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New Zealand votes in tight general election New Zealand election ends in stalemate
(about 20 hours later)
New Zealand is heading to the polls in a tightly-fought general election. New Zealand's ruling National Party has won Saturday's parliamentary elections but fell just short of a majority.
Polls are showing a slight lead for incumbent Bill English of the ruling National Party over his main challenger Jacinda Ardern of the Labour Party. With all the votes counted, Prime Minister Bill English's party secured 58 seats in the 121-strong chamber.
Labour saw a major surge after the July appointment of the 37-year-old leader but has fallen back slightly since. The opposition Labour Party led by Jacinda Ardern took 45 seats.
The vote is expected to result in a coalition government with one of the minor parties as kingmaker. With parliament hung, the two main political rivals are making overtures to the nationalist New Zealand First party (nine seats), which is now in a position to play kingmaker.
Major campaign issues have been the economy, infrastructure, healthcare and housing. The centre-right prime minister made the first move, saying he would open talks with NZ First "in the next few days".
The election had initially promised limited surprise until Ms Ardern took over the Labour leadership, leading to a sudden surge and bringing her party back into contention. However, NZ First leader Winston Peters has so far given no indication which of the two major parties his organisation will support.
Ms Ardern has targeted young New Zealanders with policies on education subsidies, housing and the environment. Can Ardern 'stardust' win?
The strong Labour support, dubbed "Jacinda-mania", which brought the party neck and neck with the National Party dropped back in the last days of the campaign. New Zealand profile
Her main rival is the current centre-right Prime Minister, Bill English, who has promised voters experience and reliable economic management. Without NZ First, the National Party is unable to form a government as its only ally, ACT New Zealand, secured just one seat.
Mr English became prime minister in 2016 when his predecessor John Key unexpectedly resigned. Ms Arden's party can rely on backing from the Green Party (seven seats) - still not enough to govern in a coalition.
Given New Zealand's proportional representation system, smaller parties like the Greens or New Zealand First are expected to win seats. Neither of the two big parties are expected to win an outright majority. Major campaign issues were the economy, infrastructure, healthcare and housing.
This means the next government is likely to be a coalition with one of the small parties. Ms Ardern targeted young New Zealanders with policies on education subsidies, housing and the environment.
Voting opened at 9:00 local time (21:00 GMT Friday) and closes at 19:00 local time (7:00 GMT). Mr English promised voters experience and reliable economic management.
The first preliminary results are expected shortly afterwards while official results will be announced on 7 October. He became prime minister in 2016 when his predecessor John Key unexpectedly resigned.