This is our one-page guide to the whole election. Each section links to a deeper guide if you want more.
Quick answer
- Election day: Saturday 7 November 2026. Voting places open 9am–7pm.
- Advance voting: 26 October to 6 November.
- Results: from 7pm on election night, starting with advance votes. Follow them on our live results page.
- Official results: 27 November 2026.
- Seats: 120 MPs: 71 electorates and 49 list seats, plus any overhang.
- Current government: a National, ACT and NZ First coalition led by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon.
When is the 2026 election?
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced on 21 January 2026 that the election would be held on Saturday 7 November. Parliament rose on 24 September and was dissolved on 1 October. The writ was issued on 4 October.
2026 election: the key dates
- 21 JanPrime Minister Christopher Luxon announces 7 November.
- 4 OctWrit day. Last day to enrol and get an EasyVote card.
- 8 OctNominations close at noon.
- 21 OctOverseas voting opens.
- 25 OctEnrolment closes at midnight.
- 26 OctAdvance voting opens across New Zealand.
- 6 NovAdvance and overseas voting end.
- 7 NovElection day. Vote 9am–7pm. Results from 7pm.
- 27 NovOfficial results.
- 3 DecWrit returned.
How to vote
Every New Zealand citizen or permanent resident aged 18 or over who has lived in New Zealand for at least a year continuously at some point can enrol and vote. Enrolment for this election closed at midnight on 25 October. Election day enrolment is no longer allowed.
You can vote at any voting place in New Zealand. Take your EasyVote card if you have one, but you don't need it. You'll get one ballot paper with two votes:
- Party vote: for the party you want in government. This decides how many seats each party gets.
- Electorate vote: for the candidate you want as your local MP.
Our step-by-step voting guide covers everything, including what to do if you've moved or aren't on the roll.
What's at stake
Parliament has 120 seats, and a government needs a majority, normally 61. Since 2023 New Zealand has had a three-party coalition government of National, ACT and NZ First. Opposition parties in the last Parliament were Labour, the Green Party and Te Pāti Māori.
No party has won an outright majority under MMP except Labour in 2020, so the likely outcome is another government of two or more parties. Read how governments form for what happens after the count.
The parties and leaders
Parties in the last Parliament, in order of seats won in 2023:
| Party | Leader or co-leaders | 2023 party vote | 2023 seats |
|---|---|---|---|
| National | Christopher Luxon | 38.1% | 48 |
| Labour | Chris Hipkins | 26.9% | 34 |
| Green | Chlöe Swarbrick and Marama Davidson | 11.6% | 15 |
| ACT | David Seymour | 8.6% | 11 |
| NZ First | Winston Peters | 6.1% | 8 |
| Te Pāti Māori | Rawiri Waititi and Debbie Ngarewa-Packer | 3.1% | 6 |
The Opportunity Party, led by Qiulae Wong, won 2.2% in 2023 but no seats. Many other registered parties are also standing. See our guide to the parties and the Parties section of our live page.
What's new in 2026
- New electoral law. The Electoral Amendment Act 2025 closed enrolment 13 days before election day, ended election day enrolment, barred all sentenced prisoners from voting and banned free food, drink (other than water) and entertainment within 100 metres of voting places. See what changed.
- New boundaries. The Representation Commission redrew electorates in 2025. The North Island has one fewer general electorate, so there are 71 electorates and 49 list seats. Several seats have new names. See the boundary changes.
- Record early voting. 309,876 people voted in the first three days of advance voting, compared with 235,515 in 2023.
- More special votes. The Electoral Commission expects about 700,000.
Where the 120 seats come from in 2026
- 48 North Island general electorates
- 16 South Island general electorates
- 7 Māori electorates
- 49 list seats
The polls
Several companies publish regular polls, including 1News–Verian, RNZ–Reid Research, The Post–Freshwater, Taxpayers' Union–Curia, Roy Morgan and Anacta. Our Polls section shows each poll and an average, and the seat builder turns any result into seats. Our guide to reading the 2026 polls explains margins of error and why polls differ.
Election night and results
Voting closes at 7pm. The first results are expected about 7:30pm, starting with advance votes. The Electoral Commission aims to have results from 50% of voting places by 10pm and 95% by 11:30pm.
The election night result is preliminary. About 700,000 special votes are counted over the following weeks, and the official result is due on 27 November. The writ is returned on 3 December. Read our full guide to live results.
How to keep up with election news
- Live results: our live results page, from 7pm on election night.
- Coverage: our Coverage section collects election news from across New Zealand media.
- Election night TV and radio: see how to follow election night.
- Official information: vote.nz and the Electoral Commission.
Questions and answers
When is the 2026 New Zealand election?
Saturday 7 November 2026. Voting places are open from 9am to 7pm, and advance voting runs from 26 October to 6 November.
Who is the current Prime Minister of New Zealand?
Christopher Luxon, leader of the National Party, who heads a coalition government with ACT and NZ First formed after the 2023 election.
How many seats are in Parliament?
120 in normal circumstances: 71 electorate seats and 49 list seats. Overhang can add extra seats, as in 2023 when Parliament had 122.
When will we know the result of the 2026 election?
Preliminary results come in from 7pm on 7 November, and the picture is usually clear by late evening. The official result, including special votes, is due on 27 November.
Can I still enrol to vote?
Not for this election. Enrolment closed at midnight on 25 October 2026, and election day enrolment was abolished by the Electoral Amendment Act 2025. You can enrol now for future elections at vote.nz.
Sources
- Electoral Commission: 2026 dates, rules and results timetable.
- vote.nz: enrolment and voting.
- 2026 New Zealand general election: date announcement, parties and leaders.
- 2023 New Zealand general election: 2023 results.
This guide is general information about New Zealand elections, checked against the sources linked above on 3 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.
Who's standing in 2026: a neutral guide to New Zealand's political parties
The parties in New Zealand's 2026 election, their leaders, their 2023 results and their main pitch in their own terms, presented side by side without spin.
How to vote in the 2026 NZ election: a step-by-step guide
Where to vote, what to take, how to fill in the ballot paper, and what to do if you've moved, lost your EasyVote card or need help. Everything for 7 November 2026.