NZ First releases 50-candidate election list, with Peters and Jones retaining top spots

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New Zealand First has released its full party list for the 2026 General Election, retaining Winston Peters and Shane Jones in the top two positions while placing several former parliamentarians and new candidates ahead of sitting MPs.

The list, announced on 7 October, names 50 candidates and brings together current ministers, MPs, former parliamentarians and local-government figures ahead of the 7 November election.

Peters is standing list only, while Jones will contest Northland. Casey Costello is ranked third and standing in Port Waikato, followed by Mark Patterson at number four in Taieri.

The first four positions are unchanged from the party’s 2023 list. Below them, the rankings show a reshuffle that gives several newcomers prominent places.

Former National minister Alfred Ngaro, who joined NZ First this year, is ranked fifth and will contest Glendene. Former MP and broadcaster Michael Laws is sixth and standing in Waitaki.

Harete Hipango-Brownlie is seventh and contesting Whanganui, Craig Stobo is eighth and standing in Botany, and Taine Randell is ninth and contesting Tukituki.

Current MP Jenny Marcroft completes the top 10 and will stand in Kaipara-ki-Mahurangi. She was ranked fifth on the party’s 2023 list.

Andy Foster is ranked 11th and contesting Remutaka. Dr David Wilson follows at number 12 in Henderson, while Jamie Arbuckle is ranked 13th and standing in Kaikoura. Arbuckle held sixth position in 2023.

Former NZ First minister Ron Mark is ranked 16th and will contest Wairarapa.

The changes place some sitting MPs lower on the list than at the previous election. Their prospects of returning through the list will depend on NZ First’s party vote and the number of its candidates elected directly through electorates.

In South Auckland, Esther Tofilau-Tevaga is ranked 18th and contesting Manurewa, Elliot Ikilei is 20th and standing in Takanini, and Vicky Hau is 21st and contesting Mangere.

Other Auckland candidates include Bernadette Soares in Upper Harbour, Martin Gummer in Epsom, Daryl Habraken in Northcote, Sheldon Eden-Whaitiri in Mt Albert and Keegan Langeveld in Maungakiekie.

The list extends through candidates standing across both islands, with Murray Chong occupying the final position at number 50. Like Peters, Chong is standing list only.

Under MMP, a party’s nationwide party vote determines its overall share of parliamentary seats, subject to electoral rules. Electorate winners are accounted for before additional MPs enter through the party list in ranking order.

A higher ranking therefore puts a candidate in a stronger position to enter Parliament through the list, although it does not guarantee a seat.

NZ First described its team as a mix of experience and new talent. Its final parliamentary line-up will be determined by the election result.

New Zealand First’s full 2026 party list

Rank	Candidate	Electorate
1	Winston Peters	List only
2	Shane Jones	Northland
3	Casey Costello	Port Waikato
4	Mark Patterson	Taieri
5	Alfred Ngaro	Glendene
6	Michael Laws	Waitaki
7	Harete Hipango-Brownlie	Whanganui
8	Craig Stobo	Botany
9	Taine Randell	Tukituki
10	Jenny Marcroft	Kaipara-ki-Mahurangi
11	Andy Foster	Remutaka
12	Dr David Wilson	Henderson
13	Jamie Arbuckle	Kaikoura
14	Jamie Cleine	West Coast-Tasman
15	Tracey Coxhead	Mt Maunganui
16	Ron Mark	Wairarapa
17	Jason Herrick	Southland
18	Esther Tofilau-Tevaga	Manurewa
19	Penny Gaylor	Kapiti
20	Elliot Ikilei	Takanini
21	Vicky Hau	Mangere
22	Bernadette Soares	Upper Harbour
23	Robert Cookson	Waikato
24	Mark Arneil	Christchurch Central
25	Lee Smith	Taranaki-King Country
26	Kym McDonald-King	Dunedin
27	Martin Gummer	Epsom
28	Te Kira Lawrence	Napier
29	Daryl Habraken	Northcote
30	Vincent Anderson	Coromandel
31	Vince Cocurullo	Whangarei
32	Sheldon Eden-Whaitiri	Mt Albert
33	Steve Gibson	Rangitikei
34	Billy Brown	Rotorua
35	Alister Boyce	Hutt South
36	Keegan Langeveld	Maungakiekie
37	Bryce Park	Wigram
38	Isaac Nicholson	Rangitata
39	Gerald Warner	Wellington Bays
40	Taylor Arneil	Wellington North
41	Nicola Laboyrie	Hamilton East
42	Vaughan Taylor	East Coast Bays
43	Kevin Stone	Hamilton West
44	Jackie Farrelly	Waimakariri
45	Shane Wiremu	Christchurch East
46	Elizabeth Mundt	Selwyn
47	John Stringer	Banks Peninsula
48	Jon Blackshaw	Kenepuru
49	Nathan Walton	Ilam
50	Murray Chong	List only

Source: New Zealand First, “NZ First announces party list for the 2026 General Election”, 7 October 2026. Candidate names, rankings and electorate spellings follow the supplied party announcement.