New Zealand votes in general election

New Zealand held its general election on November 7, 2026, featuring a political contest between incumbent Prime Minister Christopher Luxon of the centre-right National Party and Chris Hipkins of the centre-left Labour Party. Voting polls close at 7 p.m., with preliminary results covering 50% of polling sites expected by 10 p.m. Final official results incorporating special and overseas votes will be declared on November 27, 2026, with no fixed legal deadline for forming a government.

Election day polling and result timeline

• ▪New Zealand held its general election on Saturday, November 7, 2026, with voting polls closing at 7 p.m. (0600 GMT)
• ▪Official election results for New Zealand's general election, incorporating special and overseas ballots, are scheduled to be declared on November 27, 2026
• ▪New Zealand's Electoral Commission planned to begin releasing numbers shortly after polls closed, expecting preliminary results from 50% of voting places by 10 p.m. on November 7, 2026
• ▪New Zealand's Electoral Commission enforced strict reporting rules on November 7, 2026, prohibiting coverage that could influence voting or turnout until polls closed

Main political party leaders

• ▪Chris Hipkins stood for election as the leader of New Zealand's centre-left Labour Party on November 7, 2026
• ▪Prime Minister Christopher Luxon stood for election as the leader of New Zealand's centre-right National Party on November 7, 2026