New Zealand’s Luxon on course for second term, but weaker hand in coalition

New Zealand Prime Minister and National Party leader Christopher Luxon speaks to members of the media at the party's headquarters in Auckland on Sunday. | AFP-JIJI

REUTERS

Nov 9, 2026

WELLINGTON – New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is on course to hang on to power as the head of a coalition government with a razor-thin majority following Saturday’s election, but his National Party could lose control of key government ministries to right-wing partners.

Center-right National and the main opposition Labour Party both polled below 30% for the first time ever, losing votes to minor parties on the left, right and center — a trend that analysts said mirrored a global shift away from the political establishment.

Preliminary New Zealand Electoral Commission data shows Luxon’s three-party coalition could govern with a majority of just two seats. But that margin may disappear once overseas and other special votes — which make up a seventh of the total and typically skew left — are included during the final count on Nov. 27.

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