Election 2026

David Seymour says there's a need for a smaller, more efficient government.

The Act Party leader told Mike Hosking that negotiations need to focus on avoiding rising bond market costs and increased interest on debt.

He says there must be fewer ministers and departments, and less spent on welfare.

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New Zealand First says it's disappointed by the voter turnout. 

The Electoral Commission says estimated provisional turnout is 74.6%, which may change with special votes. 

Deputy leader Shane Jones told Mike Hosking he's not sure if its complacency,  but it might be worth everyone having a deeper conversation about it. 

He says as far as he knows there's never been a strong Government agenda to get people to get out and vote. 

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The wait is on to see what New Zealand's next government will look like. 

Preliminary results favour the National Coalition, but that could change when special votes are counted. 

Auckland Business Chamber CEO Simon Bridges says, "I'd like to see, ACT, New Zealand First and National really to come together on that, put aside a bit of politics, and do what the country needs"

He says top priority for the coalition should be economic reform. 

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As predicted last week the strategy Luxon loathes is what got him back to power. 

Thank you overhang. 

His strategy of ruling Opportunity out didn't keep them out. 

But none of that really matters. The ends always justify the means. Here we are. 

At worst Labour's path to power is a like a winter trek up Mt Everest. 

National's is a walk in the park. 

For the left, the specials at best force Opportunity into play. But most likely to a hung parliament. 

So, the most likely outcome here is either the right alone. Or the right with Opportunity. 

And listen to how Erica Stanford described this to me on election night.

Basically, pick up the phone, or you'll get knifed. 

And Quilae Wong.

You see, even if everything goes Labour's way, they'd need Quilae.

And the Te Pati Māori, Greens, Labour and Opportunity government would skate on thin ice with a slim margin and no room for error. 

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FIRST WITH YESTERDAY'S NEWS (highlights from the weekend on Newstalk ZB) Collectively Walking Off In a Huff/Aren't Fireworks Just So Fantastic?/Yet Another Assistant/Pretty Choppery

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Former Labour Leader Phil Goff and Former National Minister Maurice Williamson join Tim Beveridge to review the 2026 Election. 

The guys discuss what the staggeringly low party vote for both National and Labour says about public opinion. 

Opportunity looks like it could be kingmaker, but would they work with NZ First after comments made by Michael Laws? 

And several high-ranking National Party ministers have lost their seats, how will this effect coalition negotiations? 

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One former National Party head is confident the coalition will secure a second term, despite the race being tight.

Preliminary results give National, ACT and New Zealand First 67 seats, while Labour, the Greens and Te Pati Māori won 57 seats.

Simon Bridges says the most likely outcome from all this is the continuation of the current Government, but the special votes are yet to be counted.

"Even if they muck things around a bit, I still think - yeah, continuation of the current Government."

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Former broadcaster and now ACT MP Paul Henry believes there's no regrets, as a move to Wellington looks likely.

ACT is currently sitting on 10.92 percent, giving it 13 seats based on provisional results - with Henry 4th on the party list.

He says he'll be doing a great disservice if he changes his mind now.

"There's no room for second thoughts, or I would have just completely wasted my time, wouldn't I? There's a huge job to be done." 

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Former United Future leader Peter Dunne believes the National, ACT and New Zealand First partners will tolerate Opportunity if needed.

Dunne expects parties will hold informal talks in coming weeks - while special votes are counted, for a final result.

But he recommends the newcomers avoid formal arrangements.

Dunne says Opportunity could stay on the cross-benches, and offer a confidence and supply agreement.

"Their big task is not to reform the world at the moment, their big task is to ensure their political survival in three years time."

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In the morning after the election, Trish Sherson from Sherson Willis PR and Child Fund CEO Josie Pagani recapped what we know so far, given the narrow election race.

Do we consider this a win for the right bloc, or is it too early to tell? 

Does National need to reach out to Opportunity to form a new Government, or is it just an insurance policy? 

Do we see Chris Luxon hanging on to the National leadership role, regardless of how this all shakes out?

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