New Zealand election results delay coalition talks as parties await final count
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The close election leaves the formation of New Zealand's next government uncertain, with parties waiting for final results before beginning coalition negotiations.
Final results of New Zealand's national election are still pending, leaving the composition of the next government unclear. The incumbent National Party and the opposition Labour Party are tied in party-vote share, and a National-led coalition that includes the Act Party and NZ First is projected to hold 67 seats, a one-seat majority.
Both party leaders said they will wait for the final count before entering formal coalition talks. Max Rashbrooke, adjunct senior research fellow at Victoria University of Wellington, told the BBC that major parties on both sides were likely dissatisfied with their campaigns. He added that Labour's campaign "seems to have inspired few voters" and described the incumbent prime minister as "historically unpopular", while noting that National also "failed to spark enthusiasm" despite its traditionally strong position.
The election resulted in the loss of several senior National lawmakers, including Finance Minister Nicola Willis, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith, Transport Minister Chris Bishop and House Speaker Gerry Brownlee. Act Party leader David Seymour said the party wants a larger role in government, stating that "the government barely survived, it must now put its best foot forward in every step."
The Greens and Act both achieved record vote shares, and the centrist Opportunity Party secured a breakthrough, projected to win seven seats after previously missing parliamentary entry. Opportunity leader Qiulae Wong said the party is open to joining a coalition with either major party but would need to be comfortable with the government's overall direction. Wong noted she has received congratulations from Labour leader Chris Hipkins and Green MP Chlöe Swarbrick, though no coalition discussions have taken place.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, who had earlier ruled out working with Opportunity, told RNZ he intends to speak with Wong "shortly". Counting of roughly 400,000 special votes – including overseas and out-of-electorate ballots – continues; these votes represent about 14% of the total and are expected to influence the final outcome. Senior politics lecturer Claire Timperley explained that special votes tend to lean left, as they are more often cast by younger renters and overseas voters, and may reflect dissatisfaction with the current coalition amid rising cost-of-living pressures and increased emigration.
The final seat allocation will be confirmed in the coming weeks after all special votes are counted.