New Zealand’s ‘Special Vote’ Count Sees National Party Lose Majority

New Zealand will likely be governed by a 3-way coalition involving the libertarian ACT, and nationalist New Zealand First.

A voter casts a special vote during election day at Johnsonville School on Oct. 14, 2023 in Wellington, New Zealand. Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)

New Zealand’s National Party has lost two seats after “special vote” counts concluded on Nov. 3 following the country’s recent election, meaning leader Christopher Luxon will need to rely on powerbroker Winston Peters to form government.

Special vote results showed the centre-right National Party now had 48 seats compared with 50 on election night.