Watch: National Party announces list for 2026 General Election

Senior National MPs who might have been nervous about the party's polling have been given high list rankings to give them the best shot of returning to Parliament next term.Recent polls put National on about 31 percent, which would secure them about 39 or 40 seats in the debating chamber. Political analysts, however, have noted that a strong performance across electorates could leave the party with very few list MPs.Chris Bishop has retained third place on National's list, giving him a strong chance of returning, even if he loses his Hutt South electorate which is considered vulnerable.Similarly, Paul Goldsmith, who's unlikely to win Epsom from ACT leader David Seymour, has retained his sixth position.The list ranks largely preserves the party's existing hierarchy, with Simeon Brown fourth, Erica Stanford fifth, Louise Upston seventh and Mark Mitchell eighth. All four of them, though, are expected to win their electorates.Deputy leader Nicola Willis at National's list announcement for the 2026 election.RNZ/Samuel RillstoneIn line with the party's constitution, leader Christopher Luxon and deputy Nicola Willis take the top two positions. Willis is reliant on her list spot to return.Speaker Gerry Brownlee, who's not standing in an electorate, has been boosted from 14th on the list at the last election to ninth.The move stops short of the traditional third ranking sometimes given to Speakers, but makes Brownlee's return highly likely if National performs anywhere near its current polling.The list announcement comes after a difficult period for National's leader, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, who began the week apologising to small businesses in Rotorua.Party leader Christopher Luxon speaks at National's list announcement for the 2026 election.RNZ/Samuel RillstoneLuxon did win some reprieve, with the latest Taxpayers' Union Curia poll predicting the coalition's return to power - and showing a significant drop in support for the current opposition parties.More to come...