The country has voted but the make-up of the new Government is yet to be determined
Will National and Act have the numbers or will they need Winston Peters and New Zealand First?
The two parties, together, have a one-seat majority but more than half a million special votes are still to be counted.
The official result won’t be known for three weeks. In past elections special votes have favoured the left-wing parties. National’s campaign manager has already said the he expects his party to lose at least one seat.
Our expert reporters and commentators will be delving into what the change in Government will mean for our country’s approach to major issues – climate change, law and order, and education
And there are other complicating factors. A by-election will be held in Port Waikato on November 25 after the death of the Act candidate just before the general election. National is almost certain to win this seat.
In the Māori electorates Te Pāti Māori has won four of the seven seats – but it could win another two when the special votes are counted. It trails Labour by fewer than 500 votes in Te Tai Tokerau, and Tāmaki Makaurau.
If it was to win both these seats it would have three more seats than its party vote would proportionally entitle it to so would create what is known as an overhang and Parliament would have 124 seats.
A government would then require 63 seats for a majority and Christopher Luxon would need to make that phone call to Winston Peters. He may decide to make it anyway as a one, two or three-seat majority is still slim and risks instability if any MPs fall by the wayside.
Yes, it is a complicated picture but our job is to keep you informed. We will stay across every twist and turn that is still to come so you will be across it too. National and Act will start negotiating this week. Now what policies will Act want to have a say in? What ministers will it have in cabinet? How much will National be prepared to compromise?
The election result will also have major implications for Labour – the big loser. Will Chris Hipkins stay on as leader or will he depart?
Our expert reporters and commentators will be delving into what the change in Government will mean for our country’s approach to major issues – climate change, law and order, and education. Much will change in the next 100 days but what won’t change is our commitment to report with independence, intelligence and integrity.
More than ever, we think it is worth Making Room for Newsroom.
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