New Zealand’s general election, scheduled for Saturday, has the latest Post‑Freshwater Strategy poll suggesting a modest swing in favour of the opposition Labour Party, rising 2 percentage points to hold 30.7% of the vote, while the governing National Party is down 1.2 points to 26.4%, Reuters reported on Friday. The poll, conducted with Infrastructure New Zealand, indicates no clear winner as the race remains too close to call.
According to the same poll, New Zealand First occupies 12% of the electorate’s support, ACT holds 9.8%, and Te Pati Māori sits at 2%. The Opportunity Party’s contribution of 5.1% places it just above the threshold required for parliamentary representation, positioning it potentially as a kingmaker if it secures seats.
Advance voting began on October 26 and, as of the end of Wednesday, the New Zealand Electoral Commission recorded 1.44 million votes cast, according to Reuters. The election’s conduct will see ballots closed by 7 p.m. (0600 GMT) on Saturday, with results expected to be released shortly thereafter.
While the polling data show a slight shift favouring Labour, the margins between the top parties remain narrow, leaving outcomes uncertain until the vote tally is finalized. Reuters provided the key data points, including the poll methodology and the current voter turnout figures.
