A nail-biting finish is on the cards with neither major party expected to get a majority and a so-called ‘teal’ candidate likely to play the kingmaker. width=device-width, initial-scale=1, shrink-to-fit=no" name="viewport"/>New Zealand election 2026: Polls close in New Zealand’s election of the century. Polling places have closed in New Zealand after a tense election campaign. The incumbent conservative National party, led by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, is seeking a second term against.