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New Zealand election: National Party 'heads to victory' New Zealand's National Party wins re-election
(35 minutes later)
New Zealand's governing National Party is heading towards victory in general elections, early results show. New Zealand's governing National Party has won an emphatic victory in general elections, near-complete results show.
With some 50% of the votes counted, PM John Key's party held 49%, with the opposition Labour Party lagging behind on 24%. The Greens had 10%. With nearly 100% of the votes counted, PM John Key's party held 48%, with the opposition Labour Party lagging behind on 25%. The Greens had 10%.
Mr Key has recently been forced to defend his National Party against allegations of dirty politics and planning mass domestic surveillance. Mr Key has recently been forced to defend his party against claims of dirty politics and mass spying.
But he now looks set to win his third term in office. But he has now won his third term in office, with Labour leader David Cunliffe admitting defeat.
"I have called John Key and congratulated him and acknowledged he will continue to be prime minister of New Zealand," Mr Cunliffe was quoted as saying by the AFP news agency.
Meanwhile, Mr Key said: "I'm ecstatic, it's a great night."
Nearly 3.5 million people were eligible to cast their vote.Nearly 3.5 million people were eligible to cast their vote.
New Zealand's proportional representation electoral system means a coalition government is more likely than any one party winning a majority. Under New Zealand's proportional representation electoral system, a coalition government is more likely than any one party winning a majority.
My Key might have to rely on the populist New Zealand First party to form a government. Party leader Winston Peters, who has been in this position before, has not said which way New Zealand First will go. But the results suggest Mr Key might be able to govern alone, without the support of the populist New Zealand First party.
Labour would need to form a coalition with the Greens, its old allies; New Zealand First; and potentially the Internet-Mana Party which has been funded by Kim Dotcom, the online billionaire accused of copyright infringement in the US. The National Party is projected to win 61 seats in the 120-member parliament, according to the national electoral commission.
Labour looks set to secure 32 seats.
"Distractions""Distractions"
Mr Key, a former banker, campaigned on his strong economic track record and has pledged tax cuts.Mr Key, a former banker, campaigned on his strong economic track record and has pledged tax cuts.
Labour leader David Cunliffe promised to narrow the wealth gap through a capital gains tax and raising the minimum wage. Mr Cunliffe promised to narrow the wealth gap through a capital gains tax and raising the minimum wage.
However, the main policy issues have been somewhat overshadowed by allegations in a book, Dirty Politics, that National used bloggers to smear opponents. It resulted in the resignation of Justice Minister Judith Collins.However, the main policy issues have been somewhat overshadowed by allegations in a book, Dirty Politics, that National used bloggers to smear opponents. It resulted in the resignation of Justice Minister Judith Collins.
Mr Dotcom held an event featuring Edward Snowden, the US National Security Agency (NSA) whistleblower, and Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, who accused Mr Key of mass domestic spying. Online billionaire Kim Dotcom, who had been funding the Internet-Mana Party, held an event featuring Edward Snowden, the US National Security Agency (NSA) whistleblower, and Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, who accused Mr Key of mass domestic spying.
However, Mr Key dismissed the allegations. "There's been all these distractions and different issues going on but the polling hasn't really moved," he told reporters on Friday. "There's just the natural tightening you get in any [campaign] cycle." However, Mr Key dismissed the allegations.
"There's been all these distractions and different issues going on but the polling hasn't really moved," he told reporters on Friday. "There's just the natural tightening you get in any [campaign] cycle."
Are you in New Zealand? What are your feelings toward the election campaigns? You can email your comments to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.Are you in New Zealand? What are your feelings toward the election campaigns? You can email your comments to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.