New Zealanders head to the polls on Saturday in a general election too close to call. Results are expected to start coming through on Saturday evening, but neither of the two main blocs has a clear route to a majority.

A deadlocked race

The final poll, published by Wellington newspaper The Post on Friday, put Labour on 30.7 per cent and National on 26.4 per cent. The Greens polled 13 per cent, New Zealand First 12 per cent and ACT 9.8 per cent, and the Maori Party at 2 per cent. The centrist Opportunity Party, on 5.1 per cent, sits just above the threshold for parliament seats and could hold the balance of power. It projected 59 seats in the 120-seat parliament for the ruling coalition, two short of the 61 needed to govern, against 55 for Labour, the Greens and the Maori Party.

What voters are weighing

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, who leads the centre-right National Party, is seeking a second term after surviving two confidence votes among his own lawmakers. Labour leader Chris Hipkins is seeking a return to the job he lost in 2023. An Ipsos survey found the cost of living and inflation the biggest voter concern, named by 64 per cent, followed by healthcare at 45 per cent and fuel prices at 31 per cent. Unemployment reached 5.7 per cent in the third quarter, its highest level in 11 years.

How the day works

Advance voting has been open since 26 October, and nearly 1.67 million people had voted by Thursday, more than a third of those eligible. Voting places open from 9am to 7pm local time, with preliminary results expected progressively from 7pm. The Electoral Commission plans to declare official results on 27 November, after special votes are counted.