Election 2026: Planning underway for New Zealand representation at Apec right after election
Officials are attempting to organise New Zealand’s representation at a major world event happening shortly after the election, when a Government is unlikely to be formed.
Normally the Prime Minister attends the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (Apec) leaders’ summit, which is this year being held in Shenzhen, China on November 18-19.
The gathering brings together many of the region’s top leaders, usually including the Chinese President, the Japanese Prime Minister, and representatives from the United States, Russia, and other Asian and Pacific nations.
At last year’s event in South Korea, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon had his first meeting with US President Donald Trump.
However, with the New Zealand election happening on November 7, depending on the results, it’s unlikely a new Government will be in place by the time of this year’s event.
That leads to the question of who might represent New Zealand.
It’s an issue officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) have dealt with before.
In 2023, after it became clear that parties on the right had enough support to govern, then-Prime Minister-elect Christopher Luxon prioritised forming a new coalition over attending the Apec summit, held in San Francisco that year.
Outgoing Trade Minister Damien O’Connor from the caretaker Labour Government went instead to ensure representation by New Zealand. Luxon said he was “very comfortable” with someone from the outgoing administration heading there alone.
A spokesperson for MFAT told the Herald this week that it was “undertaking contingency planning for a range of scenarios to ensure New Zealand is appropriately represented at Apec”.
“As is standard practice during an election period and the subsequent government formation process, the decision on New Zealand’s representation at this year’s Apec economic leaders’ meeting will be made closer to the time.”
Luxon told the Herald an assessment would be made about representation after the election, but he wouldn’t commit to attending himself.
He spoke with Chinese Premier Li Qiang this month and made “that point that actually we’re in the middle of an election season, we will be in caretaker mode”.
Luxon said he told the Premier he wasn’t 100% sure he would be attending this year.
Labour leader Chris Hipkins said a minister could be sent, acknowledging that’s what happened in 2023.
“That would be appropriate, but I imagine party leaders will all be involved in post-election discussions,” he said.
“I certainly am not envisaging attending should Labour be leading the next Government.”
Jamie Ensor is the NZ Herald’s chief political reporter, based in the press gallery at Parliament. He was previously a TV reporter and digital producer in the Newshub press gallery office. He was a finalist in 2025 for Political Journalist of the Year at the Voyager Media Awards.