# Harry Mowbray: Vote-splitting boosted coalition re-election chances

> National's 42 electorate seats with 29.2% party vote highlight vote-splitting strategy's impact.
- Title: Harry Mowbray: Vote-splitting boosted coalition re-election…
- Summary: National's 42 electorate seats with 29.2% party vote highlight vote-splitting strategy's impact.
- Keywords: election 2026, national party, vote-splitting, act party, new zealand first, coalition re-election, overhang seats, party vote, electorate seats, NZ Herald
- Source: NZ Herald — https://nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/election-2026-harry-mowbray-says-vote-splitting-campaign-helped-coalitions-re-election-chances/ZPSKDLMR2BC4RJ3CES7ZXH5HQU
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: election 2026, national party, vote-splitting, act party, new zealand first, coalition re-election, overhang seats, party vote, electorate seats, politics, news
## Vote-splitting strategy
Harry Mowbray helped push a campaign urging right-leaning voters to give National electorate votes while party votes to Act or New Zealand First.

> There was over a 20% swing. So that’s huge. It is the only thing that has saved the centre-right in this country.
## National's results
National won 42 electorates but only 29.2% of the party vote, creating an overhang with 131 seats in Parliament.
## Coalition impact
National's coalition partners increased their party vote share since 2023, making re-election more likely.
## Mowbray's criticism
Mowbray said National leaders 'should be feeling very embarrassed' about election results.
## National's response
National criticized the strategy, alleging it was 'playing with matches and blowing fires'.
## Mowbray's view
Mowbray believes National's campaign focused on self-interest rather than national issues.
## Election outcome
National secured 29.4% of party vote against 42 electorate seats, with Labour neck and neck.
## Overhang seats
Preliminary results show 11 overhang seats in a 131-seat Parliament, including Te Pāti Māori's five electorate wins.
## Mowbray's disappointment
Mowbray expressed disappointment that National leaders focused on self-interest in their campaigns.
## Chris Luxon's stance
Chris Luxon avoided commenting on whether vote-splitting helped National's re-election chances.
## Mowbray's advice
Mowbray urged National leaders to do the arithmetic to understand their election results.
## Party vote changes
Act and New Zealand First both increased their party vote share since 2023.
## Electoral strategy
The vote-splitting strategy aimed to create an overhang by securing National electorate seats while gaining proportional seats for other parties.
## Mowbray's background
Harry Mowbray is a wealthy businessman and political donor whose children founded toy company Zuru.
## National's criticism
National accused Mowbray of 'playing with matches and blowing fires' by promoting the vote-splitting strategy.
## Mowbray's media impact
Mowbray said media coverage helped spread the vote-splitting message further than intended.
## Key takeaway

Harry Mowbray says strategic vote-splitting helped National secure 42 electorates despite only 29.2% party vote share.