Governing party ahead in early results of New Zealand’s knife-edge vote
![Supporters cheer at the election party of Christopher Luxon, leader of the National Party, in Auckland, New Zealand, November 7, 2026. [David Rowland/Reuters]](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/reuters_6aeeca60-1794034272.jpg?resize=1920%2C1440)
Detailed summary
Early count suggests New Zealand's National and Labour parties are neck and neck, with neither likely to govern alone.
New Zealand’s governing centre-right National Party leads with 31.19 percent of votes, followed closely by the opposition centre-left Labour Party with 28.35 percent, according to early results.
The country’s Electoral Commission said on Saturday that the centrist Opportunity Party will meet the 5 percent threshold to enter parliament.
Polling stations opened at 9am on Saturday (20:00 GMT Friday) and closed at 7pm (06:00 GMT Saturday).
New Zealand’s Electoral Commission aims to release preliminary results from 95 percent of polling stations by the end of election night on Saturday. A final result, which will reflect ballots cast by New Zealanders abroad, is expected by November 27.
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