New Zealand’s 54th Parliament was formally dissolved on Thursday, October 1, marking the official end of the parliamentary term and the start of the formal process leading to the November 7 general election.
The dissolution followed Parliament’s final sitting on September 23, bringing the three-year parliamentary term that began after the October 2023 election to a close.
The Governor-General is expected to issue the writ for the election on October 4, formally directing the Electoral Commission to conduct the poll.
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The election will be contested under New Zealand’s Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) voting system, under which voters cast votes for an electorate candidate and a political party.
The governing National Party, led by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, is in coalition with ACT New Zealand and New Zealand First.
The opposition Labour Party is also seeking to form the next government, with the election campaign expected to focus on issues including the cost of living, economic management and public services.
New Zealand’s MMP system has generally resulted in coalition or support arrangements between parties, giving smaller parties a significant role in determining the composition of government.
The 2026 general election is scheduled for Saturday, November 7, with voting places to open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on election day.
Overseas voting is scheduled to begin on October 21, while advance voting in New Zealand will open on October 26.
The Electoral Commission is scheduled to declare the official election results on November 27.
Reuters
