NZ election ends with National leading but major parties fracturing
Labour and National were separated by just 3,650 votes, with the major parties winning only 59 per cent together.
New Zealand's election produced a razor-thin result with Labour at 710,330 party votes against National's 706,680. Hundreds of thousands of special votes remain uncounted.
National holds a clearer advantage in seats at 42 compared to Labour's 36. Labour and National won only 59 per cent of the party vote combined.
This is the first time since 1996 that the two major parties have fallen below 60 per cent. Turnout dropped to 74.6 per cent, the second lowest in New Zealand's history.
Smaller parties have surged, suggesting the era of majority-style politics may be ending.
- 710,330
- Labour party votes
- 706,680
- National party votes
- 3,650 votes
- Vote margin
- 42
- National seats
Why it mattersVoters are abandoning the major parties. Any government will now rely on shifting coalitions of smaller parties, making it harder to build support for difficult decisions.
AustraliaThe fracturing mirrors Australia's experience with One Nation and minor parties, signalling a broader trend of voter disengagement from traditional major parties across the region.
