First Parliament day today, RNZ Poll; NZ First Surges to Third Place as 2026 Election Date is Set for November 7

By Lions Roar International Desk

WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND (Tuesday, January 27, 2026) — New Zealand First has shaken the political landscape in the first major poll of 2026, climbing into third place with its strongest result in over eight years. The surge comes as Prime Minister Christopher Luxon officially announced that the 2026 General Election will be held on November 7.

The RNZ-Reid Research poll, released today, suggests that while Labour remains the most popular individual party, the current right-leaning coalition would still hold a narrow majority of 61 seats if an election were held tomorrow.

📈 The Winston Peters Factor

Winston Peters continues to defy political gravity, with his party’s rise mirrored by his own personal popularity.

Preferred PM: Peters has leaped up the rankings, significantly closing the gap on Christopher Luxon and Chris Hipkins.
Coalition Strength: Despite a drop for Te Pāti Māori (now at 3%), the growth of NZ First provides a lifeline for the governing coalition.
The “Populist” Label: Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson dismissed the result, accusing Peters of “appealing to the worst of humanity” and changing his mind based on current trends.

⚔️ Hipkins Comes Out Swinging

Labour leader Chris Hipkins used his first major interview of the year to launch a blistering attack on the government’s performance.

“Out of Touch”: Hipkins argued the economy is 1% smaller than when the government took office, citing 60% increases in bread prices and rising mortgage rates.
International Reputation: He labeled the government’s consideration of joining Donald Trump’s “Board of Peace” an “absolute disgrace,” claiming New Zealand is losing its principled, independent voice on the world stage.
“Embarrassing”: Hipkins specifically targeted the Deputy Prime Minister, calling Winston Peters’ recent actions “embarrassing” for the country.

⛰️ Disaster Response and Inquiry

Parliament’s first session of 2026 opened with a focus on the tragic Mount Maunganui landslide that has left nine people dead and one still missing.

Independent Inquiry: PM Luxon confirmed a “strong case” for an independent government inquiry into the landslide, noting potential conflicts of interest if the Tauranga City Council (which owns the campground) led the probe.
Financial Aid: The government has allocated $1.2 million for mayoral relief funds and $1 million specifically for marae, which Luxon praised for their “exceptional” community support.
Resilience Debate: Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi criticized the funding as insufficient, stating that “a million dollars is not enough” for marae that are consistently the first to respond but the last to be resourced.

📊 RNZ-Reid Research Poll: Key Stats

Category	Current Status
NZ First Rank	3rd Place (Best result in 8+ years)
Projected Seats	Coalition Government: 61 Seats (Narrow Majority)
Te Pāti Māori	3% (Down, but co-leaders remain confident)
Election Date	Saturday, November 7, 2026

⚡ Quick Updates from the House

Climate Skepticism: NZ First’s Shane Jones brushed off links between the recent storms and climate change, stating he has no interest in “taxing cows as they belch.”
Trade: Trade Minister Todd McClay confirmed no changes will be made to the India Free Trade Agreement, despite Labour’s calls for more information on migrant safeguards.
RMA Reforms: Christopher Luxon reiterated his “Roads of National Significance” mission, claiming RMA reforms are the key to fixing the basics.