New Zealand Election
Probably on Saturday the 7th of November 2026 (104 days away)
Pita’s perspective…
1. First New Zealand general election:
1st October 1853 173 years ago
Number of MPs: 37
Total registered electors: 5,849
2. Is enrolment to vote compulsory?:
Yes
3. How many votes cast in the 2023 election:
2,851,211
4. What percentage of people didn’t vote in 2023:
829,396 22.49%
5. Total people enrolled in 2023 election:
3,688,292
6. Electorates:
North Island 48 75.0%
South Island 16 25.0%
64 100.0%
7. Percentage of votes in 2023 election:
77.5%
Earlier elections often more than 80.0%
8. New Zealand population at 30 March 2026:
5,361,300
9. Youngest MP:
21 years old Hana-Rewhiti
Oldest MP: 78 years old Winston Peters
10. MP salary (back bencher) as from 1 July 2026:
$181,200
11. Next election will be number:
55
12. Average age of current New Zealand MP:
49 years and one month
13. Average time of current MPs in office:
Just over 6 years.
14. Number of Māori MPs:
33 (24.80%)
15. Number of women MPs:
55 (44.70%)
16. General electorate seats:
65 (52.85%)
List seats: 51 (41.46%)
Māori seats: 7 (5.69%)
Total seats: 123 (100.00%)
17. Present number of Cabinet members
National:
In cabinet: 14
Outside cabinet: 5Act Party:
In cabinet: 3
Outside cabinet:2NZ First
In cabinet: 3
Outside cabinet: 1
18. Salary of New Zealand Prime Minister:
$520,500 as from 1 July 2026
2.87 times Back Bencher MP salary
6.39 times the New Zealand average salary
19. Split of votes in 2023 election:
| Total Votes |
Percentage of Votes
|
Electorate Seats
|
List Seats | Total Seats | Percentage of Seats | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| National party | 1,085,851 | 38.08% | 43 | 5 | 48 | 39.03% |
| Labour party | 767,540 | 26.92% | 17 | 17 | 34 | 27.64% |
| Green party | 330,907 | 11.61% | 3 | 12 | 15 | 12.20% |
| ACT party | 246,473 | 8.64% | 2 | 9 | 11 | 8.94% |
| NZ First party | 173,553 | 6.09% | - | 8 | 8 | 6.50% |
| Te Pāti Māori party | 87,844 | 3.08% | 7 | - | 7 | 5.69% |
| Other parties | 159,043 | 5.58% | ||||
| TOTALS | 2,851,211 | 100.00% | 72 | 51 | 123 | 100% |
20. Coalition as at the present time (based on 2023 election)
21. What is looking like the key issue for the coming New Zealand 2026 election?
Almost certainly the current cost of living crisis.
A few thoughts, comments and suggestions in this regard
1. The estimated mean overall New Zealand household gross income for the 2026 year is $147,909
$ 2,844 per week
$12,325 per month
2. How many households are there in New Zealand in the 2026 year: 2,064,700.
3. What percentage of New Zealand households are in this cost-of-living crisis?
Hard to know as 30% of homeowners presently have no debt, but I feel perhaps 65% of New Zealand households are involved; say 1,340,000 households.
4. The average household debt of these 1,340,000 households again is hard to know because it will be all over the place. I suggest an average of $325,000.
5. The whole house ownership and home renting is complicated. Why?
2,117,500 total houses
781,500 houses are owned with a mortgage
663,000 households are renting, but the owners will have a mortgage
620,000 households have no debt.
53,000 houses don’t show up anywhere (holiday homes etc)
6. The overall average New Zealand house rent for the 2026 year is currently at just on $600 per week ($31,200 per year).
7. Based on a mortgage of $325,000 and a 30-year term at 5% on a 1-year fixed rate, what does that add up to over a year:
$20,940 (this includes some loan principal repayment). The homeowner though, also has rates, insurance, and repairs and maintenance which presently come out at around 1.1% of the house value of say $850,000; that is $9,500 a year.
8. What is interesting is that the true annual cost of owning or renting over the period a couple are working, say 40 years, is similar
Renting $31,200 per year
Ownership including interest, principal, rates, insurance, repairs and maintenance $30,440 per year
This comparison alters enormously at the point of retirement – say 65 to 70 years of age. The owner’s costs with the mortgage reduce rapidly to say $9,500 per year while the rent costs remain the same at $31,200 per year.
9. How often will the homeowner’s future rates and insurance increase?
At 6% a year, the rates and insurance costs will double every 12 years.
10. Let's have a look at the current annual income and expense profile for this group of 1,340,000 households
| Gross household income | $147,909 | |
| Less expenses: | ||
| Income tax (PAYE) | $28,900 | |
| ACC earner levies | $2,590 | |
| Two cars (18,000 kilometres per annum) | $22,500 | |
| Life assurance | $1,200 | |
| Electricity | $4,500 | |
| Phones (2) | $2,500 | |
| Owning or renting | $30,800 | |
| Holiday | $2,000 | |
| School expenses | $2,000 | |
| Allowance for unforeseen | $600 | |
| Personal drawings ($4,166 per month) | $50,000 | $147,950 |
| Estimated annual tax paid surplus | $319 |
11. Comments on the income and expense profile
a. It is far too tight - needs a further gross income of at least $8,000, which after tax would improve their overall cash flow by $5,600.
b. Some in this 1,340,000 group will have 20 years or more in front of them, which really means they will be living pay day to pay day.
c. What are the options here:
i. Increase the gross income
ii. Reduce the expense
From an Accountant’s perspective, I would feel the split is:
Fixed costs: $144,390 (97.83%)
Variable costs: $3,200 (17%)
Total: $147,590 (100.00%)
This sort of split makes any change very difficult.
d. At the present time, the estimated total eligible number of New Zealand voters in the 2026 election is: 4,051,640.
If this is, say, 85% of the total vote, then this represents 3,443,894 voters
If our group of 1,340,000 households represent say 2 per household, that is 2,680,000 voters.
Say only 85% of our group vote, then our group represents 2,278,000 voters, which is 66% of the total of 3,443,894
e. In other words, this 1,340,000 group look as though they will control 66% of the total votes counted. Consequently, it is this group that our politicians should really be focusing on.
f. How have other countries coped with this situation?
A number have simply increased their debt, with countries like France, UK, Italy and Greece not able to borrow any more. Their interest payments tend to reduce what they can spend on education, health, and other more important expenses.
g. What can I see that will improve this income and expense profile
i. Continue working as long as possible
ii. Take all the overtime they can get
iii. Accept that a student loan will spread the education costs
iv. An early partial inheritance form Mum and Dad would be gold
v. Somehow reduce to just one car
vi. Defer the annual holiday
vii. Improve the vegetable garden
viii. None of these points will be very appealing, with the bottom line being that many in this 1,340,000 group are going to be locked in for a long time on the face of it.
h. What could government do to help, other than just words
i. Make various minor contributions re health and education costs.
ii. The 1,340,000 group need assistance to improve their focus on the longer view.
iii. This group is sick of long-term promises.
iv. The gross New Zealand average household income for the year ended 30 June 2025, was $139,111.
The 2026 estimated figure of $147,909 is an increase of $8,798, or 6.32%.
Maybe this is the best government answer, as hopefully this group's expenses of $147,909 will not increase by 6.32%.
v. Deep down people (voters) prefer honesty. With that honesty making it clear that:
o The present cost of living crisis is in concrete for a large number of New Zealand households.
o The government itself is still short of around $10 to $12 billion of fiscal income (taxes).
o Agriculture and tourism are both going well.
o New Zealand is running a two-speed economy, in that 65% are struggling and 35% are coping.
o A coalition government is not really helping.
o More growth is required, but almost every country in the world presently has this problem.
o The government is limited as to what they can do in the immediate future for the 1,340,000-household
group. Long term honesty is always the best policy.
o Maybe another 3-year term for the present government is worth considering, but this is more based on hope than history.
DISCLAIMER
Any views or opinions expressed in this article are those of Pita Alexander only and do not reflect the views of any other person or organisation.
The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be financial advice.
Any errors or omissions are the author’s own.