New Zealand election ends with tight race

New Zealand's election campaign concluded on Friday, with polls indicating a closely contested race between the Labour and National parties. The final vote will determine the country's next government.

A poll by Infrastructure New Zealand, an industry association, released on Friday showed Labour leading at 30.7%, with National trailing at 26.4%. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon urged voters to participate, emphasizing the importance of the upcoming vote.

Labour leader Chris Hipkins expressed confidence in his party's prospects but cautioned against premature discussions about coalitions. Advanced voting had already seen over 1.67 million voters cast their ballots by Thursday.

New Zealand's electoral system, which requires coalition governments, means smaller parties could hold significant influence. The centrist Opportunity Party, at 5.1%, is positioned to be a potential kingmaker in any coalition.

New Zealand's economy remains fragile, with growth stagnant, rising unemployment at 5.7%, and household budgets under pressure. These issues dominated the campaign, shaping voter sentiment and party strategies.

Campaigning and advertising are now prohibited as voting begins Saturday. Results are expected to be released late Saturday, but the formation of a government could take weeks as parties negotiate coalition terms.