The current Parliament
Objective facts about the 54th New Zealand Parliament, elected 14 October 2023. Source: parliament.nz and Electoral Commission NZ.
The current government — National, ACT and NZ First
New Zealand is governed by a three-party coalition elected in October 2023. National leads the coalition with Christopher Luxon as Prime Minister. ACT's David Seymour is Deputy Prime Minister. NZ First's Winston Peters holds several senior portfolios. Together the three parties hold 67 of 123 seats — a working majority of 5 seats.
The opposition
Labour is the main opposition party, led by Chris Hipkins. The Green Party (co-led by Chlöe Swarbrick and Marama Davidson) and Te Pāti Māori (co-led by Rawiri Waititi and Debbie Ngarewa-Packer) also sit in opposition. Together they hold 55 of 123 seats. The Opportunity Party (TOP) is not currently in Parliament but is polling around 6%.
| Party | Role | Seats | Party vote % |
|---|
You get two votes on election day
Every voter gets two votes: an electorate vote for their local MP candidate, and a party vote for the party they want in Parliament. The party vote is more important for the overall result — it determines what share of seats each party receives nationally, regardless of who wins individual electorates.
What does your party vote actually do?
Your party vote determines the percentage of Parliament each party receives. If a party wins 30% of party votes, they get roughly 30% of the 120 seats (about 36 seats). Even if your local electorate candidate loses, your party vote still counts toward that party's national total.
The 5% threshold
A party must win either 5% of the party vote, or at least one electorate seat, to enter Parliament. Parties that don't clear this threshold receive no seats, even if they received hundreds of thousands of votes. This is why smaller parties often campaign hard in specific electorates — ACT in Epsom is a well-known example.
What is an overhang seat?
If a party wins more electorate seats than their party vote entitles them to, Parliament temporarily expands to accommodate them. In 2023, Te Pāti Māori won 6 electorate seats but only 3.1% of the party vote (which would entitle them to ~4 seats). This created a 3-seat overhang, giving Parliament 123 seats instead of 120.
Why do parties need to form coalitions?
Because MMP produces proportional results, no single party usually wins a majority on its own. Parties must negotiate coalition agreements after the election, combining their seats to reach a majority. The current government (National 48 + ACT 11 + NZ First 8 = 67 seats) is a typical example of how this works in practice.
The seven parties
Every party with a realistic chance of entering Parliament at the 7 November 2026 election. Click any party's website link to read their policies directly from the source.
Compare two parties
Select any two parties to see their announced 2026 policies side by side, topic by topic.
How coalitions work
Under MMP, no single party usually wins enough seats to govern alone. Parties must combine their seats to reach 61+ in a standard 120-seat Parliament. Here's what the current polling suggests.
Why does this matter to you? Your party vote doesn't just elect your preferred party — it also affects which combinations of parties can form a government. A party you vote for might win seats but end up in a government you didn't anticipate. Understanding the possible coalition mathematics helps you vote with the full picture.
Seat projections based on Roy Morgan July 2026 polling: National 31%, Labour 25.5%, Greens 13.5%, NZ First 10.5%, ACT 9.5%, TOP 6.5%, Te Pāti Māori 3%. Projections are indicative only — the final result depends on electorate outcomes, special votes, and whether parties like TOP cross the 5% threshold. NZ First has publicly ruled out working with a Labour-led government. Te Pāti Māori polls below 5% but is expected to enter Parliament via Māori electorate seats regardless.
All policies
Sourced directly from official party websites and official press releases, 2025–2026 only. Click "Plain English" on any policy for a plain-language explanation of what it means in practice.