Polls have closed in the 2026 General Election with preliminary results due in progressively from 7pm.

The Bay of Plenty Times team is bringing you coverage primarily from the Tauranga, Mt Maunganui and Waiariki races, as well as surrounding electorates.

According to the Electoral Commission, all votes are counted by hand.

The about 1.67 million advance votes - those cast before today - started being counted this morning. Ordinary results can be counted from 7pm.

If you want a refresher on who the local candidates are and what they stand for, see our earlier election coverage.

Mt Maunganui electorate

National Bay of Plenty MP Tom Rutherford is seeking re-election in the Mt Maunganui electorate.

Rutherford, 29, said he was “naturally nervous” about the night ahead.

He said his job as MP, and the National Party’s job in Government, was not finished.

“I hope the community has seen the tireless work I’ve done over the last three years, and some of the positive things I’ve been able to achieve.”

Rutherford said he and wife Hannah enjoyed brunch today at Henry and Ted in Pāpāmoa and did some Christmas shopping at Bayfair.

“It was a very wholesome day,” he said.

Contesting the seat are Rhieve Grey from Labour, Pualele Westhead from Greens, Cameron Luxton from Act, Tracey Coxhead from NZ First, Greer Young from NZ Loyal, and Caitlin Grattan from Animal Justice Party.

Rutherford was first elected to Parliament in 2023 after winning the seat with 23,303 votes over Labour candidate Pare Taikato’s 7898.

The name of the electorate changed to Mt Maunganui this year after boundary shifts.

Luxton is also a serving list MP.

Tauranga electorate

National Party MP Sam Uffindell is looking to hold his Tauranga seat.

Uffindell said today he cast his votes, had brunch with his family and his mother arrived from Auckland.

“[We] just hung about for the day. Tidying up around the house, trying to keep myself busy and not looking at the clock.”

Uffindell said he had a “natural level of nervous excitement” about tonight.

His challengers are Jan Tinetti from Labour, Daniël Oosthuizen from Greens, Michael Carter from Opportunity, Sam Connely from Animal Justice Party, Bryan Nortan from Act and independent candidate Tim Maltby.

Uffindell has represented the Tauranga electorate since the 2022 byelection, after former National leader Simon Bridges retired from national politics.

This will be the second election Uffindell and Tinetti vie for the Tauranga seat.

He won the Tauranga electorate in 2023 with 18,980 votes – a lead of 9370 over her.

Tinetti has been in Parliament since 2017 as a Labour list MP, and was previously a minister.

Waiariki electorate

In the Waiariki electorate, Te Pāti Māori co-leader and incumbent MP Rawiri Waititi is trying to win a third term over challengers Toni Boynton from Labour, Tania Waikato from the Greens and Opportunity’s Pāpā Wharewera.

Coromandel

Scott Simpson of National is seeking his sixth term as MP for Coromandel.

He is up against Glen Bennett - Labour; Mike McCormick - ACT; Pamela Grealey - Green; Ray Cobb - NZ Outdoors & Freedom; Steven Hart - Independent and Vincent Andersen - NZ First.

Rotorua

Todd McClay, National Party, is seeking his seventh term as Rotorua MP.

He was challenged by the Labour Party’s Fisher Wang, Opportunity’s Finn Liley and New Zealand First’s Billy Brown.