New Zealand in Limbo as 500,000 ‘Special Votes’ Still Being Counted

Conservative Christopher Luxon is negotiating in private with ACT and New Zealand First on forming government.

National Party leader Christopher Luxon, (2L) celebrates with his wife, Amanda Luxon, (2R) and children Olivia Luxon (L) and William Luxon (R) at Shed 10 in Auckland, New Zealand, after winning the general election on Oct. 14, 2023. Fiona Goodall/Getty Images

New Zealand will have to wait for more than half a million special votes to be counted before the final makeup of the Parliament is known.

These special votes aren’t due to be fully counted by the New Zealand Electoral Commission until Nov. 3. The ballots will include postal votes from people who live or have been travelling overseas.