Early NZ election results favour National

National is leading Labour with 25 per cent of the votes in Saturday's election in New Zealand counted, but it's still just short of a majority.

National, going for a fourth term in government in New Zealand, leads Labour 46.2 per cent to 36.1 per cent with 25 per cent of the votes counted in Saturday's election.

NZ First is on 7.1 per cent and the Greens on 6.1 per cent.

With those levels of support in the party vote, National would have 57 seats in a 120-member parliament and Labour 45.

National would be just short of a majority, and even with ACT's one seat would still need NZ First to get over the line.

National won the 2014 election with 47 per cent of the party vote.