Wahlen: Neuseeland hat gewählt – knappes Rennen erwartet

Wellington - Following New Zealand's parliamentary election, a very tight contest is expected to unfold between the conservative National Party government and the social-democratic Labour Party. Preliminary results suggest that both incumbent Prime Minister Christopher Luxon (56) and his challenger, predecessor Chris Hipkins (48), may struggle to form a government.

Approximately 3.8 million people were called to the polls, with polling stations closing at 7 a.m. local time (3 p.m. GMT). Counting commenced immediately afterwards. A parliamentary majority requires at least 61 mandates out of 120 seats. The election was overshadowed by occasional heavy rain, particularly affecting the Auckland city on North Island.

New Zealand's Pacific island nation is currently suffering from high living costs, inflation, and rising petrol prices due to the conflict in the Middle East. Luxon's government is facing pressure, with household budget relief dominating the campaign. Pre-election polls had indicated that both major parties could fall below the 30 percent threshold.

Smaller political parties are likely to play a key role, potentially leading to weeks of coalition negotiations. Additionally, hundreds of thousands of so-called alternative votes, including those from New Zealanders abroad and voters who voted outside their original constituency, will be counted in the coming weeks. The final result is expected by November 27.

Luxon's National Party has been in a coalition with the right-leaning ACT Party and the populist New Zealand First since 2023, hoping for a second term. In the previous election, he challenged Labour leader Hipkins. Media often refer to the head-to-head matchup as the "duel of the two Chrises".