New Zealand's right wing splits over election strategy as coalition partners
ACT and NZ First are funding ads that urge voters to split their votes. This strategy would boost the partners' own power in government.
New Zealand's election is on November 7. It is too close to call.
The right wing is splitting over how to win. John Key, a former National prime minister, is warning supporters not to play games with their vote.
ACT and NZ First, National's own coalition partners, are funding ads urging exactly that. ACT and NZ First want voters to give their electorate vote to National.
They want the party vote to go toward them instead. The system allows this.
If a party wins more electorate seats than its party vote share, it keeps the extra seats. National holds 44 electorates.
But its party vote has fallen to the mid-20s. Don Brash is a former National and ACT leader.
He is backing the strategic voting campaign. He believes it could give ACT and NZ First bigger roles in government.
For National, the risk is severe. It could lose several key ministers who rely on party votes.
These include Finance Minister Nicola Willis, Defence Minister Paul Goldsmith and Speaker Gerry Brownlee.
- November 7
- Election date
- 44
- National electorate seats held
- mid-20s
- National party vote estimate
- Don Brash
- Former ACT and National leader backing
Why it mattersA right-wing coalition could still win government. But it could emerge with fractured power and missing key figures. This makes it harder to govern. It also delivers more power to smaller partners.
AustraliaNew Zealand's election outcome will shape the region's policy on trade, defence and climate, affecting business and diplomatic ties across Oceania.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 2 h ago
