New Zealand vote still too close to call as results trickle in

Wellington The outcome of New Zealand's election remained too close to call as early results began to roll in on Saturday (November 7, 2026), with none of the parties expected to secure a majority after a campaign dominated by worries over rising costs of living and the economy. Kiwis are struggling to make ends meet — the price of basic goods remains stubbornly high, and unemployment is at its highest in more than a decade. The war in West Asia and the subsequent global fuel shock have been widely blamed for the hit to New Zealand's trade-dependent economy.