The food of election night 2026

From plates of beige to platters of fresh kaimoana, mini pies to mega grazing tables, here's what the parties, their supporters and hungry journalists were eating on election night.

Anyone who doubts the existence of a New Zealand national cuisine needs to spend a few hours watching election night coverage. At every party's party and outside the front gates of the leaders' houses last night we were treated to a mouthwatering greatest hits of good honest Kiwi kai. Here's an overview of what everyone was anxiously nibbling on as the results rolled in.

Grazing with the Greens

Grazing tables were the prevailing trend at election parties this year and none were as plentiful as the grazing tables at Green Party HQ in Auckland. "Breads, dips, crackers, cheese, meats, olives, smoked salmon, tropical fruits and two kinds of melon," Chris Schulz drooled. "If there’s any kind of apocalyptic event tonight, shut the church doors and we’re good for at least two weeks."

Beige foods only at Labour HQ

Hot on the heels of the Greens' gorgeous grazing table, Lyric Waiwiri-Smith filed these comparatively underwhelming pics from Labour HQ in Wellington – but just quietly I know which table I'd rather be parked in front of... and it's this one. Let me make one thing clear, though: the apparent lack of tomato sauce for the sausage rolls is a disgrace.

More grazing at National and Act

These relatively austere grazing platters were sent in from the National and Act Party HQs. Hard to describe these without risking it sounding like I'm trying to draw some kind of political metaphor.

Now this is a grazing table (Te Pāti Māori)

Liam Rātana filed this pic from Oriini Kaipara's election party and immediately sent me into paroxysms of grazing table envy. All the major food groups are present: meat, bread, cheese, sweet treats... this is how you do it, everyone.

But wait... it gets even better (NZ First)

Hayden Donnell was dispatched up north to report from NZ First HQ at the Duke of Marlborough, and taunted us all night long with photos of some of the most mouthwatering seafood we've ever seen. NZ First's election night parties are famous for their bountiful kaimoana, but even still it looks like they really outdid themselves this year.

Corporate box charcuterie (Opportunity)

Opportunity held their party in a hospitality suite at Eden Park, and it looks as though a corporate box charcuterie spread was part of the package deal. Later in the night, once the boards had been picked clean, reporter Joel MacManus spied a big tray of truffle parmesan fries being offered to the still-hungry party faithful.

Toni's treats

As is firmly entrenched in election night tradition, Labour leader Chris Hipkins' fiancée Toni Grace greeted reporters and anyone else lucky enough to be hanging around outside their house with platters of finger food early in the evening. On offer were mini mince pies (own recipe), sausage rolls (Nana June's recipe) and pikelets (recipe unknown). She had also printed out the recipes for anyone who wanted to add them to their big recipe clear file.

Amanda's healthier-than-last-time snacks

Amanda Luxon and children appeared outside the prime ministerial residence not long after, for what was easily the most highly anticipated food reveal of the night. Earlier in the week she had promised to offer a healthier spread than last election, when she handed out pizza. This time she delivered reporters party pies “for the faithful”, plus fruit and “chocolatey things”, TV watcher Tara Ward reported.