The facts
The Electoral Commission's preliminary results cover 2,432,403 ordinary election-night votes and allocate 131 seats: National 42, Labour 36, Greens 16, ACT 13, New Zealand First 12, Opportunity 7 and Te Pāti Māori 5. [8]
Labour narrowly led the preliminary party vote, 29.36% to National's 29.21%; National, ACT and New Zealand First total 67 seats, one above the 66-seat majority threshold. [8]
The Commission estimated about 399,365 special votes, including overseas and dictation votes, could change the count; its formal declaration is scheduled for 27 November. [8]
AP reported that neither Christopher Luxon nor Chris Hipkins declared a definitive outcome and that government formation could take weeks. [9]
Relevant context
A projected seat majority does not establish a coalition agreement or formal election result; special votes and the official declaration remain pending. [8][9]
Still unconfirmed
- Final seat and party-vote totals after special votes and the formal declaration.
- Whether National, ACT and New Zealand First will form a coalition or another governing arrangement.
Corrections & updates
Update: Polls have closed and preliminary counting is under way. The Electoral Commission’s live page showed 12.0% of results counted at about 06:45 UTC, with National on 31.03% and Labour on 28.37%. These are early, non-formal returns; no winner or government formation is reported.
Update: At about 07:04 UTC the Electoral Commission page showed 22.1% of results counted. National led Labour 29.93% to 29.46%; provisional seat projections also shifted. These are early, non-formal returns, and no winner or governing arrangement is reported.
Substantive update, 7 November: the Electoral Commission’s live page advanced to 29.2% counted and showed Labour leading the party vote 29.97% to National’s 29.38%, while its preliminary seat projection put National ahead 41 to 36. 1News reported Labour moved into the party-vote lead for the first time that night. This supersedes the earlier 22.1%-counted snapshot when National was narrowly ahead; no formal result or governing arrangement is established.
Substantive update, 7 November UTC: replaced the partial-count snapshot with Elections New Zealand preliminary results for all 2,432,403 ordinary election-night votes. Labour narrowly leads the party vote while National, ACT and New Zealand First total 67 of 131 seats, one above the 66-seat majority threshold. About 399,365 special votes and the formal 27 November declaration remain outstanding; no winner or government is confirmed.
Sources
References support the numbered facts above. Source checks: 7 Nov 2026, 19:36 UTC.
The New Zealand Electoral Commission’s live page supplies the 29.2%-counted party-vote tally, provisional seat projections and explicit warning that the page is not a formal result. 1News independently reports Labour moving into the party-vote lead; AP confirms polling closed and the preliminary count began. The lead on party vote and the projected seat tally are both reported without inferring a winner, majority or coalition.
- The final day of voting begins in New Zealand's election as an unusual law bans any talk of politics
The Associated Press · Reporting · 6 Nov 2026
Opened AP’s election-day report confirming polls opened Saturday and preliminary results are due in the evening.
- Last chance to vote
New Zealand Electoral Commission · Primary source · 6 Nov 2026
Opened the Commission’s election-day notice for voting-place hours, the advance-vote tally and release of preliminary results.
- 2026 General Election — Overall Results
New Zealand Electoral Commission · Primary source · 7 Nov 2026
Opened the live official preliminary-count page at about 07:04 UTC; it showed 22.1% of results counted, the party-vote tally and provisional seat projections, and said the page was not a formal declaration.
- Polls close in a New Zealand election expected to be the tightest in years, with early results due
The Associated Press · Reporting · 6 Nov 2026
Opened AP’s report confirming Saturday’s polls closed and the preliminary count began; it says the official tally is due Nov. 27.
- How are general election votes counted?
New Zealand Electoral Commission · Primary source
Opened the Commission’s explanation distinguishing preliminary election-night results from the verified official count.
- 2026 General Election — Overall Results
New Zealand Electoral Commission · Primary source · 7 Nov 2026
Reopened at about 07:42 UTC. The live preliminary page showed 29.2% counted, Labour on 29.97% and National on 29.38% of party votes, projected seats of 36 and 41 respectively, and stated that this is not the formal result.
- Election Live: Labour moves into lead for first time tonight
1News / TVNZ · Reporting · 7 Nov 2026
Opened the live report, which was marked updated one minute earlier and said Labour had moved into the party-vote lead for the first time that night. The page links to a live count; the precise figures here are taken from the Electoral Commission.
- 2026 General Election preliminary results
Elections New Zealand · Primary source · 7 Nov 2026
Opened the Commission's preliminary-results release. Election-night totals cover 2,432,403 ordinary votes and 131 seats; special votes remain.
- New Zealand election count leaves government outcome unresolved
The Associated Press · Reporting · 7 Nov 2026
Opened AP's report: the count is preliminary and neither party leader confirmed a settled government.