NZ's 2026 Election Result: What the New Government Means for Hiring in 2027

Nick O'Connell

November 10, 2026

In short

New Zealand voted on 7 November and has no new government yet. On the preliminary count National, ACT and NZ First hold 67 of 131 seats, one more than the 66 needed, with about 399,000 special votes still to count. The official result is due on 27 November and Parliament must meet by 14 January 2027. Until then current employment law applies, and the larger proposals, such as employer KiwiSaver at 6%, would start in 2028. The Employment Leave Act 2026 starts in 2028 whichever government forms, and offshore staff employed under Philippine or South African law are mostly outside these schemes. These are campaign pledges, not law, and we take no side. This is general information, not legal advice.

What did the 2026 election result show, and who will govern?

New Zealand has no new government yet. On the preliminary count National, ACT and NZ First hold 67 of 131 seats, one more than the 66 needed, but about 399,000 special votes are still to be counted. Official results are due on 27 November, and Parliament must meet by 14 January 2027.

This guide is for New Zealand owners and managers deciding whether to hire in 2027. We place offshore talent, so we have a stake in the question, and we take no side between parties. Every policy below is a campaign pledge and not law, and the figures are preliminary, so we have dated them. Table 1 shows the count so far.

Table 1: Preliminary result of the 7 November 2026 general election, 85.9% of votes counted
Party	Party vote	Seats
National	29.21%	42
Labour	29.36%	36
Greens	13.30%	16
ACT	10.92%	13
NZ First	9.78%	12
Opportunity	5.96%	7
Te Pati Maori	0.56%	5
National, ACT and NZ First combined		67 (66 needed of 131)

Sources: Wikipedia, 2026 New Zealand general election, infobox at 85.90% of votes counted as at 1:46pm 8 November 2026 NZDT (a secondary source); the 67-seat total is corroborated by Al Jazeera (Reuters and AFP, 7 to 8 Nov 2026) and NEWS WIRE (9 Nov 2026). The 131 seats include 11 overhang seats. About 399,000 special votes (including about 96,900 from overseas) are still to be counted, so figures will change. Check the Electoral Commission for the current count.

On these numbers Labour, the Greens, Te Pati Maori and Opportunity hold 64 seats between them, so the result turns on the special votes and on Opportunity, which cleared the 5% threshold. National leader Christopher Luxon called the result too close to call, and Labour leader Chris Hipkins said the next Parliament would need compromise. Luxon has repeatedly ruled out working with Opportunity. Labour has slightly more party votes than National but fewer seats, and the seat total includes 11 overhang seats.

How long until there is a government, and what applies in the meantime?

Possibly weeks, and current law applies throughout. Table 2 sets out the timetable, with the laws already in place alongside it.

Table 2: Timetable after the 2026 election, and laws already in place
Date	What happens	What it means for you
Sat 7 Nov 2026	Election day and preliminary count	National, ACT and NZ First on 67 of 131 seats; caretaker government continues
Fri 27 Nov 2026	Official results declared, including special votes	Seat numbers can change; a recount can be requested within three days, and six electorates were within 1,000 votes on election night
Thu 3 Dec 2026	Writ returned and elected members declared, subject to recounts	Formal start of the period for forming a government
By Thu 14 Jan 2027	Parliament must meet, six weeks after the writ is returned	The latest date for Parliament to sit; in 2023 the coalition was announced about six weeks after election day
1 Apr 2027	Remaining Health and Safety at Work Amendment Act 2026 provisions start	Already law; Holland Beckett reports Labour intends to repeal it and NZ First to review parts of it
July 2028	Proposed start of National and Labour KiwiSaver changes	Campaign pledges only, not law
6 Aug 2028	Employment Leave Act 2026 replaces the Holidays Act 2003	Already law; applies whichever government forms

Sources: Wikipedia, 2026 New Zealand general election (timetable); B2B News (8 Nov 2026) for the 14 January date and recount window; Employment New Zealand and MBIE for the Employment Leave Act; Holland Beckett (Oct 2026); APEX (9 Oct 2026); Wikipedia, 54th New Zealand Parliament for the 2023 timeline. The 14 January date matches six weeks after 3 December. General information, not legal advice.

The outgoing government stays in place under caretaker conventions, which means significant decisions on tax, immigration and workplace reform are held where possible. In 2023 the coalition was announced on 24 November, about six weeks after election day, and some commentators say this year's talks could run into summer. Even once a government forms, new law needs a bill and select committee time. Lane Neave advises employers to plan for current law to remain unchanged through early 2027, and notes that the Employment Relations Amendment Act took about eight months from first reading to become law.

What did the parties propose that could affect hiring costs?

Mostly changes that start after 2027, with the minimum wage and visa settings the nearest-term exceptions. Table 3 summarises the positions reported before the vote.

Table 3: Campaign positions reported before the vote that could affect hiring costs
Topic	Positions reported by party	Status today
Adult minimum wage	ACT: freeze for three years, and a training wage at 60% of the minimum for under-20s in their first 12 months. NZ First: rises of at least inflation every year of the next term. No position found for the other parties in the sources we read	NZ$23.95 an hour since 1 April 2026
KiwiSaver	National: compulsory for all workers from July 2028, with 6% employer and 6% employee contributions by 2032. Labour: compulsory employer contributions from July 2028, rising to 6% by 2032. NZ First: employer and employee contributions rising to 8%, then 10%, no dates. Opportunity: a compulsory second scheme reaching 12% in total after eight years	Employer contribution is 3.5%
Pay equity	Labour and Greens: restore the former pay equity regime; Labour says within its first 100 days	Equal Pay Amendment Act 2025 in force, which raised the threshold for claims
Employment relations law	No party commitment to repeal the 2026 Act found in the sources. Lane Neave forecasts continuity under a National-led government and a move back towards stronger protections under a Labour-led one	Employment Relations Amendment Act 2026 in force since 21 February 2026
Immigration and work visas	National: no formal policy found as of late September. NZ First: end the AEWV for a shortage-led Skilled Work Visa. ACT: a $6 daily surcharge on temporary work visa holders and AEWV occupation categories that expire each year. Labour: double the time to permanent residence and allow a change of employer after three months. Greens: end single-employer work visas	AEWV in force
Parental leave and annual leave	National: paid parental leave from 26 to 30 weeks. Greens: five weeks of annual leave	Current law applies

Sources: APEX 2026 election policy summaries (a union, as of 9 Oct 2026); Waatea News (11 Oct 2026); interest.co.nz (11 Oct 2026); Noth and Co and Living in NZ (immigration advisers, Sept 2026, possibly stale); Lane Neave (9 Jul 2026); Anderson Law (28 Aug 2026); Employment New Zealand (9 Mar 2026) for the minimum wage. These are campaign pledges reported by secondary sources, not checked against party manifestos, and none is law. Coalition agreements would decide what proceeds.

Three points stand out. On the minimum wage, ACT and NZ First both sit in the National-led bloc but propose opposite directions, so the coalition agreement would decide. On KiwiSaver, National and Labour both propose employer contributions of 6% by 2032, starting in July 2028. On a NZ$55,000 salary that is about NZ$1,375 a year more than today's 3.5% rate, and NZ First's 10% would be about NZ$3,575 more. Immigration pledges mostly affect the cost of hiring migrants already in New Zealand, and none had been legislated when we checked.

The sources we read show no commitment from any party to repeal the Employment Relations Amendment Act 2026. Holland Beckett reports that Labour intends to repeal the Health and Safety at Work Amendment Act 2026 and that NZ First would review parts of it, though it gives no source for either.

What does the labour market look like going into 2027?

Soft, which gives employers more choice but little certainty. Unemployment was 5.7% in the September quarter, with 174,000 people unemployed, and underutilisation stayed at 13.8%. NZIER's September survey found firms reported more difficulty hiring skilled workers, and Infometrics says about three times as many people apply for each advertised job as in 2019, according to Seek data.

Uncertainty is also holding some employers back. A MYOB survey of 502 small business owners, run in August and September, found 41% said election uncertainty was hurting their confidence against 16% saying it was lifting it, and a third were cutting spending. That cuts both ways: a role left empty costs work, but a rushed fixed-cost hire is harder to unwind. For admin and support roles the case for offshoring has been affordability, not scarcity.

Would any of this apply to an offshore team?

Mostly not directly. KiwiSaver, pay equity and the minimum wage are New Zealand schemes built around people working here. Offshore professionals are typically employed under the law of the country where they work, often through an Employer of Record or Contractor of Record, so New Zealand policy changes do not usually reach them. Philippine and South African rules apply instead, including the 13th month pay in the Philippines.

The exceptions are indirect. Contractor classification rules can affect how a New Zealand business structures an engagement, and the five-part gateway test has applied since 21 February 2026, so have an employment lawyer check your agreements. New Zealand visa and wage changes also move the comparison between a local hire, a migrant hire and an offshore one, which is why they matter even if they never touch your offshore team.

What should you do before the final result?

Decide on business need, not the ballot box. If a role is already costing you work, hire now under current law and write review points into the contract. If you are choosing between local, migrant and offshore, price each one with a range for KiwiSaver and the minimum wage, and plan for the Employment Leave Act in 2028. After 27 November, watch for coalition agreements and bill introductions, because that is where notice of change appears. Ask any provider who tracks Philippine and South African changes and who pays for them, and ask us the same.

The bottom line for New Zealand employers

The result changes no law today, the largest cost proposals start in 2028, and the picture may stay unsettled until the new year. With offices in Auckland, Hawke's Bay, Sydney, Cebu, Manila and Cape Town, we have placed talent with 750+ Australian and New Zealand businesses, but we cannot see the coalition talks, so hire on need, keep contracts flexible and re-check the numbers after 27 November.

Frequently asked questions

Does New Zealand have a new government after the 2026 election?

Not yet. On the preliminary count National, ACT and NZ First hold 67 of 131 seats, one more than the 66 needed, with about 399,000 special votes still to be counted. The official result is due on 27 November, and the outgoing government continues under caretaker conventions until a new one is formed.

When will we know who will govern New Zealand?

Official results are due on 27 November and the writ is returned on 3 December. Parliament must meet by 14 January 2027. In 2023 the coalition was announced on 24 November, about six weeks after election day, and some commentators say this year's talks could run into summer.

Does employment law change now that the election has happened?

No. Current law applies until Parliament passes new legislation, which needs a bill and select committee time. Lane Neave advises employers to plan for current law to remain unchanged through early 2027, and the Employment Relations Amendment Act took about eight months from first reading to become law.

Will the minimum wage or KiwiSaver change in 2027?

The adult minimum wage has been NZ$23.95 an hour since 1 April 2026, ACT proposes a three-year freeze and NZ First annual rises of at least inflation. National and Labour propose employer KiwiSaver contributions of 6% by 2032, starting in July 2028. These are campaign pledges, not law, and a coalition agreement would decide what proceeds.

Does the election result affect offshore staff in the Philippines or South Africa?

Mostly not directly. KiwiSaver, pay equity and the minimum wage are New Zealand schemes built around people working here, and offshore professionals are typically employed under the law of the country where they work. The indirect effects are contractor classification under the gateway test in force since 21 February 2026 and changes to local and migrant hiring costs.

About the author

Matt (Matthew Lyne) is Country Manager - New Zealand at Pear Tree, a direct offshore talent placement company helping Kiwi businesses hire world-class Filipino and South African professionals, without the agency markup. Based in New Zealand, he works with New Zealand SMEs to scale their teams cost-effectively through Pear Tree's transparent, direct-hire model. With offices in Auckland, Hawke's Bay, Cebu, Manila, Cape Town and Sydney, Pear Tree has placed talent with 750+ companies and maintains a 90% retention rate.