New Zealand Awaits Final Election Count as Governing Coalition Holds Narrow Lead

New Zealand faces weeks of uncertainty over its next government after Saturday's election left the governing coalition with a narrow preliminary majority and a potentially decisive group of ballots still uncounted.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's National Party and its partners, ACT and New Zealand First, were on track for 67 seats in a projected 131-seat parliament, Reuters reported, citing Electoral Commission preliminary results. A majority would require 66 seats.

Special votes, including overseas ballots and votes cast outside a person's electorate, account for around 14% of the total and remain to be counted. The Electoral Commission says official results are expected Friday, November 27. The preliminary seat balance can still change.

Neither Luxon nor Labour leader Chris Hipkins claimed victory after the election. Luxon will lead a caretaker government until a governing coalition is formed.

If the current coalition loses its majority in the final count, the centrist Opportunity Party could become important to forming a government. Luxon softened his previous opposition to working with the party Sunday, saying it would be appropriate to build a relationship without committing to an agreement.