New Zealand to hold general election on 7 November

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced that general elections in New Zealand will be held on November 7.

Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Luxon said New Zealanders needed to decide “who is best placed to provide a stable and strong government in a very volatile and uncertain world”.

Luxon, a former airline executive and New Zealand’s first elected leader since the hugely popular Jacinda Ardern, has enjoyed a rapid political rise: becoming an MP in 2020, National Party leader a year later, and prime minister in 2023.

However, while he was in power, his popularity decreased due to the stagnation of the New Zealand economy.

New Zealanders face high costs of living, housing affordability issues and an unemployment rate of over 5%.

The ruling conservative coalition, comprising Luxon’s National Party and smaller minority parties New Zealand First and ACT, has governed the country since 2023.

Polls show a tight race between the National-led coalition and the Labor-led coalition, with Luxon and his National Party relying on promises of economic recovery to be brought back to power.

“When we first came on board we knew it would be difficult to turn things around, but over the last two years National has been working hard to get the basics right,” Luxon said on Wednesday.

Now the country is “turning in the right direction”, he said, adding that his party is “focused on building the future”.

The deadline for the new generation elections is December 19.