{"id":641881,"date":"2026-10-26T15:06:24","date_gmt":"2026-10-26T15:06:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/641881\/"},"modified":"2026-10-26T15:06:24","modified_gmt":"2026-10-26T15:06:24","slug":"halloween-plans-heres-some-costume-inspiration-from-the-2026-election","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/641881\/","title":{"rendered":"Halloween plans? Here’s some costume inspiration from the 2026 election"},"content":{"rendered":"

New taxes? Scary!<\/p>\n

With New Zealanders haunted by the ghosts of elections past and biting their nails over what\u2019s coming around the corner, Halloween comes at an apt time this year. In the name of helpful service journalism, we\u2019ve collected a cohort of election-themed costume ideas for you. Want to dress up as Christopher Luxon? Or one of those crucial overseas voters<\/a>? How about a fiscal hole? Read on!<\/p>\n

Christopher Luxon<\/p>\n

Dust off your Christopher Luxon cosplay because there\u2019s an election-season update. The National Party leader surprised the country with the admission that a box of Frujus was part of his weekly shop (in this economy?!). Even more shocking was the revelation that his favourite flavour is pineapple, which could be read as a sign of questionable judgment and\/or unbridled optimism.\u00a0<\/p>\n

This costume is fairly easy, but for an authentic representation getting the tie right is critical; it must be very wide, very thick and very blue. The closest approximation I could find was this jacquard silk number<\/a> with an 8.5cm blade from Working Style, $149. Wear it with a bald cap <\/a>from BodyFX, $30, herringbone shirt<\/a> from Farmers, $79.99, navy suit<\/a> from Working Style, $999 (on sale) and the requisite Fruju<\/a>, $3.30, from Woolworths.<\/p>\n

\"AI don’t know how to make it any clearer guys.<\/p>\n

An overseas voter<\/a><\/p>\n

Sure, tell me more about London\u2019s metro system and the Tesco meal deal.\u00a0<\/p>\n

UK Youth Mobility Scheme visa<\/a>, \u00a3340, Healthcare surcharge, \u00a3776, and \u00a32,530 in savings.<\/p>\n

\"OneOh, you live in Clapham? Cool.<\/p>\n

Chris Hipkins<\/p>\n

The mood of this year’s campaign can be summed up in an image of a haunted Chris Hipkins clutching his recently finished copy of The Road<\/a>, staring into the distance as he imagines a future for our great island nation. (What that actually is, few can say.)<\/p>\n

Wear a Softshell jacket<\/a> from Galaxy Apparel, $85, grab a copy of The Road<\/a> from Lamplight Books, $40, and straighten your boyish Barkers tie<\/a>, $69.99.<\/p>\n

\"AIs this dystopia?<\/p>\n

A fiscal hole<\/p>\n

There are so many of them<\/a> but the premise is all the same: there\u2019s money missing, allegedly, and someone can\u2019t do maths properly.<\/p>\n

Pick up a Casio desktop calculator<\/a>, $86, a sheet of Plasti-Flute<\/a>, $12.99, and whiteboard marker<\/a>, $1.99, (for corrections) from Warehouse Stationery. Oh and don\u2019t forget this<\/a>, POA, for finger pointing.<\/p>\n

\"AIs the fiscal hole in the room with us?<\/p>\n

Winston Peters and Taine Randell<\/p>\n

This couples costume combines the mana of two professionally competitive men, united in their apparently shared prowess on the rugby field and desire to \u201cput New Zealanders first\u201d. It\u2019s the premise of a head turning ad from New Zealand First<\/a> released this month. In a rare departure from his traditionally impeccable suiting, party leader Winston Peters wore a [redacted]-esque jersey. You\u2019ll need one too.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Fern Brand jersey<\/a> from Rebel Sport, $45, grey wig<\/a> from Amazon, $19.85, ball<\/a> from The Warehouse, $19.99. The Taine to your Winston will need this AS Colour \u201cchad\u201d polo<\/a>, $50, and a Rodd & Gunn quarter-zip<\/a>, $229. (Savvy play from Taine; this bipartisan piece of knitwear is approved by politicians like Barack Obama<\/a>, who wore New Zealand brand Untouched World<\/a>, and Rishi Sunak<\/a>.) New Zealand flag pin<\/a>, $10, from the National Army Museum.<\/p>\n

\"AIt’s a try!<\/p>\n

R\u014dpata, The Greens\u2019 tuatara<\/p>\n

In a shocking failure of the free market, no one appears to sell an accurate tuatara costume. Lizard options are also in short supply, so a larger, retired reptile will have to suffice.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Dinosaur suit <\/a>from costumeworld.co.nz<\/a>, $183.99, Hallensteins fedora<\/a>, $29.99.<\/p>\n

\"AnGood luck.<\/p>\n

This woman<\/a><\/p>\n

Easy. Just wear a red v-neck and be extremely expressive in the back of everyone’s photos.<\/p>\n

Cotton On top<\/a>, $29.<\/p>\n

\"AIcon.<\/p>\n

David Seymour<\/p>\n

Capture the energy of Act leader David Seymour clocking in at the grocery store<\/a> with a blend of faithful mimicry and some creative license.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Polo Ralph Lauren shirt<\/a> from Ballantynes, $309, Four Square<\/a> cap, fuchsia tie<\/a> from RJB, $59 and a hot (fiscally conservative) mince and cheese pie.<\/p>\n

\"AThat’s one way to check out this election cycle.<\/p>\n

An 18-year-old\u00a0<\/p>\n

Grab your favourite hoodie from the washing basket, charge your vape and head to the party armed with a fresh easy vote card. Or just don\u2019t turn up. That\u2019s accurate too.<\/p>\n

Hallensteins hoodie<\/a>, $69.99, Hyoketsu<\/a> from Tokyo Liquour, $3.50, and easy vote card, free if you enrol.<\/p>\n

\"AThis year young people (and everyone else) had until October 25 to enrol.<\/p>\n

Hoarding volunteers<\/p>\n

They move through the night with the pressure and haste of a horror movie final girl, armed to the teeth with wood, nails and a 12am deadline. When they\u2019re done, no election hoardings<\/a> remain standing.<\/p>\n

High-vis vest from Bunnings<\/a>, $9.50, Eveready torch <\/a>from Mitre 10, $29.98, Makita drill driver from Bunning<\/a>s, $244, Monster energy drink <\/a>from Woolworths, $3.99, alarm clock<\/a> from The Warehouse, $16.99<\/p>\n

\"AGets the job done.<\/p>\n

Jack Tame and Lil Jon<\/p>\n

Another couple\u2019s costume. Or one for a throuple if someone\u2019s keen to be the wall<\/a>. Hell, throw in Chris and Chris so the whole polycule has a role to play. Jack Tame and Lil Jon were unexpectedly intertwined by the TVNZ leaders debate \u2013 luckily both have clearly defined looks that are fairly easy to DIY. For Tame, you\u2019ll need the slimmest suit you can squeeze into, a flawless coiffure and that mischievous smirk. For Jon it\u2019s all in the accessories; grill, eyewear, cap and a chain.<\/p>\n

Suit<\/a>, from $2,495, shirt<\/a>, $345, and tie<\/a>, $295 from Crane Brothers, Baxter of California pocket comb<\/a>, $37, from Mancave. Lil Jon will need a checked shirt<\/a>, $250, from Infinite\/Definite, sunglasses<\/a>, $24.99, from Glassons, 9ct gold grillz<\/a>, $1,699, from The Tooth Fairy, a goblet<\/a>, $6.30 plus GST, to hire from First Scene, and an Atlanta Braves cap<\/a>, $64.99, from Redrat.co.nz<\/a> \u2013 or, for the bold, a white fedora<\/a>, $11.20, from Spotlight.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"CueTo the wall!<\/p>\n

A grocery bill<\/p>\n

Horrifying.<\/p>\n

Skims dress<\/a>, $156.<\/p>\n

\"AOK, but make it sexy.<\/p>\n

An overhang (strap a seat to your back)<\/p>\n

Depending how the electorate votes shake out, some parties might get an extra seat\u2026 or more! That\u2019s called an overhang. That situation could, quite literally, mean more chairs are required in parliament. But since it\u2019s doubtful they\u2019ll do a rush order on green leather upholstery, let’s explore some other options for this ultra-niche halloween costume.<\/p>\n

Attach any of the following to your back with some rope<\/a>, $8.95, from Bunnings: stackable plastic chair<\/a> from Taurus Outdoor, POA, Martino Gamper Arnold Circus Stool<\/a> from Thread Design, $295, multi-functional Ikea child\u2019s chair<\/a>, $49.99, camping chair<\/a> from Mitre 10, $10.98.<\/p>\n

\"AnAt least you’ll always have somewhere to sit.<\/p>\n

Carlos Cheung<\/p>\n

Will people think you\u2019re Woody? Probably. Will they know you\u2019re really National\u2019s Mt Roskill candidate doing a bit for Instagram? Only if you explain it and are willing to be the most boring \u201cum, actually\u201d person at the party.<\/p>\n

You can literally just buy this whole outfit<\/a> at Spotlight, $76. Nerf gun from The Warehouse, $39.99.<\/p>\n

\"AThere’s a new sheriff in town.<\/p>\n

Ellie Commission<\/p>\n

An impersonation of an impersonation is the kind of hollow, meta costume that feels accurate for this election cycle, itself an ouroboros of reruns and deja vu. Thankfully Ellie Commission<\/a> makes the most of an orange morph suit (with more pizzazz than Orange Guy\u2019s cousin<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Morph suit<\/a> from costumebox.com.au, from $73, Bonds crop top<\/a> from The Warehouse, $17.99, Glassons shorts<\/a>, $39.99, Pleaser boots<\/a>, $205, Look Sharp sunglasses<\/a>, $2, and gloves<\/a>, $4, wig<\/a> from Discount Party Supplies, $18.24. Don\u2019t forget sausages<\/a>, $10, and bread<\/a>, $2.12, and Wattie\u2019s tomato sauce<\/a>, $5.79, from Woolworths, and those all-important enrolment forms<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"VariousWho is she?<\/p>\n

New taxes<\/p>\n

Scary!!!<\/p>\n

Grim reaper costume<\/a>, $22.50, fabric paint<\/a>, $15, and brush<\/a>, $4, from Spotlight.<\/p>\n

\"Ghostface“What’s your favourite scary movie?”<\/p>\n

Nicola Willis\u00a0<\/p>\n

She\u2019s fixing<\/a> the basics and balancing the books. For authenticity, book an appointment at Rodney Wayne<\/a> if you have time.<\/p>\n

Swanndri jacket<\/a>, $339.99, Rhino bench scale<\/a>, $139, and Ryobi drill starter kit<\/a>, $99.98, from Bunnings.<\/p>\n

\"ADIY this one.<\/p>\n

Ballot box<\/p>\n

Prepare for a night of penetrating opinions.<\/p>\n

Carton<\/a>, $5.96, brush<\/a>, $6.20, and British Paints sample pot<\/a>, $12.50, from Bunnings, Sellotape<\/a>, $7.99, and Fiskars cutting knife<\/a>, $10, from Warehouse Stationary.<\/p>\n

\"CardboardJust don’t confuse advance voters.<\/p>\n

Train<\/p>\n

Dig out last year\u2019s CRL costume<\/a> because this one\u2019s a crowd pleaser \u2013 everyone loves them now! The Greens and Labour both want further fare caps for public transport, Opportunity reckons it should be free, and New Zealand First wants to reinstate commuter rail<\/a> to Canterbury. Couples costume? No worries. One of you can be a very chuffed Simeon Brown.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Box, $10.90 from Kennards<\/a>, silver duct tape, $14.88 from Bunnings<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"AFull steam ahead to election day, November 7.