New Zealand election too close to call as conservative bloc holds slim lead
The conservative bloc sits one seat above the majority line, and late special votes have tended to favour the left.
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The New Zealand election is too close to call after Saturday’s vote on 7 November 2026. With more than 95 per cent of votes counted, a conservative bloc led by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon holds 67 of 130 seats and a left bloc led by Chris Hipkins holds 56, the Associated Press reported. Neither leader has conceded.
New Zealand election result: where the seats stand
Parliament has 130 seats this term and 66 are needed for a majority. The conservative bloc of National, ACT and NZ First sits one seat above that line, so a small shift in the final count could change the outcome. The centrist Opportunity party also won 7 seats, and Al Jazeera said the Electoral Commission expects it to clear the 5 per cent threshold.
Key numbers
- 67: seats for the conservative bloc, made up of National 42, ACT 13 and NZ First 12.
- 56: seats for the left bloc, made up of Labour 35, Greens 16 and Te Pāti Māori 5.
- 7: seats for the centrist Opportunity party.
- 66: seats needed for a majority in the 130 seat Parliament.
- 27 November: the date by which the final result, including overseas ballots, is expected.
What people said
Luxon said: “National is once again the largest party in Parliament and we have a pathway to forming the next government,” while also calling the contest “too close to call”, according to AP. Hipkins said: “Tonight, New Zealand has spoken.”
Opportunity leader Qiulae Wong has said her party would talk to either bloc and would first approach the party that won the most votes. Luxon has ruled out governing with Opportunity, AP reported.
Why special votes matter
Special votes, cast by people abroad or away from their home electorate, are counted later and have tended to favour the left. In the past four elections National lost one or two seats and left parties gained one to three once they were counted, AP noted. With the conservative bloc only one seat clear, that pattern is the main reason the result is still open.
Background: how New Zealand votes
New Zealand uses a mixed-member proportional system. Voters pick a local electorate candidate and a party, and the party vote decides how many seats each party holds overall. Al Jazeera noted that all votes are counted by hand, which is one reason the final tally takes time.
What happens next
The final result is due by 27 November and there is no set deadline for forming a government. Coalition talks in New Zealand often take weeks. AP said early counts also put several senior National figures, including Nicola Willis, Gerry Brownlee, Paul Goldsmith and Chris Bishop, at risk of losing their places in Parliament. For another government formation fight, see our report on Israel’s government talks, our World Affairs section and our wider World coverage.
A one seat margin means the final count on 27 November could decide whether Christopher Luxon stays in office or Chris Hipkins returns to power. Coalition talks in New Zealand often take weeks, so the next government may not be clear for some time.