# Very tight election: Luxon won't commit to government by Christmas

> National leader says coalition negotiations will take time before Christmas.
- Title: Very tight election: Luxon won't commit to government by…
- Summary: National leader says coalition negotiations will take time before Christmas. National leader Christopher Luxon says a new government won't be confirmed by…
- Keywords: christopher luxon, national party, election 2026, winston peters, new zealand first, michael laws, nz first, election results, coalition negotiations, christmas, NZ Herald
- Source: NZ Herald — https://nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/election-2026-live-updates-nicola-willis-blames-oil-prices-and-looming-election-for-rising-unemployment/4WR4TD7KJ5BA7NKZBCIFWOK5ZE
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: christopher luxon, national party, election 2026, winston peters, new zealand first, michael laws, nz first, election results, coalition negotiations, christmas, politics, news
## Election campaign tightens
It's the final week of the election campaign and parties are under pressure to pull out all the stops before voting closes on Saturday.
## Over a million votes cast
More than one million Kiwis have already cast their votes ahead of Saturday's election, accounting for more than a quarter of those enrolled.
## NZ First leader's stance
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters says whether Michael Laws is a party MP after the election remains a 'live issue'.
## Laws supports board meeting
NZ First candidate Michael Laws says he supports Winston Peters' decision to hold a board meeting to decide his future with the party following comments made about the Opportunity Party’s female candidates.
## Laws' sexist comments
Laws made sexist comments about his female political opponents in Opportunity on The Platform last week.
## Laws' apology
Laws said he deeply regretted causing offence and that his comments were made in his 'usual sort of stand-up comic/editorial routine'.
## Laws' MP status
Laws is sixth on NZ First's list and is essentially guaranteed to become an MP, given NZ First's current polling.
## Peters' reaction
Peters said women in NZ First were 'very annoyed' by Laws' comments.
## Luxon on government timing
National leader Christopher Luxon says a new government won't be confirmed by Christmas due to tight election results and need for official vote counting.
## Luxon's Christmas comment
Luxon said New Zealanders will enjoy their Christmas and summer holidays regardless, but we'll move as quickly as we possibly can through negotiations.
## Luxon on vote counting
Luxon said the official results are set to be declared on November 27 and negotiations will start after the vote count.
## Luxon on coalition
Luxon said the election is very tight and coalition negotiations will take as long as it takes to form a government.
## Luxon on market impact
Luxon agreed with traders that a Labour-Green Government could lead to a selloff of the New Zealand dollar and higher bond yields.
## Market concerns
Traders worry a left-leaning Government could worsen the cost of living through higher taxes and more government spending.
## Laws' clarification
Laws said he would not be continuing to campaign if he didn't believe in New Zealand First's policies and that he was dedicated to the party's aims.
## Laws' resignation comment
Laws said reporting that he would resign if elected would be a misquote and he would accept the party board's decision.
## Key takeaway

National leader Christopher Luxon says a new government won't be confirmed by Christmas due to tight election results and need for official vote counting.