'Exceptionally close': Overseas media reacts to NZ election

In the words of Labour leader Chris Hipkins, “New Zealand has spoken”, Australia’s ABC report on the nailbiter election next door began.

“But exactly what it has said is anything but clear.”

Overseas media are facing the same head-scratcher as all of us after Kiwis went to the polls yesterday: who will lead New Zealand for the next three years?

The exceptionally close race showed “every vote really does count”, the ABC wrote.

“There is less than 1% separating the two major parties in New Zealand and the direction of the vote is far from certain.”

Unsurprisingly, given Australia’s proximity to New Zealand and the chunky Kiwi diaspora across the Ditch, the Sydney Morning Herald treated readers to a thorough rundown of the results and what they might mean under MMP.

There was “no definitive victory for the right or left ... but the incumbent conservative Government hovered on the brink of a wafer-thin majority that could allow it to eke out a precarious return to power”, the Sydney Morning Herald’s AAP-bylined report said.

New Zealand's election was leading the world section of the Wall Street Journal website at 8am today.

The unclear outcome was “punishing” for both National and Labour, after voters instead “bolstered power for minor parties on the ideological flanks, and propelled to office a centrist political newcomer, Qiulae Wong of the Opportunity Party”.

The magnitude of her party’s success was “still undecided”.

Last night’s election results also suggested a “shocking exit” from Parliament for some of National’s most senior figures, it wrote.

Apathy about the prime ministerships of both Christopher Luxon (left) and Chris Hipkins played a part in New Zealand's election results, the Sydney Morning Herald reported. Photos / NZME

Meanwhile, Hipkins “hadn’t benefited much from [National leader Christopher] Luxon’s slumping popularity in pre-election opinion polling”.

“Analysts had suggested that economic woes, including inflation, living costs and unemployment – and apathy about the prime ministerships of either Luxon or Hipkins – would see minor parties grow in popularity.”

The UK’s the Telegraph also noted economic angst coat-tailing into the ballot box.

“New Zealanders went to the polls to decide the next government in an extremely tight election dominated by concerns about the cost of living.”

Luxon was confident his right-wing coalition had a path back to office, “despite the preliminary result of Saturday’s election suggesting no overall majority”, the Telegraph wrote.

“With all votes counted, Mr Luxon’s [National] party and the centre-left Labour Party were essentially tied.”

However, National “looks to have the best chance of forming a government, given its coalition options”, the Telegraph wrote.

Opportunity could be the kingmaker in coalition negotiations, the UK's Telegraph told its readers.

The “knife-edge poll” had also drawn attention to New Zealand’s minor parties, notably parliamentary newcomer Opportunity, which could be “kingmaker in forthcoming negotiations”.

The BBC reported an “inconclusive night for New Zealand”.

“The latest electoral commission data suggests a slight lead for National in overall votes,” it wrote around 3am NZT.

“But New Zealand’s electoral system often forces parties into coalition – which means Hipkins’ Labour Party may still take power.”

New Zealand's close election captured attention across the Tasman.

In the politically polarised US, it was Luxon’s response to an impolite supporter that caught the Washington Post’s attention.

National’s leader admonished a supporter who appeared to boo when he congratulated his rivals on a “hard-fought race,”, the Post wrote.

“We don’t do that here”, the Post wrote, quoting Luxon.

“It’s not the Kiwi way.”

Cherie Howie who joined the Herald in 2011. She has been a journalist for more than 20 years and specialises in general news and features.