New Zealand's election has produced no definitive victory for the right or the left after more than 80% of votes were counted, with the conservative bloc hovering near a wafer-thin majority.
New Zealand's election has produced no definitive victory for the right or the left after more than 80% of the votes have been counted. The incumbent conservative government hovered on the brink of a wafer-thin majority that could allow it to return to power.
Christopher Luxon's National party and its minor party coalition partners, libertarian ACT and populist NZ First, were getting close to the slimmest possible return — by just one seat. Saturday's figures showed there could be a 129-seat parliament, with 65 seats needed for a majority. Results suggested a coalition of National, ACT and NZ First would hold 66 seats, a number that fluctuated as the night continued. The 66 included 41 for National, 13 for ACT and 12 for NZ First.
The left-wing bloc, led by the Labour party and Chris Hipkins, appeared to have fallen short of a majority. The left bloc held a combined 56 seats, though numbers there also fluctuated. The environmentally-focused Greens were celebrating a best-ever result of an apparent 16 seats in parliament, with Labour sitting on 35 and Te Pati Maori, an indigenous rights group, securing five.
Mr Luxon did not claim victory in a speech to supporters at National's headquarters in Auckland after midnight.
"National is once again the largest party in parliament and we have a pathway to forming the next government," Mr Luxon said. "But I have to tell you right now it is too close to call."
Earlier, at the Labour headquarters in Upper Hutt, outside of Wellington, a smiling Mr Hipkins did not concede defeat.
"Tonight, New Zealand has spoken," Mr Hipkins told supporters. "It may take us a little bit longer to figure out exactly what it is that you've said."
New Zealanders do not elect prime ministers. Instead they cast two votes, one for their preferred party and one to select a local representative. Parties must either win a constituency seat, or win 5% of the preferred party vote, to enter parliament.
The count on Saturday showed Opportunity had just crossed the 5% threshold, allowing the party seven seats. It was too soon to know whether the support of 38-year-old Ms Wong, whose party appeared set to enter parliament for the first time, would be required for any leader seeking to form a government. Mr Luxon has ruled out governing with Opportunity.
So-called special votes cast by New Zealanders who live abroad or are travelling on election day are counted later, and historically favour the left. In the past four elections, National lost one or two seats when the special votes were counted, while left-wing parties won between one and three additional seats.
Results from 95% of ballots cast are expected by the end of Saturday night. A final, verified tally is due on November 27, including the special votes. After the final count, coalition negotiations between presumptive governing parties often take weeks, even when their majority is clear.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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