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Jacinda Ardern (left) and Judith Collins (right) are vying to lead New Zealand through the coronavirus crisis.

Jacinda Ardern (left) and Judith Collins (right) are vying to lead New Zealand through the coronavirus crisis. Source: AAP

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Jacinda Ardern's Labour party claims a landslide victory in New Zealand's general election

Will Jacinda Ardern secure a second term, or will rival Judith Collins pull off a massive upset? Stay tuned for all the action as the polls close in New Zealand's general election.

Jacinda Ardern (left) and Judith Collins (right) are vying to lead New Zealand through the coronavirus crisis.

Jacinda Ardern (left) and Judith Collins (right) are vying to lead New Zealand through the coronavirus crisis. Source: AAP

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That's all from us for the night
That's all from us on the liveblog tonight - thanks to everyone who tuned in. 

You can find a comprehensive wrap-up of Jacinda Ardern's historic landslide victory here, and we'll be back tomorrow with analysis and reactions to the result. 

READ MORE

Jacinda Ardern promises to govern 'for every New Zealander' after landslide election victory



To briefly recap the major events:

  • Jacinda Ardern's Labour has gained a historic election majority, with some 49 per cent of the vote and a projected 64 seats in parliament
  • That gives Labour a parliamentary majority - all eyes now turn towards whether they will form a coalition with the Greens, even if they don't technically need to
  • The National party - led by Judith Collins - has slumped to one of its worst-ever defeats
  • Winston Peters, the old warhorse of New Zealand politics and the current deputy PM, has failed to be re-elected
 

The final tallies
With almost 100 per cent of the vote counted, the New Zealand electoral commission has a round-up of where things stand with the major parties. 

Jacinda Ardern's Labour party is on track to win 64 seats, which gives it a historic majority in the 120-seat New Zealand parliament. 

The Nationals, New Zealand's second biggest party, have won just 35 seats in what is a crushing defeat for leader Judith Collins. 

The right-leaning ACT party have won 10 seats, while the left-leaning Greens have also won 10 seats. 

The Maori party, on current estimates, looks to have won just the single seat. 

Where things stand with 94 per cent of the vote counted in New Zealand.
Where things stand with 94 per cent of the vote counted in New Zealand. Source: Undefined / NZ Electoral Commission.


'Let's step forward together'
Continuing her speech, Ms Ardern said tonight's results have been "strong".

"It is clear that Labour will lead the government for the next three years. There is so much work to do," she said.

Ms Ardern said her government will work to build back from the COVID-19 pandemic, and build an economy "that works for everyone". 

"This has not been an ordinary election, and it's not an ordinary time. It's been full of uncertainty and anxiety and we set out to be an antidote for that," she said, adding elections "do not have to be divisive". 

"We will govern as we campaigned: positively with optimism about our future. 

"Now more than ever is the time to keep going, to keep working, to grab hold of the opportunities that lay in front of us.

“Let’s step forward together. Let’s keep moving." 

With 90 per cent of the votes counted, the Labour Party has secured 48.9 per cent and a projected 64 seats, while the National party trails far behind on 27 per cent. 

 

'We will be a party that governs for every New Zealander,' Ardern says
Jacinda Ardern has arrived at Labour Party headquarters, where she started her speech in Maori. 

"Tonight, New Zealand has shown the Labour Party its greatest support in at least 50 years," she said.

"For that I have two words - thank you.

"... most importantly, thank you to the many people who gave us their vote, who trusted us to continue with leading New Zealand's recovery, who backed the plan we are already rolling out. 

"To those amongst you who may not have supported Labour before - and the results tell me there were a few of you - to you, I say thank you. We will not take your support for granted.

"And I can promise you, we will be a party that governs for every New Zealander."

Ms Ardern has led her party to 49 per cent of the vote, with over 86 per cent of the votes counted. 

Labour's finance minister outlines the path ahead
Labour's current finance minister - and the presumptive next finance minister - Grant Robertson, has outlined the government's priorities for the next few years, as the country recovers from the coronavirus pandemic. 

"This recovery and rebuild needs to include every New Zealander," he says. 

"We've got a job to do with COVID-19, we also have an economic recovery and rebuild to get on with as well."

 

Judith Collins congratulates Jacinda Ardern on a 'great result for Labour'
Ms Collins said she has phoned Ms Ardern to concede the election, congratulating her on an "outstanding result for Labour".

"It has been a tough campaign. New Zealand is in for a tough economic ride, and it is going to need better fiscal policy than we have so far seen," she said. 

READ MORE

Jacinda Ardern promises to govern 'for every New Zealander' after landslide election victory



Ms Collins said the National party "will take time to reflect, and [we] will review, and [we] will change". 

"National will re-emerge from this loss a stronger, disciplined and more connected party," she said. "I promise you, the National Party will be a robust opposition.

"And I say to everybody, we will be back. Tonight is the start of the next campaign. Bring on 2023."

Ms Collins' supporters cheered her name as she left the stage. 

Judith Collins arrives at National headquarters
National leader Judith Collins has arrived at her party's headquarters with her husband and son. 

"We always knew it was going to be tough, didn't we? But thank you so much," she said, thanking her party volunteers and supporters. 

"We value your support, and thank you for your trust and confidence.

"To all our candidates who have not been successful tonight, thank you for your courage."

She thanked her husband David and son James for "picking up the load" during the campaign.

 

Winston Peters thanks his supporters
New Zealand's current deputy prime minister, Winston Peters, has thanked his supporters in a short speech.

Mr Peters is the leader of the New Zealand First party, which is sitting on 2.5 per cent of votes - well below the five per cent threshold needed to enter parliament.

"Elections are about democracy .. and we should never stop trusting the people," he said.

"We committed ourselves three years ago to being a constructive partner in government. To provide certainty and stability in a fast-changing world. 

"To those who have been successful tonight, congratulations and our best wishes."

We're half way through, and Labour is well ahead
We've reached the half-way point, and with just over 50 per cent of the votes counted, Ardern's Labour party is on track to win an outright majority, with 49.6 per cent of votes. 

The Electoral Commission is projecting 65 seats for Labour in the 120-seat parliament. 

If this holds, Ms Ardern would be the first leader to secure a majority government since the country adopted mixed-member proportional voting in 1996. 

The tallies for major parties after 52 per cent of the vote is counted.
The tallies for major parties after 52 per cent of the vote is counted. Source: Undefined / NZ Electoral Commission.


Labour tracking well ahead, but shows a slight drop
With just over 40 per cent of the votes now counted, Labour is well ahead with 50.3 per cent of votes, versus 26 per cent for Collins' National party. 

This is an ever-so-slight drop from 50.6 per cent in the last few minutes. 

The tallies for major parties after 40 per cent of the vote is counted.
The tallies for major parties after 40 per cent of the vote is counted. Source: Undefined / NZ Electoral Commission.


Those fish cakes... for anyone who missed it earlier
And here it is - for those who missed it earlier - some footage of Jacinda Ardern's partner Clarke Gayford bringing fish cakes out for the hungry press pack, courtesy of TVNZ. 

 

Is it the end of the road for Winston Peters?
New Zealand's current deputy prime minister - Winston Peters - doesn't look like he'll make it back into parliament. 

Mr Peters is the leader of the New Zealand First part, which sits on 2.3 per cent of votes, well below the 5 per cent threshold needed to enter parliament. 

Winston, 75, is one of New Zealand's great characters, with a long list of scandals, achievements and otherwise memorable moments behind him. 

Here's one of our favourites from the campaign trail. 

 

Scenes in New Zealand
Labour supporters can barely contain their smiles as the early results trickle in. 

Labour supporters cheer as they watch the results come in during the New Zealand Labour party election night event in Auckland, Saturday, October 17, 2020. (AAP Image/David Rowland) NO ARCHIVING
Labour supporters cheer as they watch the results come in during the New Zealand Labour party election night event in Auckland. Source: AAP


Jacinda Ardern still on track for Labour landslide
With 20 per cent of votes counted, Labour now looks increasingly likely to lock-in a landslide victory. 

The tallies for major parties after 20 per cent of the vote is counted.
The tallies for major parties after 20 per cent of the vote is counted. Source: Undefined / NZ Electoral Commission.


Not looking pretty for Judith Collins and the National party
Even long-time National party pollster David Farrar says things are not looking good for Judith Collins. 

Jacinda Ardern well on track with 10 per cent counted
A quick update from New Zealand's electoral commission, which has now counted 10 per cent of votes. 

Jacinda Ardern's Labour party is still well in front with 50.1 per cent of votes, versus 25.9 per cent of votes for Judith Collins' National party. 

Labour has taken a strong early lead with 10 per cent of votes counted.
Labour has taken a strong early lead with 10 per cent of votes counted. Source: Undefined / NZ Electoral Commission.


Meet Jacinda Ardern's partner, Clarke Gayford
Jacinda Ardern's partner Clarke Gayford has just sprung a pleasant surprise on reporters waiting outside the couple's home in Auckland. 

He's brought out some fish cakes - freshly caught this morning - and some venison patties for the press pack.

Early numbers suggest a massive boost for Labour and Ardern
New Zealand's electoral commission has released the first batch of numbers, and they don't make for pretty reading for challenger Judith Collins. 

It's worth stressing the numbers are based on just 1.3 per cent of votes being counted. 

They show 50 per cent of the vote for Labour and Jacinda Ardern, while Ms Collins' National party is languishing on 26.2 per cent. 

A snapshot of the early votes counted in the NZ general election.
A snapshot of the early votes counted in the NZ general election. Source: Undefined / NZ Electoral Commission.


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