# Parliament Welcomes Class of 2026 > New Zealand Parliament faces chaotic returns as National MP Vanessa Weenink reveals voter discontent over coalition shifts. - Title: Parliament Welcomes Class of 2026 · NZ Herald | Shortify - Summary: New Zealand Parliament faces chaotic returns as National MP Vanessa Weenink reveals voter discontent over coalition shifts. - Keywords: new zealand, parliament, national party, vanessa weenink, banks peninsula, treaty of waitangi, christopher luxon, david seymour, new zealand first, special votes, election 2026, coalition - Source: NZ Herald — https://nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/chaotic-return-as-parliament-welcomes-class-of-2026-derek-cheng/premium/5H6Y6S7HWJGSDPJLTDV65ID7GM - Read time: 2 min - Topics: new zealand, parliament, national party, vanessa weenink, banks peninsula, treaty of waitangi, christopher luxon, david seymour, new zealand first, special votes, election 2026, coalition ## Vanessa Weenink's voter discontent Outgoing National MP Vanessa Weenink revealed constituents hate the party’s coalition partners pulling too far right. > A lot of people in that electorate were telling me, literally, that they hate us, they really got to that point. ## Weenink's coalition criticism Weenink cited National’s work on Treaty of Waitangi settlements as a reason for her shift from Labour to National. > My God, it cost us and my God, it hurt us as a country. ## Weenink's dismissal of Opportunity Weenink dismissed Opportunity’s candidacy as 'ridiculous' despite their potential appeal to National supporters. > She also revealed an approach from Opportunity to be a potential candidate, which she dismissed as 'ridiculous'. ## Michael Wood's leadership speculation Labour’s Michael Wood faces leadership speculation despite having a 262-vote lead in Mt Roskill. > He has a 262-vote lead in Mt Roskill and remains at the mercy of the special votes. ## Wood's past missteps Wood resigned from Cabinet in 2023 after failing to disclose shareholdings, tarnishing Labour’s reputation. > It’s the electorate that rejected Wood in 2023 after falling from grace and resigning from Cabinet, having repeatedly failed to disclose shareholdings that potentially conflicted with his ministerial portfolios. ## Kieran McAnulty's reaction Kieran McAnulty called Wood’s leadership comments 'unwise' given the uncertainty of the election outcome. > That leader [Hipkins] could be Prime Minister in two weeks and those aren’t the words that I would use. ## Winston Peters' caution New Zealand First leader Winston Peters urged patience until final election results on November 27. > It would be very wise if they held their counsel for a little bit longer and found out what the results actually are rather than the hopeful speculation of what it might be. ## Dr David Wilson's disappointment Dr David Wilson expressed disappointment that New Zealand First’s support fell to mid-teens. > Reality has bitten and the people have spoken and that’s the way it is. ## Taine Randell's measured response Incoming MP Taine Randell called New Zealand First’s result a 'pretty good effort' despite disappointment. > He was a 'wee bit disappointed' while adding it was a 'pretty good effort' to see the party improving on its 2023 result. ## David Seymour's finance stance Act leader David Seymour stated National cannot demand the finance portfolio in any coalition. > It is 'no longer tenable' for National to demand the finance portfolio. ## Shane Jones' coalition warning New Zealand First’s Shane Jones warned National to avoid overplaying its hand in coalition negotiations. > It’s very important that whatever decisions the leader of the National Party is making, he doesn’t overplay his hand as to how powerful this position actually is. ## National's support decline National’s support has dropped nine percentage points since 2023 and may fall further on special votes. > National’s support has not only dived about nine percentage points since 2023, and may drop further on specials, it has also lost a lot of experience with the departures of Willis, Chris Bishop, Paul Goldsmith and Gerry Brownlee. ## Christopher Luxon's Opportunity meeting National leader Christopher Luxon ruled out Opportunity leader Qiulae Wong as Finance Minister. > Luxon spent an hour with Opportunity leader Qiulae Wong last night, having emphatically ruled her out umpteen times in the preceding weeks. ## Election results timeline Final election results will be known on November 27, 2026, after 17 days of uncertainty. > Peters has said that everyone should hold their horses until the final results come in on November 27. ## Coalition negotiations underway National, Labour, and New Zealand First are negotiating coalition terms amid shifting political dynamics. > Everything’s negotiable, Christopher ## What happens next National must navigate coalition negotiations while addressing voter discontent and potential leadership challenges. > It’s very important that whatever decisions the leader of the National Party is making, he doesn’t overplay his hand as to how powerful this position actually is. ## Key takeaway New Zealand's National Party faces voter backlash after coalition partners pulled too far right, with Vanessa Weenink warning of long-term damage.