New Zealand election: Nation in political limbo after knife-edge vote

New Zealand voters face weeks of political limbo after a knife-edge election left the country’s conservative coalition government at risk of losing its majority following just a single term in office. Saturday’s preliminary results show Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s National-led coalition with a two seat majority. But the margin is so tight, a small variance in the final tally could yet leave the opposition left-wing bloc with a chance to form a government. Luxon told supporters gathered in Auckland that while it looked like his party had a pathway to form the next government, the race remained “too close to call.” He said the country would need to wait until the Electoral Commission delivered the final official results on November 27 for certainty. Coalition negotiations could then drag on for weeks before a government is formed.