New Zealand votes on Saturday, November 7, 2026, and the race between Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Labour leader Chris Hipkins looks too close to call. Polls close at 7 p.m. local time, which is 06:00 GMT, 07:00 CET and 1 a.m. ET. Here is what is at stake and how to follow the New Zealand election live as results come in.
Key facts (as of November 2026)
- Election day is Saturday, November 7, 2026; voting places are open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. New Zealand time (Electoral Commission).
- Preliminary results are published on electionresults.govt.nz from 7 p.m. local time, and official results are due on November 27 (Electoral Commission).
- The final 1News Verian poll, released November 3, had National on 30%, Labour on 29% and the Opportunity Party on 6%, enough to decide who governs.
What is happening in New Zealand on November 7?
New Zealanders are electing a new Parliament for the next three years. Luxon’s centre-right National Party leads the current coalition with ACT and NZ First. Hipkins wants to form a Labour-led government, and he told Reuters he hoped to do that before Christmas.
The country uses mixed-member proportional voting, or MMP. Voters choose a local MP and a party, and the party vote mostly decides seat numbers, so coalition talks usually follow. Reuters notes that a party generally needs 5% of the party vote to enter Parliament.
When does New Zealand election live coverage start in your time zone?
Results start soon after polls close at 7 p.m. The Electoral Commission says it releases preliminary results progressively through the night as voting places finish their hand counts. New Zealand is on daylight saving time (UTC+13) in November, so the night falls on Saturday morning in Europe and very early Saturday in the US.
| Where you are | Polls close and first results |
|---|---|
| New Zealand (NZDT) | 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov 7 |
| Sydney (AEDT) | 5 p.m. Saturday |
| London (GMT) | 6 a.m. Saturday |
| Paris, Berlin (CET) | 7 a.m. Saturday |
| New York (ET) | 1 a.m. Saturday |
| Los Angeles (PT) | 10 p.m. Friday, Nov 6 |
Our UK and US time difference guide helps if you are planning across several time zones.
Why does this vote matter outside New Zealand?
New Zealand is a close partner of Australia, the UK and the US, and a change of government would shape its trade, Pacific and climate policies. The count also lands just days after the US midterms.
The vote is a test of how voters judge the economy. Reuters reported that a sluggish economy and stubborn inflation have made the cost of living the main issue. Luxon argues his plan is working and needs more time, while Hipkins promises faster help with living costs.
What do the latest polls show?
Neither side has a clear path to a majority. The final 1News Verian poll, taken October 29 to November 2, put National on 30% and Labour on 29%, with the Greens on 16%, ACT on 10% and NZ First on 8%. On those numbers, 1News projected the right bloc at 58 seats, short of a majority.
That leaves the centrist Opportunity Party, led by Qiulae Wong, as a likely kingmaker on 6%. Wong told 1News her party would talk first to whichever party wins the most seats. She also said a very close result might mean waiting for special votes.
Polls have moved, though: a mid-October Post/Freshwater Strategy poll had Labour narrowly ahead, Reuters noted.
How have the party leaders reacted?
Luxon told 1News that “the only poll that matters” is the one on Saturday. Hipkins said he felt increasingly optimistic but expected a close election. ACT leader David Seymour also predicted a tight race, while NZ First leader Winston Peters dismissed the poll altogether.
Many voters have already decided. More than a million people had voted early with four days to go, 1News reported.
What happens after election night?
Election night gives only a preliminary result. Special votes, including those from overseas, are checked before they are counted, so the Electoral Commission warns that preliminary figures are likely to change. Official results are scheduled for Friday, November 27, and the writ must be returned by December 3.
So a narrow result could stay open for weeks, with coalition talks deciding the prime minister.
How to watch the New Zealand election live
The fullest coverage comes from New Zealand’s own broadcasters. Flicks lists these election night programmes:
- TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+: the Your Vote 2026 Election Night Special with Jack Tame and Tova O’Brien, from 7 p.m.
- RNZ: a multimedia special hosted by Lisa Owen and John Campbell, from 7 p.m. to midnight, also streamed by RNZ.
- ThreeNews for Sky and Stuff: hosted by Samantha Hayes and Patrick Gower, streaming on ThreeNow and Stuff.
- NZ Herald: a video broadcast and live blog on Herald Now.
Some of these streams may only play inside New Zealand, so check what works where you live.
International channels will also report the result as it lands. Across the Tasman, ABC News Australia is worth checking for regional coverage. In Europe, the BBC News channel carries world headlines through Saturday morning. For a global view, try the Al Jazeera English live stream, which is free on its website and YouTube, or CNN International. See more live events in Hot Topics.
Coming soon: the NewsLive streaming app. We’re building one subscription for live international news on Android, Roku, Fire TV and desktop. The service is under development. See what the NewsLive app will offer and join the early-access list.
Frequently asked questions
What time does the New Zealand election go live?
Preliminary results start at 7 p.m. New Zealand time on Saturday, November 7. That is 06:00 GMT, 07:00 CET and 1 a.m. ET.
Can I watch the New Zealand election live outside New Zealand?
Usually, yes. International news channels will report the result, though some NZ broadcaster streams may only play in New Zealand.
When will the final result be known?
The Electoral Commission plans to declare official results on November 27, after special votes are counted.
