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National party’s Chris Luxon wins NZ poll


By BBC
Published : 14 Oct 2023 08:59 PM

The opposition National Party has won the New Zealand election, taking enough seats to form a coalition with its allies on the right wing of politics.

Incumbent prime minister Chris Hipkins, of Labour, phoned National's leader Chris Luxon to concede defeat.

Mr Luxon thanked National voters and said they had "reached for hope and you have voted for change".

It marks a rapid elevation for Mr Luxon, who became an MP in 2020 and then National leader a year later.

The New Zealand Herald reported that National was projected to win 51 seats, Labour 33, the Greens 13, Act 12, NZ First 8 and Te Pāti Māori four seats.

National's tally combined with those of Act, a natural ally on the right, would produce a coalition with a majority in the 121-seat parliament.

"I am immensely proud to say that on the numbers tonight, National will be able to lead the next government," said Mr Luxon after National's projected victory was announced.

"My pledge to you is that our government will deliver for every New Zealander." Mr Hipkins, who took over as prime minister after the resignation of Jacinda Ardern, thanked supporters for their campaign work, and said the result was "not one that any of us wanted". Some of Mr Luxon's key election campaign promises included tax cuts for middle-income earners, and a crackdown on crime.

One of the key issues ahead of the election was the cost of living in a country that has been particularly affected by the slowing economy in China, its largest trade partner, and the war in Ukraine. "People don't really think that it's doing better than the rest of the world because they are hurting," said local economist Brad Olsen.

The result is a shock for Labour, who under Ms Ardern secured an outright majority in government in 2020 - unheard of under New Zealand's hybrid form of proportional representation.

But Labour has since lost support, with many New Zealanders dissatisfied over surging prices and the country's long Covid lockdown.

The party's losses were significant, with some high-profile members likely to lose their seats. Nanaia Mahuta, the foreign minister, was losing in her constituency with 51% of the vote counted.