Search studies, brands and more…⌘ KExplore research

Evidence · NZ Election 2026

Every question, every answer, every source

Everything the study collected, as it was collected on 5 October 2026. Read any answer in full, or download the tables behind every figure in the study.

questions
174
voters the questions were written as
32
answers collected, of 820 planned
815
answers compared like for like
800
pairs of national and town answers
124
answers with sources recorded
774
answers that showed a link
304

01

Every question, with its answers

Each question was written as a voter would ask it and went to all four assistants. Some were also asked from a town. Open a question to read every answer to it in full.

Showing 20 of 174 questions

Show all 174

02

The tables behind the study

Every figure on the study page comes from these tables. They are CSV files, which open in any spreadsheet.

  • Questions

    nz-election-2026-questions.csv

    One row per question.

    Question id, report reference, question, voter, issue, towns it was also asked from, answers per assistant

    174rows

    Download questions (CSV)

  • Answers

    nz-election-2026-answers.csv

    One row per answer, with its full text.

    Answer id, question id, assistant, town, words, parties named, showed a link, websites recorded as sources, compared like for like, full text

    815rows

    Download answers (CSV)

  • Sources by answer

    nz-election-2026-sources.csv

    One row for each website recorded as a source of an answer.

    Answer id, question id, assistant, town, website, publisher type

    4,216rows

    Download sources by answer (CSV)

  • Checks against official sources

    nz-election-2026-checks.csv

    One row per statement checked.

    Check, answer id, assistant, what the answer said, verdict, what the source says, source, date

    17rows

    Download checks against official sources (CSV)

  • Who to vote for: coding

    nz-election-2026-guidance.csv

    One row per answer to the eight questions that asked who to vote for.

    Answer id, question id, assistant, what the answer did, the words that show it

    32rows

    Download who to vote for: coding (CSV)

  • Location and national answers

    nz-election-2026-towns.csv

    One row per question asked both nationally and from a location, for each assistant.

    Question, town, assistant, both answer ids, parties named nationally and from the town, same parties

    124rows

    Download location and national answers (CSV)

Use these tables to trace findings back to the original questions and answers. The full text of each answer is also on this page, under its question.

03

Read in full and checked

Some answers were read in detail or checked against official sources. Those appear on the study page, beside the findings they support.

ChatGPT · No location

I migrated to New Zealand, have recently become a citizen and am eligible to vote. I work here, use English as a second language and want to understand both my options and the system. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. Can you explain my two votes and how a government is formed in plain English?

Congratulations on becoming a New Zealand citizen. As a new voter, it can help to know that New Zealand’s system is designed so you are choosing both a local representative and the overall balance of parties in Parliament. New Zealand uses Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) voting. What is MMP? | Elections NZ

The 2026 general election is scheduled for Saturday 7 November 2026. What happens in a general election? | Elections NZ

Your two votes

When you vote, you will receive two voting papers: a party vote and an electorate vote. Vote in a general election or referendum | New Zealand Government

1. Party vote — “Which political party should have influence in Parliament?”

Your party vote is usually the more important vote for deciding the overall makeup of Parliament.

  • You choose the political party you most want to support.
  • The percentage of party votes a party receives largely determines how many seats it gets in Parliament.
  • For example, if a party receives about 30% of the party vote, it will generally receive about 30% of the seats it is entitled to (subject to MMP rules). What is MMP? | Elections NZ

This vote answers:

“Which parties should have power and representation in the country?”

2. Electorate vote — “Who should represent my local area?”

Your electorate vote is for a person (a candidate).

  • New Zealand is divided into electorates (local voting areas).
  • You choose the candidate you want to represent your electorate as an MP.
  • The candidate with the most votes in that electorate wins that seat. How are MPs elected? | Elections NZ

This vote answers:

“Who should be my local Member of Parliament?”

Your electorate MP can help raise local issues, while all MPs also debate laws and hold the government accountable. How votes create a government - New Zealand Parliament

How Parliament is formed

After the election:

  1. Votes are counted.

    • Electorate winners become MPs.
    • More MPs are added from party lists so that each party’s total number of MPs roughly matches its share of the party vote. How are MPs elected? | Elections NZ

  2. Parliament is created.

  3. Parties negotiate to form a government.

There are two common types of agreements:

  • Coalition government: two or more parties formally join together to govern.
  • Confidence and supply agreement: one party supports another party (or group of parties) on key votes such as confidence votes and the Budget, while remaining separate. What is our MMP voting system? - New Zealand Parliament

Simple example

Imagine Parliament has 120 seats:

  • Party A gets 45 seats.
  • Party B gets 40 seats.
  • Party C gets 20 seats.
  • Party D gets 15 seats.

No party has enough seats alone, so they talk with each other.

Possible outcomes:

  • Party A + Party C form a coalition (65 seats).
  • Party B + Party C + Party D make an agreement (75 seats).
  • A party with the most seats is not automatically guaranteed to form the government; it must have enough support in Parliament. What is the MMP voting system? - New Zealand Parliament

How to think about your vote

A useful way to separate the decisions is:

  • Party vote: “Which party’s ideas and priorities do I want represented in Parliament?”
  • Electorate vote: “Which person do I want speaking for my local area?”

They do not have to be the same. A voter can support one party with their party vote and choose a candidate from another party with their electorate vote.

Because you are voting as a citizen, you do not need to choose based only on where you came from or your background. Many New Zealand voters consider issues such as the economy, public services, housing, the environment, infrastructure, and the role of government when deciding what matters to them.

A good next step is to compare each party’s policies with your own priorities, and also look at the candidates standing in your electorate. The Electoral Commission provides official information about voting and MMP. What is MMP? | Elections NZ

Ask anything

ChatGPT can make mistakes. Check important info.

Captured 5 October 2026 · shown as ChatGPT gave it, not a verified account

Gemini · No location

I migrated to New Zealand, have recently become a citizen and am eligible to vote. I work here, use English as a second language and want to understand both my options and the system. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. Can you explain my two votes and how a government is formed in plain English?

Congratulations on becoming a New Zealand citizen and deciding to participate in your first general election! Moving to a new country and learning a new political system is a big step, especially when English is an additional language.

New Zealand uses an electoral system called Mixed Member Proportional (MMP). Under MMP, every voter gets two distinct votes on election day: a Party Vote and an Electorate Vote.

1. Your Two Votes Explained

When you walk into a voting place, your voting paper will clearly separate these two choices:

  • The Party Vote (The Most Important Vote):
    • What it is: You vote for your preferred political party (e.g., Labour, National, ACT, Green, New Zealand First, etc.).
    • What it does: This vote determines the overall power balance in Parliament. If a party wins 30% of the total party votes nationwide, they get roughly 30% of the 120 seats in Parliament. This vote is what ultimately decides which party or parties get to form the government.
  • The Electorate Vote (Your Local Vote):
    • What it is: You vote for a single person to represent your specific local area (called an "electorate"), regardless of whether they belong to a party or are running independently.
    • What it does: The candidate who gets the most votes in your local area wins that seat and becomes your local Member of Parliament (MP), responsible for helping local residents and advocating for community issues.

Good to Know: Your two votes are completely independent. You can vote for a candidate from one party for your local MP, but give your Party Vote to a completely different party. Many New Zealanders vote this way!

2. How a Government is Formed

Because New Zealand uses a proportional system, it is very rare for a single political party to win more than 50% of the Party Vote (61 out of 120 seats). Here is how a government comes together after the election:

  • The Magic Number (61 Seats): To pass laws and run the country, a group needs a majority of seats in Parliament (at least 61 out of 120).
  • Coalitions and Agreements: Since one party rarely wins an outright majority, parties usually have to talk to each other after the election to form a coalition government or a confidence-and-supply agreement.
    • Coalition: Two or more parties join forces, share cabinet ministries, and agree on a unified policy plan.
    • Support Agreement: A larger party forms government alone or as a minority, but signs a deal with smaller parties promising they will vote with them on major budget and survival votes ("confidence and supply") in exchange for specific policy concessions.
  • The Prime Minister: The leader of the party (or the leader of the governing coalition) that commands the support of the majority of MPs in Parliament becomes the Prime Minister.

Quick Tips for Election Day

  • Date: The next general election is on Saturday, 7 November 2026.
  • Enrolment: Make sure you are enrolled to vote before enrolment closes. You can check or update your details online at vote.nz.
  • Language Support: Voting places often have information guides in multiple languages, and voting booth helpers are there to assist you if you have questions (though they cannot tell you who to vote for).

Are you looking for information on how to research the different political parties and their policies?

Ask Gemini

Gemini is AI and can make mistakes.

Captured 5 October 2026 · shown as Gemini gave it, not a verified account

Google AI Mode · No location

I migrated to New Zealand, have recently become a citizen and am eligible to vote. I work here, use English as a second language and want to understand both my options and the system. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. Can you explain my two votes and how a government is formed in plain English?

Congratulations on becoming a New Zealand citizen and taking this big step into participating in local democracy. New Zealand uses a voting system called MMP (Mixed Member Proportional). It is designed so that the total number of seats a party gets in Parliament matches the overall proportion of support it gets from the country.

When you go to vote, you receive a ballot paper with two separate votes : your Party Vote and your Electorate Vote.

Your Two Votes Explained

  1. The Party Vote (The Most Important Vote)
  • What it is: You vote for the political party you want to see in government (for example, Labour, National, Greens, ACT, etc.).
  • Why it matters: This vote decides the total power and total number of seats each party gets in the 120-seat Parliament. If a party gets 40% of the total Party Vote nationwide, they get roughly 40% of the seats in Parliament (about 48 seats).
  • The 5% Rule: To get seats in Parliament from the party vote alone, a party generally needs to win at least 5% of the total party vote across the country (or win at least one local electorate seat).
  1. The Electorate Vote (Your Local MP)
  • What it is: You vote for a single local person (candidate) to represent the specific geographic area (called an electorate) where you live.
  • Why it matters: The candidate who gets the most votes in your local area wins that seat and becomes your Member of Parliament (MP), regardless of whether they belong to a big party or run as an independent.

How the Two Votes Work Together

  • Your Party Vote controls the overall balance of power in Parliament.
  • Your Electorate Vote chooses your personal local representative.
  • These two votes do not have to match. For example, you can give your Party Vote to Party A because you want them to lead the government, but give your Electorate Vote to a candidate from Party B because you like the local work they do in your community.

How a Government is Formed After the Election

New Zealand has 120 seats in Parliament. To form a government, a party or a group of parties needs a majority —which means controlling more than half of the seats (at least 61 out of 120). [Elections NZ]

  1. The Numbers Game:
  • Because MMP spreads votes out proportionally, it is rare for a single political party to win more than 60 seats on its own.
  1. Coalitions and Agreements:
  • If no single party gets 61 seats by themselves, the parties must talk to each other to form a majority.
  • Coalition Government: Two or more parties agree to share power and ministerial positions to reach the 61-seat majority.
  • Confidence and Supply Agreement: A smaller party agrees to support a larger party on crucial votes (like passing the government budget or surviving a vote of no confidence) in exchange for policy compromises, without necessarily taking government ministerial posts.
  1. The Result:
  • Once a leader proves to the Governor-General that they have the support of a majority of MPs (61+ seats) to command the confidence of Parliament, they are officially appointed as the Prime Minister and form the government.

To check your enrolment details, find your local electorate, or look up official voting places, you can visit the official Vote.nz portal or check timelines and rules directly through the Elections NZ website.

Ask anything

Captured 5 October 2026 · shown as Google AI Mode gave it, not a verified account

AI Overviews · No location

I migrated to New Zealand, have recently become a citizen and am eligible to vote. I work here, use English as a second language and want to understand both my options and the system. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. Can you explain my two votes and how a government is formed in plain English?

AI Overview

Welcome to New Zealand, and congratulations on becoming a citizen! 🇳🇿

The 2026 New Zealand general election will take place on Saturday, 7 November 2026. New Zealand uses a voting system called Mixed Member Proportional (MMP).

When you go to vote, you will receive one voting paper with two columns. Here is a plain English guide to your two votes and how a government is formed.

Your Two Votes

1. The Party Vote (The most important vote)

  • What it is: You vote for the political party you want to lead the country.

  • Why it matters: This vote decides how many total seats a party gets in Parliament. Parliament usually has 120 seats. If a party gets 40% of the Party Vote, they get roughly 40% of the seats (about 48 seats).

  • The Rule: To get any seats in Parliament, a party must win at least 5% of the total Party Vote OR win at least one Electorate seat.

2. The Electorate Vote

  • What it is: You vote for a specific person (a candidate) to represent your local area (your electorate).

  • Why it matters: The candidate with the most votes in your area wins a seat and goes straight to Parliament. This ensures your local community has a voice.

How the 120 Members of Parliament (MPs) are Chosen

  • Electorate MPs: First, the winners of the local electorate votes take their seats.

  • List MPs: Next, if a party is allowed more seats based on their Party Vote, they fill the remaining spaces using a pre-ranked list of their party members. These are called "List MPs".

How a Government is Formed

To form a government and run the country, a party or a group of parties must control a majority of the seats in Parliament—at least 61 out of 120 seats.

Because New Zealand has many political parties, it is very rare for one single party to get more than 50% of the vote. Therefore, parties must work together:
- Coalition: Two or more parties join together to form the government and share political power and government roles.

  • Confidence and Supply: A smaller party stays separate but promises to vote with the main government on big issues (like the budget) so the government does not collapse.

Helpful Voting Tips for the 2026 Election

  • Advance Voting: You do not have to vote on 7 November. Advance voting places open from Monday, 26 October 2026, so you can vote early.

  • Language Support: Voting places have information available in multiple languages to help people who use English as a second language. You can also bring a friend or family member to help you translate.

  • Enrollment: Make sure you are registered to vote before midnight on 25 October 2026. Unlike some other countries, you cannot enroll and vote at the exact same time on election day under the current rules. You can check your status or enroll online at the official Vote NZ Website.

Ask anything

Captured 5 October 2026 · shown as AI Overviews gave it, not a verified account