2020 New Zealand general election

The 2014 electoral boundaries showing electorates out of tolerance following the 2018 census and Māori electoral option. Orange electorates were more than 5% above quota and therefore had to drop population. Blue electorates were more than 5% below quota and therefore had to add population.

Electorate boundaries for the next election are required to be redrawn after each New Zealand census.[35] The most recent census was held in 2018.

By law, the number of South Island general electorates is fixed at 16,[36][37] with the number of North Island general electorates and Māori electorates increasing or decreasing in proportion to the population. Each electorate must have the same population, with a tolerance of plus or minus five percent.[37] For the 2014 and 2017 elections, there were 48 North Island general electorates and 7 Māori electorates, which, along with the 16 South Island electorates, gives a nationwide total of 71 electorates.[38]

On 23 September 2019, Statistics New Zealand announced that population growth necessitated one additional North Island general electorate,[39] bringing the total number of North Island general electorates to 49 and the overall number of electorates to 72 (reducing the number of list seats available by one).[40] Statistics New Zealand also announced that 11 North Island, three South Island, and two Māori electorates were above 5% tolerance, while five South Island electorates and one Māori electorate were below 5% tolerance.[41]

The Representation Commission undertook a review of electoral boundaries. This review was commenced in October 2019 and was completed in April 2020.[42] The boundaries will apply in the 2020 general election, and the subsequent general election. In total, 36 electorates remained unchanged, 35 electorates were modified, and one new electorate created. The most significant boundary changes occurred in the Auckland, Waikato, central Canterbury, and Otago regions, with smaller changes in the Northland and Tasman regions.[43]

The new electorate was created in South Auckland and named Takanini. Taking area from the Hunua, Manurewa, and Papakura electorates, Takanini is predicted to be a National-tilting to marginal electorate.[44] Takanini's creation cascaded existing electorates north through Auckland and south through Waikato. Significant changes to the north include Manukau East taking Sylvia Park and Panmure from Maungakiekie, with the electorate renamed Panmure-Ōtāhuhu; New Lynn taking the Waitakere Ranges from Helensville; Helensville taking Wellsford, Warkworth and the Kowhai Coast from Rodney and Northland, with the electorate renamed Kaipara ki Mahurangi; and Rodney taking Dairy Flat from Helensville and being renamed Whangaparāoa. To the south, Papakura took the entire Hunua electorate east of State Highway 1, in exchange for Hunua taking the northern part of the Waikato electorate as far south as, and including, Te Kauwhata. Hunua subsequently returned to its pre-2008 name, Port Waikato. Waikato took Te Aroha and the remainder of the Matamata-Piako District area from Coromandel, allowing Coromandel to take Ōmokoroa from Bay of Plenty.[45]

In the South Island, Selwyn lost the Rakaia area to Rangitata, Mcleans Island and Christchurch Airport to Ilam, and Hornby South to Wigram. Ilam gained Avonhead from Wigram, allowing Wigram to take Aidanfield from Port Hills, which in turn allowed Port Hills to take the entire Banks Peninsula from Selwyn. Port Hills subsequently returned to its pre-2008 name of Banks Peninsula. Clutha-Southland lost the Tuatapere-Te Waewae area to Invercargill and Balclutha, Milton and the lower Clutha Valley to Dunedin South, while gaining Alexandra, Clyde and the Clutha Valley upstream of Beaumont from Waitaki. Waitaki in turn took the Palmerston area from Dunedin North, allowing Dunedin North to take the Otago Peninsula from Dunedin South. The Otago-Southland boundary changes saw three electorates change names: Clutha-Southland to Southland, Dunedin North to Dunedin, and Dunedin South to Taieri. In the Tasman region, the town of Brightwater moved from Nelson to West Coast-Tasman to bring the latter electorate within quota.[45]

Two electorates had name changes to correct their spelling. Rimutaka was renamed Remutaka in line with its namesake, the Remutaka Range, which was renamed in 2017 as part of a Treaty of Waitangi settlement. The Whangārei electorate was renamed by adding a macron to the second "a".[45]

The original date of 19 September was announced before the COVID-19 pandemic had reached New Zealand. In April 2020, the National Party doubted that the public would be ready for an election in September, and New Zealand First leader Winston Peters called for the election to be delayed to 21 November.[59][60] In May 2020, Ardern said she did not intend to change the date of the election and Chief Electoral Officer Alicia Wright said that the Electoral Commission was working to the dates originally set by the Prime Minister.[61]

After new cases of community transmission in Auckland were reported on 11 August 2020, with the COVID-19 alert level being raised to level 3 in the Auckland region and level 2 elsewhere, there were growing calls to delay the dissolution of Parliament and the election.[62] The following day, Collins called for the election to be delayed until at least after November with the aim of allowing parties more time to campaign,[63] and all major political parties suspended their campaigns.[64] Delaying the dissolution of parliament beyond 12 October 2020, and therefore the election date beyond 28 November 2020, would require a legislative amendment. As the length of the parliamentary term is entrenched, such an amendment would require a 75% supermajority to pass.[65]

On 12 August 2020, Prime Minister Ardern delayed the dissolution of Parliament until 17 August and was seeking advice from the Electoral Commission regarding the election timeline. On 17 August, Ardern announced that the general election would be pushed back to 17 October while the dissolution of Parliament would be delayed until 6 September.[2][54]

The Chief Electoral Officer has powers under the Electoral Act to delay polling at some or all polling places for up to three days due to unforeseen circumstances. This can be extended for up to seven days at a time following consultation with the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition.[66]

Some incumbents who had previously stood in an electorate (but may have been returned as list representatives) stood as list-only candidates in the 2020 election.

Election hoardings lining the Dunedin Northern Motorway, August 2020

During the regulated period prior to election day, parties and candidates have limits on how much they may spend on election campaigning. The limits are updated every year to reflect inflation. It is illegal in New Zealand to campaign on election day itself, or within 10 metres of an advance polling booth.[97]

For the 2020 general election, the regulated period ran from 18 August to 16 October 2020. Every registered party contending the party vote was permitted to spend $1,199,000 plus $28,200 per electorate candidate on campaigning during the regulated period, excluding radio and television campaigning (broadcasting funding is allocated separately). For example, a registered party with candidates in all 72 electorates was permitted to spend $3,229,400 on campaigning for the party vote. Electorate candidates were permitted to spend $28,200 each on campaigning for the electorate vote.[98]

Registered parties are allocated a separate broadcasting budget for radio and television campaigning. Only money from the broadcasting allocation can be used to purchase airtime; production costs can come from the general election expenses budget. The Electoral Commission determines how much broadcasting funding each party gets, set out by part 6 of the Broadcasting Act 1989. The allocation is based a number of factors including the number of seats in the current Parliament, results of the previous general election and any by-elections since, and support in opinion polls.[99]

A joint statement was released on 9 June 2020 by the Social Credit Party, Māori Party, New Conservative Party, New Zealand Outdoors Party, and Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party in which they condemn the broadcasting allocations and call for reform.[100]

An initial broadcasting statement was released from the Electoral Commission on 29 May 2020, including parties that have not yet registered but intend to.[101] The broadcasting allocation was revised on 11 September 2020, redistributing funds from parties that failed to register in time for the election.[102] For comparison, the cost of a 30-second slot on TVNZ in October 2020 ranged from $250 in overnight slots up to $22,000 for slots during the 1 News at 6pm bulletin.[103][104]

Third-party promoters, such as trade unions and lobby groups, can campaign during the regulated period. The maximum expense limit for the election is $338,000 for those promoters registered with the Electoral Commission, and $13,600 for unregistered promoters.[98] As of 29 September 2020, the following third-party promoters were registered for the general election (i.e. excluding those solely registered for one or both of the referendums).[105]

After the announcement of 19 September as election date, parties started their campaigns.[106] Party campaigns throughout 2020 were heavily impacted by COVID-19, with parties unable to host events during alert levels 3 and 4.

The National Party initially chose Paula Bennett as its campaign manager. (All previous elections since 2005 had seen National with Steven Joyce as campaign manager.[106]) On 2 February 2020, Simon Bridges announced that National would not want to form a coalition with New Zealand First after the election should NZ First become kingmaker once again. Bridges stated: "I can't trust New Zealand First", adding that "A vote for NZ First is a vote for Labour and the Greens".[107] Bridges said that he would, however, be open to working with ACT.[108] NZ First leader Winston Peters criticised Bridges' decision, saying that "narrowing your options can be the worst strategic move you will ever make".[107]

Owing to the four-week lockdown in New Zealand from 23 March during the COVID-19 pandemic, National temporarily suspended their campaign on the same day.[109]

On 22 May 2020, following low poll results for National in the week prior, a National parliamentary caucus meeting replaced Simon Bridges and Paula Bennett with Todd Muller and Nikki Kaye as leader and deputy leader respectively. In his first speech as leader, Muller expressed his openness to working with Winston Peters and New Zealand First after the election.[110] In conjunction with a reshuffle of caucus responsibilities on 25 May, Muller announced that the party had replaced Bennett as campaign manager with Gerry Brownlee.[111] On 14 July 2020 Muller himself resigned as National Party leader, citing mental health issues.[112] An emergency party caucus meeting replaced him later that night with Collins, with Gerry Brownlee becoming the new deputy leader.[113]

After new cases of community transmission in Auckland were reported on 11 August, with the alert level being raised to level 3 in Auckland and level 2 elsewhere, National halted their campaigning for the duration of the lockdown.[62]

On 17 July, National announced they would spend $31 billion on transport projects over the coming decade and would abolish the Auckland regional fuel tax.[114] On 11 September, National announced that they would allow electric vehicles in bus lanes, make one third of the Government's light vehicle fleet electric by 2023, and aim to have 80,000 electric vehicles in use by 2023 (four times more than there currently were).[115] On 15 September, they announced a $30 million policy to improve children's dental care.[116] On 29 September, National announced they would double funding for the Serious Fraud Office to $25 million annually and rename it to the Serious Fraud and Anti-corruption Agency.[117]

Megan Woods was chosen as campaign manager.[106] On 29 January 2020, Ardern announced the New Zealand Upgrade Programme, a NZ$12 billion infrastructure improvement package.[118] After new cases of community transmission in Auckland were reported on 11 August, with the alert level being raised to level 3 in Auckland and level 2 elsewhere, Labour halted their campaigning for the duration of the lockdown.[62]

On 7 September, Ardern committed to making Matariki a public holiday from 2022 if Labour was re-elected.[119] On 9 September, Finance spokesperson Grant Robertson announced that Labour would reintroduce the top 39% tax bracket for income above $180,000, applying to 2% of people. He said the new rate would generate around $550 million a year in revenue, needed to pay off the debt incurred by the COVID-19 response plan.[120] On 10 September, Ardern announced Labour would aim to make electricity in New Zealand 100% renewable by 2030, five years before the previous target of 2035. This would be done by banning the building of new coal or gas power plants, boosting the solar sector, and speeding up the consent process for renewable energy projects.[121]

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters named the provincial growth fund in its current form as his first bottom line for any post-election coalition talks. Peters also outlined the party's immigration policy ahead of the election, saying: "The current immigration track must stop and only New Zealand First, with a stronger hand in 2020, can make this happen", and "a vote for New Zealand First will see the permanent residency qualification raised from two to five years". Peters also said the party wanted to lead a public discussion with voters about a "population policy", including defining acceptable population growth and the time for a migrant to obtain permanent residency.[122][123] At the campaign launch on 19 July 2020, Peters promised a cap of 15,000 highly skilled immigrants and recruiting 1,000 new police officers.[124] After new cases of community transmission in Auckland were reported on 11 August, with the alert level being raised to level 3 in Auckland and level 2 elsewhere, New Zealand First halted their campaigning.[62]

On 28 June 2020, the Green Party released a Poverty Action Plan, which included a guaranteed minimum income of $325 a week. Green co-leader Marama Davidson stated that "Our Guaranteed Minimum Income is about fairness. It's about ensuring those who have done well under our current system pay it forward and share that success with people who are struggling."[125][126] This was followed up by the launch of a Clean Energy Plan, to ensure a "just transition away from fossil fuels". The plan included a pledge to establish a Clean Energy Industry Training Plan and to end coal use in New Zealand by 2030.[127][128] The Green Party launched a 52-page "Think Ahead, Act Now" election platform on 25 July 2020. Green co-leader James Shaw described it as "a reference document that will guide our caucus and our ministers as we navigate the everyday choices that our Government will have to make."[129] After new cases of community transmission in Auckland were reported on 11 August, with the alert level being raised to level 3 in Auckland and level 2 elsewhere, the Green Party halted their campaigning for the duration of the lockdown.[62] On 15 September, Shaw announced that the Green Party would propose a bill that makes it mandatory for large companies to make annual disclosures about the impact of climate change on their businesses and declare strategies for mitigating these impacts.[130]

The Green Party campaigned for the electorate vote in the electorates of Auckland Central and Tāmaki Makaurau.[131][132]

ACT launched their party campaign on 12 July 2020. ACT party leader David Seymour criticised the government's COVID-19 response as "clearly, demonstrably unsustainable", and called for the open pursuing of "having the world's smartest border, not as a rhetorical device, but a practical reality." The party also unveiled a new employment insurance scheme, with 0.55% of income tax being paid to a ring-fenced insurance fund. If someone became unemployed, they would be able to claim 55% of their average weekly earnings over the year up to $60,000.[133][134] After new cases of community transmission in Auckland were reported on 11 August, with the alert level being raised to level 3 in Auckland and level 2 elsewhere, ACT cancelled its upcoming campaign events.[62]

The Māori Party launched their campaign on 20 June 2020 at the Hoani Waititi Marae, with a flagship "Whānau First" policy, ensuring that a quarter of government spending over the next two years is spent on projects led by Māori and involving Māori-led businesses. Māori Party co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer was quoted as saying that "Māori must be guaranteed resources for Māori recovery, we cannot go backwards to how we were living pre-COVID – that is not an option for our whānau, too many of whom are struggling just to survive".[135][136] Crushed in the last election due to voters in Māori electorates greatly choosing Labour over the Māori Party, co-leader John Tamihere made it clear they would not re-enter a coalition government with National like they did in previous terms of Parliament.[137] On 19 July 2020, the party released a climate change policy, involving an end to new offshore oil and gas permits, as well as withdrawing existing onshore and offshore permits with the goal of ending the oil and gas industry by 2030. The party would also ban new seabed mining permits and withdraw existing permits, as well as establish a $1 billion Pūngao Auaha for "Māori-owned community energy projects and solar panel and insulation instillations".[138][139] On 14 September, the party announced their major policies, including changing the official name of the country to Aotearoa by 2026, restoring the original Māori names of all towns and cities, requiring primary schools to incorporate Māori language into 25% and later 50% of the curriculum, and requiring all state-funded broadcasters to have a basic fluency level of Māori.[140]

The New Conservatives ruled out an alliance with both the Labour-led coalition and Billy Te Kahika Jr's New Zealand Public Party.[141][142] The party received a broadcasting allocation of $62,186 for the 2020 election.[143] The party made headlines during the campaign following repeated vandalism of their advertising in multiple cities,[144][145][146] for posting a meme comparing a New Conservative candidate to Nelson Mandela and Abraham Lincoln,[147] and when a candidate repeatedly and falsely claimed to be an ambassador for the Cancer Society charity.[148]

On 6 October 2020, party leader Leighton Baker mounted a legal challenge at the Auckland High Court to protest the party's exclusion from public broadcaster TVNZ's Minor Party debate scheduled for 8 October. To qualify for inclusion in the debate, parties not represented in Parliament must score at least 3 percent in the 1 News Colmar-Brunton Poll held during the last six months. The hearing was held on 7 October.[149][150] The High Court dismissed the New Conservatives' bid, ruling in favor of TVNZ.[151][152]

On 10 October 2020, it was reported that the New Conservatives' Instagram page had been hacked the previous day with pro-LGBT messages posted on their message feed. In addition, screenshots of the party's logo were shown in rainbow colours. The hack was condemned by party leader Baker and deputy party leader Ikilei, who accused their opponents of intolerance.[153][154] According to NZME journalist Ethan Griffiths, the hacker had temporarily gained access to the New Conservative Instagram account by posing as Deputy Leader Ikilei on Instagram.[153]

Advance NZ launched their campaign on 26 July 2020, merging with the New Zealand Public Party, a party described as "conspiracy theory-driven".[155] The Public Party is to keep their identity and structure, but with the exception of Billy Te Kahika in Te Tai Tokerau, who is running on the Public Party name, all candidates will run as Advance NZ candidates. Jami-Lee Ross, MP for Botany and Te Kahika are to become co-leaders of Advance NZ. Ross stated in regards to the merger that "By forming an alliance of parties, together with other small parties that believe in greater freedom and democracy, we stand a stronger chance of uniting together and crossing the 5 percent threshold in to Parliament," and branded Advance NZ "the new Alliance Party of the 2020s, but a centrist version of that model".[156] At the launch, Te Kahika promised an immediate repeal of the COVID-19 Public Health Response Act 2020.[157] Ross also reportedly told the NZ Herald that the party was in talks with six smaller parties about joining Advance NZ.[158] On 6 August 2020, the party was registered with the Electoral Commission.[159]

Television New Zealand (TVNZ) hosted three television leaders' debates: two between the National and Labour leaders, and one multi-party debate. The first National–Labour debate was moderated by John Campbell, with the multi party debate and second National–Labour debate hosted by Jessica Mutch McKay. A young voters debate was hosted by Jack Tame.[160] Newshub Nation hosted a "power brokers" debate, which included the Māori Party, with the inclusion threshold being having held a seat in Parliament over the past 2 parliamentary terms.[161] This was confirmed on 27 August 2020, when Newshub announced a leaders' debate on 30 September between National and Labour, and a "powerbrokers" debate which included the Greens, ACT and the Māori Party.[162]

The inclusion criteria set by TVNZ for its multi-party debate was either having current representation in Parliament or winning 3% in a poll, which sparked controversy as those criteria excluded minor parties such as the Māori Party, The Opportunities Party and the New Conservative Party from the debate. Māori Party co-leader John Tamihere said TVNZ had a responsibility to "reflect Māori perspectives, as laid out in ministerial direction". Race Relations Commissioner Meng Foon endorsed the Māori Party position.[163][161][164] The requirements were modified on 8 September 2020, when TVNZ broadened their criteria to use previous parliamentary representation as a marker, including the Māori Party.[165] The parliamentary criterion was expanded to include "leaders of registered parties where the leader has been an MP, or party has been represented, in either/both of the past two parliaments."[166]

The use of mixed-member proportional representation allows ready conversion of a party's support into a party vote percentage and therefore a number of seats in Parliament. Projections assume the new electorate of Takanini will be won by either Labour or National[175] and that Botany will be returned to National,[176][177] but otherwise assume no material change to the electorate seats held by each party. Parties that do not hold an electorate seat and poll below 5% are assumed to win zero seats.

When determining the scenarios for the overall result, the minimum parties necessary to form majority governments are listed (provided parties have indicated openness to working together). Actual governments formed may include other parties beyond the minimum required for a majority; this happened after the 2014 election, when National only needed one seat from another party to reach a 61-seat majority, but instead chose to form a 64-seat government with Māori, ACT and United Future.[178]

Party affiliation of winning electorate candidates.

The table below shows the results of the 2020 general election:

Key

In above table, majority denotes the winning candidate's lead over the second place candidate.

• 
  Chlöe Swarbrick (Auckland Central)
• 
  Tracey McLellan (Banks Peninsula)
• 
  Todd Muller (Bay of Plenty)
• 
  Christopher Luxon (Botany)
• 
  Duncan Webb (Christchurch Central)
• 
  Poto Williams (Christchurch East)
• 
  Scott Simpson (Coromandel)
• 
  David Clark (Dunedin)
• 
  Kiri Allan (East Coast)
• 
  David Seymour (Epsom)
• 
  Jamie Strange (Hamilton East)
• 
  Gaurav Sharma (Hamilton West)
• 
  Ginny Andersen (Hutt South)
• 
  Sarah Pallett (Ilam)
• 
  Penny Simmonds (Invercargill)
• 
  Chris Penk (Kaipara ki Mahurangi)
• 
  Carmel Sepuloni (Kelston)
• 
  Barbara Edmonds (Mana)
• 
  William Sio (Māngere)
• 
  Arena Williams (Manurewa)
• 
  Priyanca Radhakrishnan (Maungakiekie)
• 
  Jacinda Ardern (Mount Albert)
• 
  Michael Wood (Mount Roskill)
• 
  Stuart Nash (Napier)
• 
  Rachel Boyack (Nelson)
• 
  Deborah Russell (New Lynn)
• 
  Glen Bennett (New Plymouth)
• 
  Simon Watts (North Shore)
• 
  Shanan Halbert (Northcote)
• 
  Willow-Jean Prime (Northland)
• 
  Greg O'Connor (Ōhāriu)
• 
  Terisa Ngobi (Ōtaki)
• 
  Tangi Utikere (Palmerston North)
• 
  Jenny Salesa (Panmure-Ōtāhuhu)
• 
  Judith Collins (Papakura)
• 
  Andrew Bayly (Port Waikato)
• 
  Jo Luxton (Rangitata)
• 
  Chris Hipkins (Remutaka)
• 
  Paul Eagle (Rongotai)
• 
  Todd McClay (Rotorua)
• 
  Nicola Grigg (Selwyn)
• 
  Ingrid Leary (Taieri)
• 
  Neru Leavasa (Takanini)
• 
  Barbara Kuriger (Taranaki-King Country)
• 
  Louise Upston (Taupō)
• 
  Simon Bridges (Tauranga)
• 
  Phil Twyford (Te Atatū)
• 
  Anna Lorck (Tukituki)
• 
  Vanushi Walters (Upper Harbour)
• 
  Tim van de Molen (Waikato)
• 
  Kieran McAnulty (Wairarapa)
• 
  Grant Robertson (Wellington Central)
• 
  Damien O'Connor (West Coast-Tasman)
• 
  Steph Lewis (Whanganui)
• 
  Mark Mitchell (Whangaparāoa)
• 
  Emily Henderson (Whangārei)
• 
  Megan Woods (Wigram)
• 
  Nanaia Mahuta (Hauraki-Waikato)
• 
  Meka Whaitiri (Ikaroa-Rāwhiti)
• 
  Peeni Henare (Tāmaki Makaurau)
• 
  Adrian Rurawhe (Te Tai Hauāuru)
• 
  Kelvin Davis (Te Tai Tokerau)
• 
  Rino Tirikatene (Te Tai Tonga)

The following list candidates were elected:

• 
  Andrew Little (Labour)
• 
  David Parker (Labour)
• 
  Trevor Mallard (Labour)
• 
  Kris Faafoi (Labour)
• 
  Ayesha Verrall (Labour)
• 
  Willie Jackson (Labour)
• 
  Louisa Wall (Labour)
• 
  Camilla Belich (Labour)
• 
  Jan Tinetti (Labour)
• 
  Marja Lubeck (Labour)
• 
  Angie Warren-Clark (Labour)
• 
  Tāmati Coffey (Labour)
• 
  Naisi Chen (Labour)
• 
  Liz Craig (Labour)
• 
  Ibrahim Omer (Labour)
• 
  Anahila Kanongata'a-Suisuiki (Labour)
• 
  Rachel Brooking (Labour)
• 
  Helen White (Labour)
• 
  Angela Roberts (Labour)
• 
  Gerry Brownlee (National)
• 
  Shane Reti (National)
• 
  Chris Bishop (National)
• 
  Michael Woodhouse (National)
• 
  Nicola Willis (National)
• 
  Melissa Lee (National)
• 
  Nick Smith (National)
• 
  Maureen Pugh (National)
• 
  Marama Davidson (Green)
• 
  James Shaw (Green)
• 
  Julie Anne Genter (Green)
• 
  Jan Logie (Green)
• 
  Eugenie Sage (Green)
• 
  Golriz Ghahraman (Green)
• 
  Teanau Tuiono (Green)
• 
  Elizabeth Kerekere (Green)
• 
  Ricardo Menéndez March (Green)

On 31 October, Ardern announced that despite the Labour Party having won enough seats to continue the Sixth Labour Government on their own, they had invited the Greens to participate in a "cooperation agreement", seeking their input on matters such as the environment, climate change and child wellbeing, and that the Greens had accepted the offer. Under the deal (which is not a coalition agreement), the two co-leaders of the Greens will receive ministerial portfolios outside the cabinet. James Shaw will continue in his previous role as Minister for Climate Change, as well as associate environment minister (biodiversity). Marama Davidson will be appointed to the new position of Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence, and will also take on the role of associate minister of housing (homelessness).[230] The Green Party also agreed to abstain on motions of confidence and supply during the term.[231]

Following the election, Gerry Brownlee stepped down as deputy leader of the National Party. On 10 November 2020, Shane Reti was elected unopposed as his replacement. Leader Judith Collins was also unopposed to retain her position.[232]

On 3 November, Geoff Simmons stepped down as leader of The Opportunities Party. Shai Navot, former deputy leader, took over from Simmons.[233]

On 19 November, the board of the New Conservative Party removed the party's leader, Leighton Baker, and replaced him with his deputy, Elliot Ikilei. The party's third-ranked list candidate at the election, Victoria O'Brien, became deputy leader.[234] O'Brien however resigned after less than a week in the role, on 25 November, amid apparent division in the party over Baker's removal and his subsequent role within its organisation.[235] Ikilei announced his resignation on New Year's Eve.[236]

A number of local by-elections are required due to the resignation of an incumbent local body politician following their election to Parliament:

• Palmerston North City Council by-election: Deputy Mayor of Palmerston North Tangi Utikere resigned his seat on the council after he was elected MP for Palmerston North, necessitating a by-election to fill the councillor vacancy. The election took place on 17 February 2021, with Orphée Mickalad being elected councillor.[237]
• Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board by election: Local board member Neru Leavasa resigned his seat after he was elected MP for Takanini,[238] necessitating a by-election to fill the vacancy. The by-election saw Communities and Residents candidate Malcolm Turner make allegations of voter interference against Labour candidate Papaliitele Lafulafu Peo.[239] Peo was declared the winner on 19 February 2021.[238]

On 11 November, the Māori Party co-leader John Tamihere requested a vote recount in the Māori electorates of Tāmaki Makaurau and Te Tai Hauāuru, alleging there had been voter discrimination against Māori during the 2020 election. Tamihere claimed that the recount was intended to expose discriminatory laws such as the five-yearly Māori Electoral Option (which limited the ability of Māori to switch between the general and Māori rolls for a period five years), longer wait times for Māori voters at election booths, and some Māori not being allowed to vote on the Māori roll.[240] The altered official results for the two electorates following the recounts were released on 20 November. Tamihere's margin of defeat in Tāmaki Makaurau decreased from 956 to 927, while Debbie Ngarewa-Packer's margin of defeat in Te Tai Hauāuru increased from 1,035 to 1,053.[241][242]

On 12 April 2021, the Electoral Commission referred the Māori Party to the Police for failing to disclose about NZ$320,000 worth of donations within the required timeframe. These donations came from former party co-leader John Tamihere (NZ$158,223.72), the Urban Māori Authority (NZ$48,879.85), and the Aotearoa Te Kahu Limited Partnership (NZ$120,000). Party President Che Wilson attributed the late disclosure to the fact that the party was staffed by volunteers and rookies who were unfamiliar with electoral finance laws.[243] In late April, the Police referred the investigation into the Māori Party's undeclared donations to the Serious Fraud Office.[244] By late September 2022, the Serious Fraud Office had closed the investigation and declined to prosecute the individuals and parties involved.[245]

In late September 2022, Charities Services general manager Natasha Weight confirmed that the agency was investigating two charities headed by Tamihere, the Te Whānau Waipareira Trust and the National Urban Māori Authority, for financing his 2020 election campaign. Existing charities legislation bans charities from donating or endorsing political parties and candidates. Political parties and candidates are not allowed to use charities' resources. According to the Charities Register, Te Whānau o Waipareira Trust Group had provided NZ$385,307 in interest free loans to support Tamihere's 2020 election campaign while the National Urban Māori Authority had paid Tamihere NZ$82,695 to support his 2020 election campaign and Māori Party aspirations. In response, Tamihere accused the Charities Services of racism and confirmed that he and the Māori Party would challenge the Charities Service if the agency ruled against them.[246][247][248]

In late April 2021, the Electoral Commission issued the National Party with a warning for failing to declare a NZ$35,000 donation from real estate mogul Garth Barfoot but declined to refer the matter to the police.[249]

Several Advance New Zealand candidates also faced fines for not filing campaign donations and expense returns. In late May 2021, Rangitīkei candidate Ricky Cribb pleaded guilty to two charges of violating the Electoral Act 1993 and was fined $300 plus court costs.[250] Mana candidate Edward James Ngatai Ponder pleaded guilty to violating the Electoral Act 1993 in mid June 2021 for failing to file an election expenses return to show that would have shown he had no expenses.[251] In early July, Advance NZ Invercargill candidate Kurt Rohloff had his Electoral Act charge for failing to declare election and donation returns dismissed after completing a diversion.[252]

Early July also saw another Invercargill candidate, independent Basil Walker, be charged with failing to file his return on time.[253] Walker was offered a discharge without conviction if he completed 40 hours of community service, but he failed to do so, which he attributed to his workload. In September he agreed to plead guilty to the charge, received a conviction, and was fined $500.[254]

In September 2021, former Public Party leader and Advance NZ co-leader Billy Te Kahika was charged with filing a false electoral donation and obtaining $15,000 by deception.[255] Name suppression lapsed and he was identified in October 2021. Te Kahika has contested the charges and opted for a jury trial.[256][257]