New Zealand braces for knife-edge election: What you need to know
Smaller parties hold the key, with major contenders expected to fall short of the majority needed to govern alone.
New Zealand's election remains too close to call, with polling indicating a fierce competition between the two main parties. As the campaign entered its final days, party leaders made desperate appeals to voters. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon urged supporters to give his National party another three years to complete their work, while Labour opposition leader Chris Hipkins hoped to form a Labour-led government before Christmas.
Early voting began on October 26, with over 1.25 million votes cast by Tuesday, a significant increase from the 1.01 million votes cast at the same point in 2023 according to Electoral Commission data. The election is primarily seen as a verdict on the government's handling of the ailing economy, with inflation easing but rising costs of everyday items like petrol reigniting pressure on households.
An Ipsos survey found that inflation and the cost of living remained voters' top concerns, followed by healthcare and hospitals, petrol prices, and unemployment. Political commentators predict it could take weeks to form a government, with a potential kingmaker role for the centrist Opportunity Party.
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- New Zealand leaders make final appeals as election remains tight freemalaysiatoday.com
- New Zealand leaders make final appeals as election remains tight japantimes.co.jp
