Wellington, New Zealand - Nov 7, 2026 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
1. Various of polling station, sign
2. Various of voters in polling station, casting votes

New Zealand's general election began on Saturday, with polls showing a tight race between the governing coalition led by the National Party and the Labor-led opposition.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's National Party, which came to power in the 2023 general election, is seeking a second term, while the Labor Party, led by former Prime Minister Chris Hipkins, is aiming to regain power.

The more than 2,300 polling stations opened at 09:00 local time and were scheduled to close at 19:00. Advance voting had already been open since October 26. Each voter casts two ballots — one for a political party and one for a candidate in their electoral district.

Voters are deeply concerned about the cost of living, economic growth, employment and public services. Opinion polls suggest neither of the two major camps is expected to win an absolute majority, meaning smaller parties could play a decisive role in forming the next government.

The Electoral Commission is expected to release preliminary results on Saturday evening, with the official count due on November 27.