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New Zealand elections 2017: What are the key issues? Will the government change? Who are the key parties and politicians?

Labour leader Jacinda Ardern grabs headlines—but will it be enough to win her party power?

Benjamin Kentish
Friday 22 September 2017 20:36 BST
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Jacinda Ardern has run on a left-wing policy platform promising a 'movement for change'
Jacinda Ardern has run on a left-wing policy platform promising a 'movement for change'

New Zealanders go to the polls on Saturday (23 September) to vote in a general election that is currently too close to call.

The centre-right National Party was on course to secure a fourth term, having held power since 2008. That, though, was before the emergence of Jacinda Ardern.

The new leader of the country’s Labour Party only assumed the post at the start of August, when her predecessor, Andrew Little, resigned amid growing unpopularity. Since then, however, the 37-year-old has turned her party’s fortunes around.

Polling at record lows when Ms Ardern took over, Labour is now likely to secure more votes in a general election than it has for a decade. The Nationals’ poll lead has been slashed from 20 per cent to less than 7 per cent in the space of a month.

The final pre-election polls, however, suggest that Jacindamania, as it has been dubbed, might not be quite enough.

The National Party has maintained a slight poll lead and, if current predictions are to be believed, is on course to win the most parliamentary seats.

That would not guarantee them a fourth term in office. New Zealand’s proportional voting system means governing parties almost always have to rule in coalition. That means Labour and the Green Party could join together to form a government led by Ms Ardern.

The Nationals, led by current Prime Minister Bill English, are forecast to win 56 seats, while Labour and the Greens would have a combined 54. Sixty-one seats are needed to secure a parliamentary majority.

In such a situation, the balance of power would likely be held by the New Zealand First party, which has run on a populist, anti-immigration platform. It is currently predicted to win around nine seats.

The party’s leader, Winston Peters, has been coy about which party he would give his backing to.

Inevitably, comparisons have been drawn between Jacinda Ardern and Jeremy Corbyn, but they are not entirely inaccurate. She has run on a left-wing policy platform, promising a “positive” campaign focused on the important role of the state.

The Labour Party leader has vowed to prioritise housing affordability and protecting the environment. She has positioned herself as a change candidate after almost a decade of National rule, saying: “There’s a movement for change and I think after nine years people are starting to believe that we’re drifting.”

Ms Ardern, who was previously her party’s deputy leader, has also promised to offer free higher education and reduce immigration in order to cut pressures on housing and infrastructure.

The National Party has consistently attacked Labour over the economy, claiming the party has a NZ$11.7bn (£6.3bn) hole in its plans. Economic commentators have disputed this, but the attacks have had some impact.

National, meanwhile, has emphasised continuity and stability in its pitch to voters. Mr English has pledged to cut taxes and crack down on crime and gangs.

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