New Zealand Vote Too Close to Call as Minor Parties Surge to 6%
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Nov 6
New Zealand Vote Too Close to Call as Minor Parties Surge to 6%
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Nov 6
Summary
More than 99% of New Zealand’s party vote was counted Saturday night with National and Labour tied at about 29% each, leaving the election unresolved.
Preliminary results gave Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s governing coalition 67 seats—just above the 66 needed to govern—but hundreds of thousands of special and overseas votes still to be counted could shift that balance.
The Opportunity Party emerged as a potential kingmaker after winning about 6% of the party vote, enough to enter Parliament for the first time under New Zealand’s proportional system.
Economic sluggishness and political discontent drove voters toward smaller parties, while both major parties hovered near historic lows and coalition talks could stretch until the official result on Nov. 27 or beyond.