Extra MPs from the 2026 election could cost about $5 million in their first year

Eleven extra MPs from the 2026 election could cost about $5 million more in their first year, according to RNZ.

The extra seats come from what is known as an overhang. Under New Zealand's mixed-member proportional (MMP) system, voters cast two votes: an electorate vote for a local candidate and a party vote for a party. A party's share of the party vote determines how many seats it is entitled to. When a party wins more electorate seats than that share allows, it keeps the extra seats, and Parliament grows to make room for them.

Preliminary results project that National will have seven overhang MPs and Te Pāti Māori four, a total of 11. Under MMP the House is normally fixed at 120 members, with overhang seats as the exception. With 11 extra, Parliament would have 131 members. An overhang does not reduce the seats of other parties, and the House keeps the extra members until the next general election.

Each MP who is not a minister receives a salary of about $180,000 and a basic expense allowance of $19,300. In their first year, they receive a staff allocation of $25,818 and a non-staff allocation of $62,145. MPs also receive $10,400 in IT hardware funding, and $13,682 once per term for staff IT costs. Parties receive $26,500 in funding for each member of their caucus, the group of MPs from the same party.

1News reported that basic salaries for the overhang MPs would add $1.8 million. Victoria University associate professor Barbara Allen estimated the total cost at about $500,000 per MP in the first year. She estimated that the 11 extra MPs would add at least another $5.5 million.

Simplicity chief economist Shamubeel Eaqub said the average cost per MP had dropped from almost $750,000 in 2012 to less than $700,000 in 2025 dollars.