New Zealand's Electoral Commission has officially announced the results of the 2023 General Election, which took place on October 14. The outcome has revealed a shift in the political landscape, as a coalition of right-wing parties led by the National Party has lost its majority and must now seek the support of NZ First to establish a government.
According to the latest data, the National Party has lost two seats, reducing their total to 48, down from 50 on election night. In contrast, the Maori Party has gained two seats, bringing their count to six, up from four on election night. Additionally, the Green Party has secured one more seat, resulting in a total of 15 seats, compared to their 14 on election night.
The past three weeks have been dedicated to the meticulous process of recounting all votes, ensuring the eligibility of special votes, scrutinizing the rolls, and conducting comprehensive audit checks to ensure the accuracy of the results, as confirmed by the Electoral Commission.
The official results now indicate a total of 122 seats in Parliament, making this the largest-ever Parliament. There is an overhang of two seats due to the Maori Party winning more electorate seats than their share of the party vote would typically allow. Moreover, an additional seat will be added to Parliament after the Port Waikato by-election, bringing the total to 123 seats.
Despite these changes, there are no alterations for the Labor Party, which retains its 34 seats, ACT New Zealand with 11 seats, and the New Zealand First Party with eight seats, according to the official results.
The voter turnout for enrolled voters in this election stood at 78.2 percent, which is slightly lower than the 82.2 percent in 2020 and the 79.8 percent in 2017. The final enrolment rate was reported at 94.7 percent.
With no single party securing a majority of seats, the formation of a new government will hinge on inter-party negotiations to create a coalition government. This outcome reflects the evolving dynamics of New Zealand's political landscape.
(With Agency Inputs)
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