NZ Election results: Devastating verdict on Jacinda Ardern years as New Zealand voters turn against her Labour successor Chris Hipkins in ‘bloodbath’

The centre-right opposition National is on track to win the New Zealand election, ending six years of Labor government.

Early results in the New Zealand competition are overwhelmingly positive for Chris Luxon’s party.

Polls in the run-up to election day suggested National would win the race but would need support from two minor parties – ACT and New Zealand First – to govern.

With 20 per cent of the National party’s vote counted, the results suggest National may only need its preferred partner, the right-wing ACT Libertarians, to clinch a majority in parliament.

National has 41.9 percent of support, with ACT on 9.2 percent.

The early result points to Luxon, a first-term MP and former chief executive of Air New Zealand, becoming prime minister.

In contrast, Labour’s vote has fallen from a record 50 per cent in the 2020 election to 25.9 per cent.

The result is a major denial of Labour’s campaign for a third term under new leader Chris Hipkins, who succeeded Jacinda Ardern in January.

The Greens are on track to improve their share of the vote, at 10.2 percent, but are forced into opposition given the overall left-wing vote decline.

New Zealand First, the party of veteran populist Winston Peters looks set to return to parliament, with 6.0 percent of the vote.

While it is early in the night, it already looks as if the gap in support between the right and the left will be too far for Labor and its supporting parties to overcome.

The right united block is with 57.1 percent, while the left with 38.6 percent.

National vice president Nicola Willis said the party was not yet claiming victory.

“It’s too early to count the chickens, but we can see some positives coming through the numbers,” she said.

“It’s a great feeling.

“The clear thing coming at this point is a very strong party vote for National… New Zealanders want change.”

Auckland electorates appear to favor National, with some deep red seats either likely to fall or in the balance.

With 31 per cent of the vote counted, national candidate Melissa Lee leads in Mt Albert: the inner Auckland seat previously held by leaders Helen Clark and Ms Ardern and a Labor stronghold since its formation in 1946.

The six-week election campaign – dubbed the battle of the crunches – has been a very negative contest, with National attacking Labour’s record and Labor attacking National’s policy prescriptions.

NEW ZEALAND ELECTIONS – PRELIMINARY RESULTS AFTER 25 PERCENT VOTES COUNTED

National – 41.9 percent (compared to 26 percent in 2020) – likely 52 MPs

Labor – 25.9 per cent (compared to 50 per cent in 2020) – likely 32 MPs

Greens – 10.2 per cent (compared to eight per cent in 2020) – likely 13 MPs

ACT – 9.2 percent (compared to eight percent in 2020) – likely 12 MPs

NZ First – 6.0 per cent (compared to three per cent in 2020) – likely eight MPs

Maori Party – 2.5 per cent (compared to one per cent in 2020) – likely five MPs