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Hipkins rules out next-day leadership vote while election remains unsettled

In NZ Herald's Wellington press conference, Labour's leader defends his campaign and keeps open the possibility of forming a government.

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nzherald.co.nz Story of November 9, 2026Trari Newsroom

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NZ Herald Live: Chris Hipkins speaks to the media

Things we can learn from the video

Press to jump

2:26Hipkins rules out a leadership vote the following day, saying party rules provide for the process within three months.
4:22He favours waiting for the completed count before discussing changes to electoral rules governing overhang seats.
7:03He links concern about low turnout partly to changes preventing election-day enrolment and voting.
17:09Hipkins defends Labour's campaign and says special votes could still leave it with a role in forming government.
23:08He rejects a shared prime ministership and outlines plans to meet incoming and departing MPs.

Chris Hipkins has a direct answer when asked whether Labour will vote on his leadership the following day: "No."

Speaking at a Wellington press conference carried by NZ Herald, he says the party's rules provide for that process within three months, while the election itself remains unresolved. "The election's not over yet. We could be forming a government before Christmas."

His remarks add Labour's position to the post-election discussions already under way among potential governing partners. Hipkins says there are about 18 days until the official result, raises the possibility of recount applications in close electorates and defends Labour's campaign rather than treating the preliminary count as a settled verdict.

The questions also turn to Parliament's overhang, the extra seats that can arise when a party wins more electorates than its party vote would otherwise entitle it to. Hipkins suggests leaving discussion of future rule changes until counting is complete. He congratulates Te Pāti Māori on winning five Māori electorates.

On turnout, his tone is more concerned. He describes it as the second-lowest recorded and attributes part of the problem to enrolment-law changes preventing people from enrolling and voting on election day.

Hipkins describes a congratulatory phone call with Green leader Chlöe Swarbrick as warm and constructive, but declines to discuss private coalition meetings. Asked about a shared prime ministership, he rejects the suggestion outright.