New Zealanders vote in neck-and-neck nat’l polls
WELLINGTON (Reuters) — New Zealanders went to the polls yesterday after the most hotly contested race in recent history, with changes to the country’s openness to migration and trade and the central bank’s approach to monetary policy among the possible outcomes.
The ruling National Party and opposition Labor Party had been neck-and-neck in opinion polls and will likely have to rely on minor parties to form a coalition in New Zealand’s German-style proportional representation voting system.
A record 1.2 million votes were cast in advance, but neither major party was expected to win an outright majority. Negotiations with minor parties mean it could be weeks before a new government emerges.
“This has been an incredibly engaging and colorful campaign for New Zealanders and that isn’t going to be over at midnight,” Bryce Edwards, an analyst at Critical Politics based here, said.
“The most likely scenario is we are going to have to wait two weeks when the final verdict is in from the Electoral Commission because it is just going to be so close,” he added.
Jacinda Ardern, the charismatic 37-year-old who only became Labor Party leader in August, is vying to become New Zealand’s third female prime minister and the youngest in modern history.
Prime Minister Bill English, who oversaw a disastrous election loss for the National Party in 2002, rose to power last year after his predecessor John Key’s shock resignation. His party has held power for almost a decade.
English and Ardern were expected to maintain fiscal prudence but will probably differ on monetary policy, trade and immigration.
Polls closed at 0700 GMT and preliminary results are due at 1130 GMT.
The final tally will be released on Oct. 7, when “special votes” which include ballots from New Zealanders overseas and those who vote outside their home constituencies, will have come in.