What happens if no one wins a majority in the NZ election?
Hung Parliament, kingmakers, minority governments and caretaker rules: what happens in New Zealand when election night ends without a clear majority, and how long it takes.
In this guide
Under MMP, a single party winning a majority is rare. It's happened once, in 2020. So "no majority" on election night is normal, not a crisis. What matters is whether any group of parties can reach a majority together.
Quick answer
- A government needs the confidence of the House: support from more than half the MPs.
- If no party has that alone, parties negotiate coalitions or support agreements.
- A party that can choose either side is called a kingmaker. NZ First played that role in 1996 and 2017.
- The current government stays on as a caretaker until a new one is formed.
- A minority government can govern with support agreements, without a majority of its own.
Three ways a government can form
| Option | How it works | Past example |
|---|---|---|
| Majority coalition | Parties share ministries and together have more than half the seats | National, ACT and NZ First, 2023 |
| Minority government with support | A government without a majority relies on confidence and supply agreements | National-led governments, 2008 to 2017 |
| Minority coalition with support | Coalition partners plus an outside support party | Labour and NZ First with the Greens, 2017 |
The kingmaker
When the two main blocs are both short of a majority and one party could go either way, that party holds the balance of power.
- 1996: NZ First, with 17 seats, negotiated with both National and Labour before choosing National. The government took 65 days to form.
- 2017: NZ First, with nine seats, took 26 days to announce it would form a government with Labour, supported by the Greens.
Days from election day to a sworn-in government
- 199665 days
- 201733 days
- 202344 days
What happens while parties negotiate
- The caretaker convention. The existing government continues, but avoids major new decisions and consults other parties on anything significant.
- Waiting for specials. Parties often wait for the official result on 27 November 2026, because special votes can move seats.
- Written agreements. Parties sign coalition or support agreements, usually published.
- The Governor-General acts. Once it's clear who has majority support, the Governor-General appoints the Prime Minister.
- Parliament meets. It must meet within six weeks of the writ being returned on 3 December.
What if nobody can form a government?
It has never happened under MMP. In theory, if no government could win the confidence of the House, a new election could be called. In practice, parties have always reached agreements.
What to watch on election night
- Bloc totals against 61 seats, or more with overhang.
- Parties near 5%, which can add or remove six seats from a bloc.
- Leaders' speeches, where parties sometimes signal who they'll talk to first.
- The official count, if a bloc is within a seat or two of the line.
Try different results in our seat builder to see which combinations reach a majority.
Questions and answers
What is a hung Parliament in New Zealand?
A Parliament where no party or obvious group of parties has a majority on its own, so negotiations decide the government.
Who governs while coalition talks happen?
The existing government continues as a caretaker until the new government is sworn in.
How long can coalition talks take?
Under MMP, from a few days to 65 days, in 1996. In 2023 it took 44 days.
Can a party govern without a majority?
Yes. A minority government can govern if other parties agree to support it on confidence and budget votes.
Has New Zealand ever had to hold a second election?
Not because of a failure to form a government. Under MMP, parties have always reached agreements.
Sources
- NZHistory: government formation under MMP.
- Parliament.
- 2023 New Zealand general election.
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
After the count: how a government is formed in New Zealand
Coalition, confidence and supply, minority government: what happens after election night, how long negotiations take, and the role of the Governor-General and the writ.
Memorable NZ election nights: upsets, cliffhangers and late calls
The snap election of 1984, the hung Parliament scare of 1993, the kingmaker years of 1996 and 2017, the 2020 landslide and the 2023 specials. The election nights that made history.
How MMP works in New Zealand: party vote, electorate vote and 120 seats
A clear explanation of New Zealand's MMP voting system: your two votes, how seats are shared out, list MPs, the 5% threshold, overhang and why coalitions are normal.