2026 General Election protocols
The 2026 General Election protocols have been published on the Electoral Commission website.
The protocols set out the respective roles and responsibilities of the Electoral Commission and government agencies for the delivery and support of the election.
Introduction to inter-agency protocols for New Zealand’s 2026 General Election
The introduction to inter-agency protocols for New Zealand’s 2026 General Election describes the protocols that have been developed by the Electoral Commission, Ministry of Justice, the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC), Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) and the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS).
Protocol on the management of election disruptions
The protocol on the management of election disruptions outlines the approach taken by the Electoral Commission and other government agencies to mitigate and manage hazards and threats which could disrupt the General Election.
Protocol on communications related to the 2026 General Election process
The protocol on communications related to the 2026 General Election outlines the roles of agencies in managing public communications for the election, including which government agencies will officially communicate with the public to support participation in the election, as well as the approach for responding to public enquiries during the election period.
Principles and Protocols for the GCSB and the NZSIS in relation to the 2026 General Election
The Principles and Protocols for the GCSB and the NZSIS in relation to the 2026 General Election sets out the processes that would guide any response by the intelligence agencies to foreign interference or cyber security threats to the election.
Download copies of the 2026 election protocols
Advice for candidates
Separate to the protocols, privacy and security advice has been prepared for candidates standing in the 2026 General Election. The advice was prepared by a sub-group of the Major Events Security Committee.