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| New Zealand's National Party wins re-election | New Zealand's National Party wins re-election |
| (about 21 hours later) | |
| New Zealand's governing National Party has won an emphatic victory in general elections, near-complete results show. | New Zealand's governing National Party has won an emphatic victory in general elections, near-complete results show. |
| 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%. | 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 party against claims of dirty politics and mass spying. | Mr Key has recently been forced to defend his party against claims of dirty politics and mass spying. |
| But he has now won his third term in office, with Labour leader David Cunliffe admitting defeat. | 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. | "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." | Meanwhile, Mr Key said: "I'm ecstatic, it's a great night." |
| Nearly 3.5 million people were eligible to vote. | Nearly 3.5 million people were eligible to vote. |
| Under New Zealand's proportional representation electoral system, a coalition government is more likely than a majority for one party. | Under New Zealand's proportional representation electoral system, a coalition government is more likely than a majority for one party. |
| But the results suggest Mr Key might be able to govern alone, without the support of the populist New Zealand First party. | But the results suggest Mr Key might be able to govern alone, without the support of the populist New Zealand First party. |
| The National Party is projected to win 61 seats in the 120-member parliament, according to the national electoral commission. | 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, while the Greens will have 13. | Labour looks set to secure 32 seats, while the Greens will have 13. |
| The Internet-Mana Party - which has been funded by online billionaire Kim Dotcom - failed to get a single seat. | The Internet-Mana Party - which has been funded by online billionaire Kim Dotcom - failed to get a single seat. |
| Mr Dotcom, who is accused of copyright infringement in the US, took personal responsibility for the failure. The German-born mogul was not a candidate himself because he is not a New Zealand citizen. | Mr Dotcom, who is accused of copyright infringement in the US, took personal responsibility for the failure. The German-born mogul was not a candidate himself because he is not a New Zealand citizen. |
| "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. |
| Mr 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. | 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. |
| However, Mr Key dismissed the allegations. | 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." | "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." |