NZ Election 2026: too close to call
Labour and National finished almost level on the party vote. The governing coalition has a one-seat majority on election-night figures, but about 700,000 special votes, including votes from Kiwis in Australia and around the world, are still being counted.
Seats on preliminary count
131 seats (11 overhang) · 66 needed to govern
National · ACT · NZ First
67
Opportunity
7
Labour · Greens · Te Pāti Māori
57
Party results
| Party | Party vote | Electorate | List | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| National | 29.21% | 42 | 0 | 42 |
| Labour | 29.36% | 21 | 15 | 36 |
| Greens | 13.30% | 2 | 14 | 16 |
| ACT | ≈11% | 1 | 12 | 13 |
| NZ First | ≈9.8% | 0 | 12 | 12 |
| Opportunity | ≈6% | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| Te Pāti Māori | <1% | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Preliminary count, excluding special votes. ≈ = rounded figure. Source: NZ Electoral Commission.
Live updates
9 Nov, 1:45am NZT
Live page opened: the wait for special votes begins
Neither Christopher Luxon nor Chris Hipkins has claimed victory. The Electoral Commission is now counting special votes, including votes from New Zealanders overseas. Nothing official changes until 27 November.
8 Nov
Luxon: "We have a pathway… but it is too close to call"
The Prime Minister said National is again the largest party and that ministers stay on under caretaker rules until the official result. He had ruled out working with Opportunity during the campaign; that question is now being asked again.
7 Nov, late
Hipkins does not concede
Speaking in Upper Hutt, the Labour leader told supporters that every vote matters and every vote must now be counted.
7 Nov, late
Big names at risk for National
National won no list seats on the night because its electorate wins already exceed its share of the party vote. That leaves list-only candidates such as deputy leader Nicola Willis outside Parliament on preliminary figures, and Chris Bishop trails in Hutt South.
7 Nov, 11:30pm
Preliminary count complete: coalition 67 of 131 seats
National, ACT and NZ First have 67 seats, one more than the 66 needed. Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori have 57, and Opportunity enters Parliament with 7. Labour is narrowly ahead on the party vote.