As it happened: Jacinda Ardern claims victory, Collins concedes defeat

Thank you for joining us this evening. Before I sign off, here's a final update on the numbers.

About 98.5 per cent of votes have been counted. Labour's 49 per cent share of the vote – which equates to 64 of 120 seats – has not shifted in the last hour.

Meanwhile, the National Party remains at 26.9 per cent, about 35 seats. The ACT New Zealand and Green Party have both snapped up 10 seats, while the Maori Party has gained one seat.

Jacinda Ardern celebrates her win during the Labor Party Election Night Function at Auckland Town Hall.Credit: Getty Images

We'll find out the results of the referendum after election day, with preliminary results released on October 30.

You can catch on the day's events here.

Jacinda Ardern's partner Clarke Gayford said when he saw the initial polling numbers, he thought they would taper off.

"I was like, 'Well that will come down, that can't hold'," he told 1 News. "It just stayed pretty consistent the whole way through."

"It's just so remarkable. I am so proud of the whole team."

Jacinda Ardern's partner Clarke Gayford brought food to media waiting on the election result outside their home. Credit: Getty Images

He added that the success of the night had not sunk in, with his focus during on not burning fish he cooked up for waiting journalists outside the family home and whether their daughter Neve could "sleep through all the noise in our house".

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has congratulated Jacinda Ardern on her re-election, saying he is looking forward to working with her.

It's been about three hours since the polls closed and almost 100 per cent of the votes have been counted.

Meanwhile, here are some photos of the evening.

Jacinda Ardern celebrates her win this evening. Credit: Getty Images

National leader Judith Collins says she called Ardern to congratulate her on the win. Credit: Getty Images

A view of the Labour celebrations on Saturday evening.Credit: Getty Images

Runner up candidate for Wairarapa Mike Butterick has congratulated Labour’s Kieran McAnulty on his win. It's only politics after all.

With 94 per cent of all votes tallied, Labour's 49 per cent share – which equates to 64 of 120 seats – has not shifted in the last hour.

To Australians accustomed to one of the two major parties claiming more than 50 per cent and a majority victory in most elections (though not so much in the last decade) that might sound a little underwhelming.

But because of the nature of New Zealand's mixed-member proportional representation (MMP) system, 49 per cent is a huge result.

Coalition governments are par for the course in New Zealand since the switch to MMP in 1996.

Ardern became Prime Minister in 2017, after winning just 36.89 per cent of the vote and 46 seats, because of her alliance with the Greens and NZ First.

For National, the news is not so good. At this stage it has won 26.9 per cent of the vote and just 35 seats: a loss of 21 MPs compared to the 2017 result.

The Greens will be pleased to have gained two seats compared to 2017, rising to 10 with 7.5 per cent of the vote.

The other big winner looks to be the centre-right ACT party, which has catapulted from one parliamentary seat to 10 as it has passed the 5 per cent threshold for "party list" seats and won 8 per cent of the vote.

As mentioned previously, the Maori Party may now be on track to sneak back into Parliament after a three-year absence with one seat.

NZ First, which has won just 2.6 per cent of the vote, looks like it has lost all nine of its seats because of that same 5 per cent threshold working against it.

That means Ardern's deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Winston Peters, is out of the Parliament.

Jacinda Ardern said the results so far demonstrated Labour had a "very clear mandate to lead a government."

Ardern was asked if she was sad to see Winston Peters and NZ First fall on hard times.

She said regardless of one's position on the political spectrum, Peters' contribution to politics over the decades should be acknowledged.

Jacinda Ardern said the results already in demonstrated Labour had a "very clear mandate to lead a government".Credit: Getty Images

"I, for one, am very proud of what we achieved in government together."

The PM said Judith Collins called to acknowledge Labour's efforts during the campaign, and the National Party leader seemed sincere.

Ardern said she would catch up with family on Sunday, but would also have discussions with her colleagues.

"I did say that the work would start tomorrow. And it will."

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Australian Labor leader Anthony Albanese has taken to social media to congratulate Jacinda Ardern on her win.

Earlier today, Albanese posted a tweet wishing the New Zealand Prime Minister well, but deleted it after the New Zealand Electoral Commission told him the post breached their social media rules.

In New Zealand, strict rules prevent the posting of anything that could be seen as influencing votes on election day between midnight and 7pm Saturday.

Jacinda Ardern has just spoken to TV NZ, a few moments after she claimed victory before Labour supporters gathered in Auckland's town hall.

On the current numbers, Ardern won't need the Greens to form government – she can claim a majority of seats in the Parliament for the first time since New Zealand moved to the mixed-member proportional representation (MMP) system in 1996.

Ardern said she will talk to the centre-left party about joining her party in government after taking the night to digest her huge win.

The re-elected Prime Minister did indicate, however, that she was reluctant to hand over the deputy prime ministership to the Greens.

"First thing tomorrow, we can crack on with work," she added.

In other news, the NZ Electoral Commission is now projecting the Maori Party could win one seat in the Parliament.

The party last held a seat in the Beehive from 2014-2017, when it lost both its seats.

One of the biggest questions for the Labour party is who will be Jacinda Ardern's deputy prime minister now that former deputy prime minister, and leader of New Zealand First, Winston Peters did not get enough votes for a seat.

Jacinda Ardern has said to NewsHub that she hoped Winston Peters felt proud of what they had achieved over the last three years, because she certainly did.

"He has dedicated his life to public life and Parliament," she said.

When asked about the phone call that National leader Judith Collins made before her concession speech, Ardern said it was sincere.

"She acknowledged the results and congratulated me," Ardern said.