Election day called amid NZ economy struggles
New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Luxon has used his first week back in the job this year to launch a bid for a second term.
Prime Minister Chris Luxon has fired the starter’s gun for the 2026 New Zealand election, announcing November 7 as the poll date.
The election is effectively a re-run of the 2023 election, pitting National Party leader Mr Luxon against Labour’s Chris Hipkins as the most likely prime ministers.
However, in 2026, the roles are reversed, with Mr Luxon hoping for a second term for his conservative coalition government, and Mr Hipkins seeking a return to office.
Mr Luxon made the election day call at a year-starting retreat for his National MPs in Christchurch on Wednesday, following a tradition set by his successor and mentor John Key to name an election date well in advance.
He has also revealed his slogan – “fixing the basics and building the future” – in a nod to his government’s many reform programs, including education, planning, and public service cuts.
You might like
“National is going to campaign on being responsible managers of the economy, who make the right decisions to fix the basics and build our future,” he said.
“Now is not the time to put all of that at risk.”
Mr Hipkins, who led New Zealand for 10 months in 2023 after Jacinda Ardern resigned as prime minister, is eyeing a historic win.
Should Labour return to office, it would be the first time Kiwis have tipped out a first-term government in more than half a century.
Stay informed, daily
Labour believes a triumph is possible primarily due to two factors: the dire state of the New Zealand economy, and Mr Luxon’s poor personal popularity.
Speaking at his party’s own retreat in Auckland on Wednesday morning, Mr Hipkins said he would be arguing “better is possible” than the current coalition leaders.
“Christopher Luxon, David Seymour, Winston Peters, all want to tell you that this is as good as it gets and that if they just stand back that somehow things will fix themselves. They won’t,” Mr Hipkins told journalists.
New Zealand’s economy contracted in three of the last six quarters as it battles a post-pandemic recession, with unemployment rising to a nine-year high at 5.3 per cent.
The outcome of the election is likely to be tight, with respected pollsters tipping both a National-led government and Labour-led government in recent months.
In all scenarios, the major parties will require the support of minor parties to form government.
In National’s case, that would mean support from its current coalition members: right-wingers ACT and populists NZ First.
Labour would need help from at least the Greens, and possibly also the scandal-hit Maori Party.
