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Kōwhiringa Ledger
NZ 2026 · Election Explorer
The state of the race

Tracking the 2026 New Zealand general election

Kōwhiringa Ledger compiles 491 policy positions, 327 electorate candidates and a running archive of party statements into one neutral reference. Read the numbers as a snapshot, not a forecast — every entry links to its source.

Latest poll on file: RNZ–Reid Research, released 21 Aug 2026. No new policy announcements in the last 90 days. Latest coverage: “National expands 5% deposit First Home Loan eligibility” — Stuff / The Post. This page updates itself as new polls, announcements and coverage come in.

491
Policy points
47
Issue areas
72
Electorates
7
Parties tracked
Not sure yet? Find the parties that match your views Coalition builder: which governments the polls allow How to vote: enrolling, advance voting & key dates New to MMP? Read the plain-English voting guide 2023 results, manifestos, debates & speeches Party profiles: history, leaders & policies
NZ 2026 party vote
21 Aug 2026
Labour
32.2%
+2.2
National
29.1%
+0.1
NZ First
11.9%
+3.9
Green
10.2%
−1.8
ACT
7.7%
−1.3
TOP
5.3%
−2.7
Te Pāti Māori
3.0%
+2.0
RNZ–Reid Researchnzelectionhub.com
All polling trends, swings and averages

Candidate in focus

327 across 72 electorates
Browse all 72 electorates

Latest statements

Archive
National · 6 Sept
National expands 5% deposit First Home Loan eligibility

National would lift the First Home Loan income cap to $300,000 for all applicants, including sole buyers, expanding access to the government-backed 5% deposit scheme.

Stuff / The Post
ACT · 6 Sept
Scrap Net Zero, cut the carbon tax

ACT proposed repealing the Zero Carbon Act, benchmarking emissions settings against major trading partners, refunding carbon-auction revenue, lowering ETS costs and protecting trade-exposed businesses.

Official party site
Green · 6 Sept
Greens vow to break up supermarket duopoly and establish KiwiMart

The Affordable Kai package proposed a publicly owned supermarket chain, expanded school lunches, larger food grants, stronger competition enforcement and a statutory right to adequate nutritious food.

RNZ
NZ First · 5 Sept
NZ First to campaign for conservation land to be open for economic development

NZ First says it will campaign to allow mining and quarrying on conservation land outside national parks, and may separate DOC concessions and permitting functions from its conservation work.

RNZ
National · 4 Sept
NZ-Canada trade announcement coming soon

Trade Minister Todd McClay said New Zealand and Canada were working to deepen two-way trade and make more use of CPTPP opportunities amid global tariff disruption.

RNZ
Full news archive

Key dates

 
  1. Sun, 25 October 2026
    Enrolment closes

    Last day to enrol to vote in this election. Anyone enrolling after Writ Day (4 October) casts a special vote.

  2. Mon, 26 October 2026
    Advance voting starts

    Advance voting places open across the country and run until the day before election day. Overseas voting starts 21 October.

  3. Sat, 7 November 2026
    Election day

    Voting places are open 9am to 7pm. Preliminary results are released progressively from 7pm; official results are declared 27 November.

Full election timetable
  • Mon, 7 September 2026Candidate nominations open
  • Thu, 1 October 2026Dissolution of Parliament
  • Sun, 4 October 2026Writ Day — election formally directed
  • Thu, 8 October 2026Nominations close (noon)
  • Wed, 21 October 2026Overseas voting starts
  • Sun, 25 October 2026Last day to enrol
  • Mon, 26 October 2026Advance voting starts
  • Fri, 6 November 2026Election advertising ends
  • Sat, 7 November 2026Election day, 9am–7pm
  • Fri, 27 November 2026Official results declared
  • Thu, 3 December 2026Last day for return of the writ
Official key dates at vote.nz