New Zealand Sets Nov 7 Date for General Election as Economic Woes Loom

New Zealand will hold its next general election on November 7, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced on Tuesday, as his conservative-led government faces growing voter unease over the economy.

Speaking at a press conference in Wellington, Luxon said the election would give New Zealanders the opportunity to decide who is best suited to lead the country through an increasingly volatile global environment.

“Kiwis will have to weigh up who is best placed to provide stable and strong government in a very uncertain world, deliver a strong economy with responsible spending, lower taxes and greater opportunity for families,” he said.

Luxon’s government, a coalition comprising the centre-right National Party and smaller partners New Zealand First and ACT, has been in office since the 2023 election. However, the prime minister, a former airline executive, has seen his approval ratings slide over the past year amid a slowing economy.

Opinion polls suggest a closely contested race, with neither the ruling coalition nor the opposition Labour Party, led by former prime minister Chris Hipkins, currently commanding enough support to govern alone.

New Zealand operates a mixed-member proportional (MMP) electoral system, under which coalition governments have been the norm since its introduction in 1996.

Parliament has a three-year term, and the latest possible date for the election under the law is December 19, 2026.

For many voters, economic concerns are expected to dominate the campaign, with growth remaining sluggish, house prices still well below their 2021 peak, and unemployment hovering above 5 per cent. The government is expected to campaign on signs of economic improvement in 2026, following modest growth of 1.1 per cent in the third quarter of last year.