New Zealand Election Update: National Party Wins Most Votes But Not Enough To Govern Outright

New Zealand’s ruling National Party has won the most votes in the country’s general election but not by enough to form a government without forming a coalition.

National Party has been in power for almost a decade. Labour’s Jacinda Ardern is vying to be NZ’s third female prime minister.

Early polling puts National ahead but suggests no outright winner.

That means New Zealanders may need to wait for days or weeks before knowing who their next leader will be as the different political parties try to negotiate with each other to secure a majority.

With nearly all votes counted, the National Party was leading with 46 per cent, while support for Labour was 35.8 per cent, according to the Electoral Commission.

With the campaign over, who will be the next prime minister of New Zealand could come down to the quirks of the MMP electoral system.

Speaking to supporters in Auckland, Prime Minister Bill English underscored that “just short of half of all New Zealanders voted National” but said it was clear his party could not form government alone.