Early results put New Zealand governing party ahead in knife-edge vote, with final count due November 27

Early count puts National first

The National Party, a centre-right party currently governing New Zealand, led the early count with 31.19 percent. The centre-left Labour Party followed at 28.35 percent, leaving the contest close in the preliminary figures.

The Electoral Commission also said the centrist Opportunity Party would clear the 5 percent threshold for parliamentary representation. The figures were not yet final, as ballots from New Zealanders overseas were still to be reflected in the result.

Counting and final timetable

Polling places opened at 9am on Saturday and closed at 7pm. Those times corresponded to 20:00 GMT on Friday and 06:00 GMT on Saturday, respectively. The commission planned to publish preliminary results covering 95 percent of polling stations by the close of election night. A complete result was expected by November 27, and there was no specified deadline for forming a government.

How the election works

New Zealand holds a general election every three years using a mixed-member proportional system. Voters select a candidate for their local electorate as well as a political party; they do not directly elect the country’s leader.

Electorate victories bring candidates into parliament, which typically has 120 seats. Additional places go to party members according to their ranking and the party’s share of the nationwide vote, and ballots are counted by hand rather than by machine.

Campaign pledges

National campaigned on bringing the budget back into surplus through fiscal discipline while also expanding the national pension scheme. Labour offered lower-cost healthcare and transport.