Governing party ahead in early results of New Zealand’s knife-edge vote

New Zealand’s governing centre-right National Party leads with 31.19 percent of votes, followed closely by the opposition centre-left Labour Party with 28.35 percent, according to early results.

The country’s Electoral Commission said on Saturday that the centrist Opportunity Party will meet the 5 percent threshold to enter parliament.

Polling stations opened at 9am on Saturday (20:00 GMT Friday) and closed at 7pm (06:00 GMT Saturday).

New Zealand’s Electoral Commission aims to release preliminary results from 95 percent of polling stations by the end of election night on Saturday. A final result, which will reflect ballots cast by New Zealanders abroad, is expected by November 27.

There is no time frame for when a government must be formed.

The National Party pledged to return the budget to surplus through fiscal discipline while expanding the national pension scheme. The Labour Party promised cheaper healthcare and transport.

New Zealand holds a general election every three years under a mixed-member proportional system.

Voters do not elect a leader of the country, but instead select a local electorate candidate and a political party.

Electorate winners earn a seat in the typically 120-seat parliament, as do the highest-ranked members of the party based on their national party vote.

All votes are counted by hand, not by machine.