(Transcript from SBS World News Radio)
Opinion polls are tipping a convincing win for Prime Minister John Key's National Party and allied centre-right parties in this weekend's New Zealand election.
Mr Key has campaigned strongly for a third term in office, saying his party has helped strengthen the country's economy and reduced unemployment.
But the opposition Labour Party argues the National government has implemented policies that have widened the gap between the rich and poor in New Zealand.
Michael Kenny reports.
(Click on the audio tab above to hear the full report)
In his campaign advertisements, John Key has consistently played up his New Zealand government's economic policies.
He has taken credit for reducing debt and for leading the country through tough times like the Global Financial Crisis.
"Our country's gone through a lot of challenges over the last six years, and there's a lot, I think, that we've achieved. But there's so much more to do. If we can just stay the course, then I think, over the next 10 years, we can make a real step change to New Zealand. We've got an emerging Asia, which presents enormous opportunities for New Zealand. Our country is better connected than it's ever been before. Our products are in more demand than they've ever been before."
Mr Key has promised a re-elected National government would deliver a budget surplus this financial year.
He says it would also continue to foster closer trade ties across Asia, with negotiations under way on free trade agreements with South Korea and India.
But opposition Labour Party Leader David Cunliffe says the National Party has failed to address growing economic inequality in New Zealand.
In his campaign ads, Mr Cunliffe has promised a Labour government would address that through decent wage increases and combating rising house prices.
He says that would be done through restricting foreign investment in housing.
"We hear that there is a recovery. But for too many people, that is just not happening. People are having trouble keeping up with the rising cost of living, and, for too many, they're doing it tough. So we're asking, 'Where is your recovery? Is it happening in your community, or your region, all around New Zealand? Is it fair for all, or is the gap between rich and poor getting wider and wider?'"
Recent opinion polls show the National Party winning around 48 per cent of the vote, compared with 26 per cent for the Labour Party.
However, under New Zealand's Multi Member Proportional Representation system, no party can govern in its own right without securing at least 50 per cent of the vote.
The National Party, therefore, is likely to turn to smaller parties such as the Conservative Party to form a minority government.
Polling shows the Conservatives winning around 9 per cent of the vote.
Labour has traditionally turned to the Greens to form a government, and the Greens' polling has been strong at around 14 per cent.
Labour has indicated it could also turn to the anti-immigration New Zealand First party, polling around 7 per cent.
Dr Bryce Edwards specialises in New Zealand politics at the University of Otago in Dunedin.
He says the National Party has run a highly effective campaign on economic policy which probably will lead to its re-election.
"The current National government has really sold itself on this idea that it's managed to get New Zealand through the recession over the last six or seven years and that it's doing a good job of managing the books, it's getting New Zealand back into surplus, in terms of the government borrowing, and there is economic growth -- employment's going up. So, for a lot of people, that's the main issue."
Dr Edwards says the opposition Labour Party and New Zealand First have been trying to lure voters concerned about growing foreign investment in farming and housing.
He says that has triggered some anti-immigrant sentiment.
The National Party has been keen to distance itself from that issue as it tries to win over growing numbers of voters from non-English speaking backgrounds.
"At the moment, the ruling government of National is seen as being more open to immigration and more open to foreign investment, and the parties of the left are questioning whether the appropriate levels of that are occurring."
Like its trans-Tasman neighbour Australia, New Zealand has experienced marked changes in migration patterns over recent years.
Asian migrants, particularly from China, India and South Korea, have overtaken migrants from Britain and Ireland as the largest pieces of New Zealand's migration program.
Honey Rasalan manages the Auckland-based advocacy group Migration Action Trust.
She suggests the major parties are not handling the country's growing cultural diversity well with properly resourced settlement services for new migrants and refugees.
Ms Rasalan says, with voting voluntary in New Zealand, there is also a real need for better community language campaigns to encourage new migrants to register to vote.
"In the last election, almost a million registered voters did not vote, which is quite huge. And a large percentage of those are actually migrant voters. It seems that there's, really, a competition to get more votes, so they are trying to aim for those people who haven't voted yet."
That competition for votes extends to Australia, with 16 polling booths set up for New Zealand expatriates and visitors to have their say in Saturday's election.
Over 21,000 overseas votes were cast at the last election in 2011.
This year, votes can be cast online, via the post or in person at the voting stations across Australia.
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