New Zealanders vote on final day of tightly contested general election

Polls have opened in New Zealand on the final day of voting in a tightly contested general election. The vote comes against a backdrop of concern over the rising cost of living and the broader state of the economy. Polling stations opened at 9am on Saturday local time and are due to close at 7pm.

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Voting began on October 26, and more than 1.6 million people had already cast ballots by the end of Thursday, according to the Electoral Commission. That figure is out of nearly 3.8 million registered voters. The country also has a strict election-day blackout that bars political parties, news outlets and social media users from commenting on likely outcomes or campaign issues until polling places close.

The governing centre-right National Party and the opposition centre-left Labour Party are described in opinion polls as neck and neck. Neither is on course to win enough seats to govern alone, meaning a small number of seats could determine who forms the next administration. The Electoral Commission plans to release preliminary results from 95% of polling stations by the end of election night, with a final result expected by November 27.

The contest matters because the next government will face pressure over economic conditions that have dominated the campaign. National has pledged fiscal discipline and a return to budget surplus, while also expanding the national pension scheme. Labour has focused on the cost of living, promising cheaper healthcare and transport.

The result will shape how the country responds to those issues in the coming term. New Zealand holds general elections every three years under a mixed-member proportional system. Under that system, voters choose both a local electorate candidate and a political party, and seats are allocated through a combination of electorate wins and party rankings.

That makes coalition-building important when no party wins an outright majority, as appears possible in this election. The current race has therefore been watched closely for signs of which parties may be needed to secure a governing majority. What remains unclear is which party, if any, will emerge with enough support to govern without relying on partners.

The final outcome will depend on the last votes cast on Saturday and on ballots from New Zealanders abroad. Until the preliminary count is released, the balance of power in parliament remains uncertain.

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