New Zealanders wait for three weeks to confirm winner after tight election
Neither the National nor Labour party secured a clear mandate, forcing leaders to negotiate with minor parties while officials count roughly 400,000 special votes.
By Victoria Hayes ·
2.8 million ballots were counted on election night in New Zealand, leaving the country without a clear winner. The final result will not be known until November 27, when officials finish counting nearly 400,000 special votes.
The vote produced the tightest margin in years. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon of the National Party appears to hold a one-seat lead in the conservative bloc. His center-right party won 29.21% of the party vote. The opposition Labour Party, led by Chris Hipkins, took 29.36% of the vote.
Voters shifted support away from the two dominant parties and toward groups on the political flanks. Libertarian ACT won 13 seats. Populist New Zealand First won 12 seats. The Greens secured 16 seats, and the Indigenous rights group Te Pāti Māori won five.
A new party called Opportunity gained seven seats. Leader Qiulae Wong, a 38-year-old business consultant, has said she can work with either side. Her party previously failed to enter Parliament in three prior attempts.
Luxon told reporters on Sunday that the public is tired of politics. He urged people to take a break for the next three weeks. He will lead a caretaker government until a final outcome is reached. He said National secured more seats than any other group, with 42 total.
Several senior National lawmakers will leave office. This includes the ministers of finance and defense, the speaker of parliament, and the attorney general. Luxon faces a challenging path to form a stable government. He previously ruled out negotiating with Wong but did not say if his slim lead has changed his mind.
The left bloc currently holds 57 seats. They need 66 for a majority. Historical patterns suggest special votes often add seats for left-wing parties. If the count shifts power to the left, Hipkins would likely need Wong's support to govern.
Parties will not begin formal negotiations until the final seat counts are confirmed on November 27. The total number of lawmakers in Parliament is currently set at 131.
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