In brief
Voting in New Zealand finished on 7 November 2026 with the National and Labour parties nearly tied in the popular vote, each holding just under 30% after a little over a quarter of ballots were counted. A few thousand votes separate the two, and full results are expected on 27 November.
Polling stations closed across New Zealand on Saturday, 7 November 2026, as the nation’s general election drawing to a close. The Electoral Commission reported that, with 27.4 percent of ballots counted, the centre‑right National Party and the main opposition Labour Party each held just under 30 percent of the popular vote, a difference of only a few thousand votes.
Early tallies point to a dead‑locked race
According to the Commission’s preliminary figures, the two parties are on a very even footing, with the National Party slightly ahead in the slips of data released so far. The remaining bulk of the vote, yet to be counted, could tip the balance either way.
Officials confirmed that the full results will be announced on 27 November, giving voters and political analysts a clear date to watch for the final outcome of a highly competitive contest that has seen both parties tout near‑equal support across the country.
