New Zealanders will wait weeks to learn who will lead the country after Saturday's election failed to deliver a decisive win for the right or the left, according to NPR. With 2.8 million ballots counted, the conservative government led by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's National party appeared close to the slimmest possible return to power, by one seat, but Luxon did not claim victory.
National won 29.21% of the party vote and secured its 42 seats entirely by winning local constituency races, while Labour, led by Chris Hipkins, won 29.36% but only 36 seats. Minor parties gained: the Greens won 16 seats, Te Pati Maori five, ACT 13 and New Zealand First 12. The new Opportunity party, led by political newcomer Qiulae Wong, won seven seats.
Luxon will lead a caretaker government while talks take place. "I think everyone's over politics so let's all have a bit of a break for the next three weeks," he told reporters. Parties will not begin negotiations until final tallies are released on Nov. 27, after nearly 400,000 special votes are counted over about three weeks. If no government can be formed, New Zealand could face a fresh vote.
On current numbers the conservative bloc would hold 67 seats, one more than the 66 required for a majority, while the left bloc held 57. Luxon blamed dissatisfaction on global shocks buffeting New Zealand's trade-based economy. Hipkins, removed from office in 2023 largely over the same economic discontent, did not appear to benefit.