WellingtonNew Zealand’s coalition holds 67 seats, one above a majority.
Special votes, 14% of the total, remain uncounted and have historically favoured the left.
Overseas ballots and votes cast outside home electorates arrive with the final count on 27 November, leaving Christopher Luxon a caretaker.
“It certainly looks as if we’re on track for the least-proportional parliament that we’ve had,” said commentator Ben Thomas.
If the majority falls, either bloc needs the centrist Opportunity Party, which Luxon no longer rules out.
How each outlet framed it
drawn from 100+ reports worldwide
- Breaking News.ie leans favorable
- Hindustan Times
- stresses the 67-seat coalition margin hinges on special votes that historically favor the left, with the final count on Nov 27
- The Straits Times
- foregrounds the Opportunity party as kingmaker and notes National and Labour both fell below 30%, their lowest under the current system
- The Japan Times
Sources: Breaking News.ie, Hindustan Times, The Straits Times, The Japan Times