New Zealand poised for weeks of political wrangling after knife-edge poll

New Zealand faces weeks or potentially months of negotiations after an election produced no clear winner. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says his National-led coalition has a mandate to govern, but the result is close and the final count could change the balance.

National has 42 seats and, with NZ First and ACT, holds a preliminary majority of just two. The final tally is due on 27 November and includes nearly 400,000 special votes, which have historically tended to favour left-leaning parties. The centrist Opportunity Party has won seven seats and could become influential in government formation, while voters are also concerned about high prices and unemployment at its highest level in more than a decade.