Polls close in a New Zealand election expected to be the tightest in years, with early results due

Wellington, New Zealand witnessed the closing of polling places on Saturday after the final day of voting in the country's highly competitive election, with the main contenders, the incumbent conservative government led by the National Party and the leftwing bloc led by Labour, deadlocked and without a clear path to victory. Neither Prime Minister Christopher Luxon of the National Party nor opposition leader Chris Hipkins of Labour had demonstrated a clear route to victory in polls leading up to election day, with minor parties on the ideological fringes expected to hold considerable sway in determining the next government's formation.

Voting commenced on October 26 and concluded on Saturday at 7 p.m. New Zealand's Electoral Commission aimed to release a count of 5 percent of the votes within 30 minutes of polls closing, with results from 95 percent of ballots cast expected by the end of Saturday night. The final, verified tally is slated for release on November 27, encompassing votes cast by New Zealanders residing abroad.

Analysts indicated that the outcome of both the rightwing and leftwing blocs remained uncertain before the vote. Luxon, who assumed office in 2020, was not expected to secure a decisive victory.