New Zealand votes Saturday as cost of living leads campaign

New Zealanders vote in a general election on Saturday 7 November 2026, and the cost of living is set to dominate it, Reuters reported. Voters are focused on inflation, the general rise in prices, along with petrol and food prices. Housing is also a key concern.

The New York Times, in an article published on 6 November, asked whether New Zealand would join a global revolt by voters over soaring costs. The newspaper's report describes Mr. Luxon and the National Party as seeking to persuade voters to give them another chance at tackling inflation and government debt, the money a government has borrowed.

Jobs and public services are also among the main issues in the campaign, according to Reuters.

The race is close. The latest poll before the vote, reported by Reuters, put Labour on 30.7% and National on 26.4%, and it showed the result remained too close to call.

New Zealand uses the Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) voting system. Polling places open from 9.00am to 7.00pm on election day. Overseas voting began on 25 October, and advance voting ran from Monday 26 October to Friday 6 November.

Elections New Zealand said 1,666,908 votes had been issued ahead of election day.