Such a long campaign gives parties with more money extra opportunity to spend it, flooding the country with advertising before spending regulations kick in. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and National Party Deputy Leader Nicola Willis. Photo / Michael CraigHe’s been trying to neutralise this, saying he wants a higher party vote, more National MPs and more National ministers, but the polls say he’ll get the opposite. But barring a shock like, say, Greenland being invaded, the election feels likely to be an economics election. Forecasts suggest the economy may just have improved enough to propel a National coalition to victory, but it’ll be a close run thing.

Source: New Zealand Herald January 21, 2026 03:56 UTC