In brief
Early 2026 election results on Nov. 8 show the National‑Led coalition holding 67 of 131 seats, giving Prime Minister Christopher Luxon a likely second term. The opposition bloc has 57 seats, the Green Party won a record 16 seats, and the Opportunity Party is projected to win seven. A remaining 700,000 special votes could still alter the final tally.
In early Sunday results from New Zealand’s 2026 general election, the ruling National‑Led coalition won a narrow parliamentary majority, giving Prime Minister Christopher Luxon a likely second term.
The coalition, comprising the National Party, ACT New Zealand and New Zealand First, captured 67 seats out of 131 in the enlarged parliament, which now has 131 seats after 11 over‑hang seats were added.
The opposition bloc, consisting of the Labour Party, the Green Party and the Māori Party, held 57 seats.
In a record showing for the Green Party, it secured 16 seats; the centrist Opportunity Party is projected to win seven, according to preliminary counts.
Luxon said the election was “too close to call” as the final outcome would depend on special votes.
Events will still change when the 700,000 special votes – ballots cast by overseas voters and by people voting outside their electorates – are counted.
The Electoral Commission will release the final official results, including special votes, on Nov. 27.
New Zealand uses a mixed‑member proportional voting system, where voters cast two ballots: one for a party and one for a local electorate candidate. The government is usually formed by two or more parliamentary parties.
Voter enrolment was about 3.8 million, representing 93.6 % of the estimated eligible population for this election, slightly below the 94.7 % rate seen in 2023 and 94.1 % in 2020.