National, ACT and NZ First at odds over vote-splitting campaign
New Zealand's coalition partners, ACT and NZ First, have endorsed a campaign encouraging vote-splitting, drawing criticism from National leader Christopher Luxon. The strategy aims to maximize right-leaning representation in parliament.
Why it matters
Internal coalition friction regarding electoral strategy could impact the stability and outcome of the upcoming national election.
<p>National leader Christopher Luxon has expressed his disappointment that his coalition partners signed off on an advertisement encouraging vote-splitting.</p> <p><b>By Giles Dexter of </b><a href="https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/politics_election-2026/2264572/national-act-and-nz-first-at-odds-over-vote-splitting-campaign" target="_blank"><b>RNZ</b></a></p> <p>One of those partners - ACT leader David Seymour - thinks Luxon should look at the wider goal of keeping Labour out of power.</p> <p>The other - NZ First leader Winston Peters - thinks Luxon has made a terrible mistake and says voting for National is "wasting your vote".</p> <p>ACT and NZ First have given their blessing to a newspaper advertisement - placed by Reality Check Radio, but written by former National and ACT leader Don Brash - which encourages right-leaning voters not to give National their party vote, if they want to "keep the left out of government".</p> <p>The intention is for people to split their vote and force an overhang, with National winning as many electorates as it can, but ACT and…
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