As the country grapples with the rising cost of living, New Zealand’s Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced that the next general election will be held on 7 November 2026. This highly anticipated poll is set to be one of the most contested in recent years, with the economy and cost-of-living issues expected to dominate the agenda.
Luxon, who has led a coalition government since 2023, vowed that the centre-right National party would continue its agenda to “fix the basics and build the future.” The prime minister emphasised that voters would have to weigh up which party is best placed to provide “stable and strong government in a very volatile and uncertain world” – one with a robust economy, responsible spending, lower taxes, and more opportunities for Kiwi families.
The economy and cost-of-living concerns have consistently been cited as two of the top issues facing New Zealanders, according to the Ipsos New Zealand issues monitor. Luxon’s coalition government, which includes the minor libertarian Act and populist New Zealand First parties, has ushered in sweeping policy changes to public services, infrastructure, and environmental regulations, pitching its agenda as an effort to reboot the sluggish economy, drive overseas investment, and boost industry.
However, many of these policies have been met with controversy. The coalition’s far-reaching reforms to policies affecting Māori have ignited the largest-ever protest over Māori rights, while its weakening of climate change goals has alarmed scientists and environmentalists. The opening up of land to mining has also prompted one of the highest numbers of public submissions on a piece of legislation.
Luxon faces a wobbly road to secure a second term, with polling for the coalition over the past year being lukewarm. The left bloc, comprising the Labour, Green, and Te Pāti Māori (the Māori party) parties, has frequently polled close to or higher than the sitting government. Labour leader Chris Hipkins, who has consistently outperformed Luxon in the preferred prime minister stakes, has promised that his party is “fired up and ready to go” with a positive vision for New Zealand’s future, focusing on employment, affordable healthcare, housing, and tackling the cost of living.
Political scientist Dr Claire Robinson told the Guardian that the last 15 public opinion polls show Labour has averaged 2% more support over National. “So even though [Luxon’s] trying to appear to be really calm about things, actually, the party will be in quite a lot of panic,” she said.
With the domestic economy needing to improve dramatically for National to secure a second term, and little sign yet that people are feeling positive about the outlook, the stage is set for a hard-fought and potentially pivotal election in New Zealand.
