Election 2026: Are there 480,000 undecided voters who will determine this election? – Adam Pearse

Opinion byDeputy Political Editor·NZ Herald·10 Oct, 2026 03:02 AM7 mins to readAdam Pearse is Deputy Political Editor for the New Zealand Herald based in the gallery in Wellington.‌Election day is less than a month away. Photo / Alex CairnsTHE FACTSTwo of three public polls this week put the Opportunity Party in the kingmaker position.An earlier 1News-Verian poll put the proportion of undecided voters as high as 13%.The cost of living remains the key issue for voters.The polls are tight. In the space of a week, three separate polls have shown just how close this year’s election is with two suggesting neither the left bloc (Labour, the Green Party and Te Pāti Māori) nor the right bloc (National, New Zealand First and Act) can