New Zealand Parliament dissolved ahead of tight November election

New Zealand’s Parliament was dissolved on Thursday, marking the official start of campaigning for next month’s national election, which is shaping up to be a tight contest between the ruling centre-right coalition and a Labour-led left bloc.

Parliament held its final sitting on 23 September ahead of the vote on 7 November, with parties focusing on the cost of living, economic management and public services.

A widely watched 1News-Verian poll released this week showed a left-leaning coalition likely led by Labour could potentially form a government-winning 65 seats, against 59 for the incumbent National, ACT and New Zealand First bloc.

New Zealand’s German-style mixed-member proportional electoral system has made coalition governments the norm since it was introduced three decades ago, giving minor parties an outsized role in determining who governs.

The decade-old centrist Opportunity Party could emerge as kingmaker at this election, according to some polls.

Parliament normally has 120 seats, though extra seats can be added when a party wins more electorate seats than its share of the nationwide party vote would otherwise entitle it to.

Overseas voting begins on 21 October, with advance voting opening on 26 October.