Two people with Nepali backgrounds are standing for New Zealand’s Parliament in the general election on Saturday, November 7, 2026. They are running for different parties.
The two candidates
- Shreejan Pandey, Green Party: He is contesting Wigram, an electorate in south-western Christchurch that covers suburbs such as Riccarton, Hornby and Sockburn. He is ranked 22 on the Green Party list. His party profile calls him an electrical engineer and father of two with about 20 years in climate and clean-energy work, including designing wind farms and infrastructure and leading clean-energy projects internationally. He describes himself as a Nepali New Zealander raised in New Zealand. His campaign theme is a fair transition to a green economy, with clean energy, innovation, regional communities and good jobs.
- Netra Prasad Ghimire, Opportunity Party: He is contesting Palmerston North and is ranked 32 on the Opportunity Party list. His party profile says he was born and raised in a refugee camp in Nepal until he was 11, when his family made New Zealand their home. He is a high-school teacher of Social Studies, Physical Education and Financial Literacy. He says he wants better pathways for young people after school, stronger links to trades, industry, entrepreneurship and technology, and a decent standard of living for people who work full time. He also points to pressures on young families, such as mortgages, childcare and household bills.
How the vote works
New Zealand uses the Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) system. Each voter has two votes: one for a party and one for a local electorate candidate. The party vote largely decides how many seats each party gets. A party generally qualifies for list seats if it wins at least 5% of the party vote or one electorate seat.
For these two, that means two possible routes. Pandey can win Wigram, or enter on the Green list. Ghimire can win Palmerston North, or enter on the Opportunity list if the party gets enough seats for the list to reach number 32. A list number is not a promise of a seat. The Electoral Commission has confirmed 17 registered parties and 530 candidates. Preliminary results begin at 7 p.m. New Zealand time on election night, and official results come on November 27.
The seats they are contesting
Wigram has been represented by Labour. In 2023 Labour’s Megan Woods won it with 15,590 electorate votes, though National took 35% of the party vote in the electorate to Labour’s 29%. Other 2026 candidates include Dominik Yanzick (Labour), Tracy Summerfield (National), Laura McClure (ACT), Bryce Park (New Zealand First), William Donald Alexander (Free Palestine) and independent Geoff McTague.
Palmerston North is held by Labour’s Tangi Utikere, first elected in 2020 and re-elected in 2023, with a 43% margin last time. Other candidates include Ankit Bansal (National), Teanau Tuiono (Greens), Bruce McGechan (ACT), Helma Vermeulen (New Zealand First), Joshua Moss (Alliance) and Brian Baker (Animal Justice Party). These are past results and candidate lists, not measures of current support.
What their parties promise
The Green Party’s 2026 manifesto has three priorities: affordable living, healthy nature and real democracy. It proposes taxes on the super-rich and large corporations and income-tax cuts for 96% of people.
The Opportunity Party, led by Qiulae Wong, has five conditions for any governing partner: lower prices through stronger Commerce Commission powers; a lobbyist register and a cap on donations; a 10-year cross-party health plan; an end to bottom trawling in the most damaged inshore areas; and a return to Paris Agreement commitments.
What happens next
Voting runs to November 6 in advance and on November 7 on election day.
