Auckland: Jacinda Ardern has declared victory in New Zealand’s general election, securing a second leadership term.
The Prime Minister said New Zealand had shown the Labour Party its greatest support in at least 50 years and it was clear they would lead the government for the next three years.
“We will not take your support for granted. And I can promise you we will be a party that governs for every New Zealander,” she said.
With the majority of party votes counted, Ms Arden’s Labour Party has taken close to 50 per cent of the vote compared to around 27 per cent for the National Party.
The results so far suggest Labour may have secured enough votes to lead a majority government without the support of a coalition partner.
Jacinda Ardern smiles as she looks ahead of herself, wearing a tan coat, red top and gold earrings. People are behind her.
This has not happened since proportional representation was introduced in the 90s.
New Zealand switched to a mixed member proportional system in 1996, in which a party or coalition needs 61 of Parliament’s 120 seats, usually about 48 per cent of the vote, to form a government.
