Labour haemorrhaged votes to the left and right. It was punished by voters who believed it had spent years in government focussing on peripheral issues.
“New Zealanders have chosen change and we will deliver it,” vowed victorious incoming prime minister Christopher Luxon on election night last weekend in Auckland.
But half a million uncounted votes are likely to determine how much freedom Luxon will have to implement change and whether unpredictable political maverick Winston Peters and his New Zealand First Party can curb his legislative agenda.
Tom RabeWA political correspondentTom Rabe is the WA political correspondent, based in Perth. Connect with Tom on Twitter. Email Tom at tom.rabe@nine.com.au
