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

17 Oct 2020 5:11pm

Jacinda Ardern's cheese scones

It's one of the most important days of Jacinda Ardern's life, but it sure didn't seem that way when she popped in to thank her electoral volunteers earlier on Saturday.

Ms Ardern bought a generous plate of cheese scones to thank the workers. No word yet on how they tasted.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern unveils her homemade cheese scones as she arrives at an event to thank her electorate workers. Source: AP

17 Oct 2020 5:05pm

How the Christchurch massacre changed the New Zealand election

New Zealand's general election has been unprecedented for any number of reasons.

One concerning trend has been the emergence of far-right political parties in the aftermath of the Christchurch mosque massacre.

Reporter Abbie O'Brien looked beneath this trend earlier in the week.

The emergence of far-right fringe parties in New Zealand is causing concern for Muslims

17 Oct 2020 5:02pm

Aaaaaand we're off

Polls have closed in New Zealand and counting is underway.

It won't be long until the first results start to trickle in.

17 Oct 2020 4:56pm

Not long to go now

Just five minutes to go now until polls close in New Zealand and we can start ripping into the nitty gritty details.

Bear with us..

17 Oct 2020 4:44pm

Do we need to stay up late to see the result?

A huge number of advance votes have already been cast in New Zealand - almost two million, or some 60 per cent of enrolled voters, have already cast their ballots.

That's good news for the early birds, or anyone else sweating on seeing a result tonight.

New Zealand's electoral commission hopes to have 50 per cent of votes counted by 8pm (AEST), and 95 per cent of results counted by 9.30pm (AEST).

17 Oct 2020 4:35pm

Authorities scramble to find missing travellers

Meanwhile, there has been a dose of election day-drama across the ditch here in Australia, after some states opened a one-way travel bubble with New Zealand on Friday.

Some 17 travellers from New Zealand arrived in Sydney on Friday afternoon (which has a travel bubble agreement), before flying-on to Melbourne (which does not have an agreement).

This prompted a major political blame game, as authorities rushed to track down the travellers and fill them in on coronavirus restrictions in Victoria.

Seventeen travellers from New Zealand leave Melbourne Airport in a breach of the trans-Tasman bubble

17 Oct 2020 4:28pm

What else is at stake?

In addition to the general election, New Zealand will also be voting on two separate referenda - whether to legalise cannabis, and whether to legalise euthanasia.

In other words, Kiwis will vote on the right to die, and the right to get high.

SBS News reporter Jodie Stephens had an in-depth look at both earlier in the week.

Getting high and the right to die: Polling day in New Zealand is about so much more than Jacinda Ardern

17 Oct 2020 4:21pm

And now for some wholesome content

New Zealand has strict general election rules that prohibit what can, and can't, be published on polling day.

Essentially, the rules prohibit the publication of any material that might influence voters before polls close.

Once polls close at 5pm (AEST) we'll be good to go.

Until then, Kiwis have busied themselves with the most wholesome of content - photos of dogs at polling stations.

Here are a few favourites, courtesy of #DogsAtPollingStations on Twitter.

17 Oct 2020 4:14pm

Kia ora and welcome to the New Zealand election

Kia ora all, and welcome to our live coverage of the 2020 New Zealand election.

We'll be bringing you updates and analysis as results start rolling in this evening.

Polls close in a little under an hour - at 5pm (AEST) - and early results should start flowing in soon after that.

Until then, settle in and maybe even crack a nice bottle of Kiwi sav while we wait.

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's cheese scones

How the Christchurch massacre changed the New Zealand election

READ MORE

Aaaaaand we're off

Not long to go now

Do we need to stay up late to see the result?

Authorities scramble to find missing travellers

READ MORE

What else is at stake?

READ MORE

And now for some wholesome content

Kia ora and welcome to the New Zealand election

previous

2of2

next

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's cheese scones

How the Christchurch massacre changed the New Zealand election

READ MORE

Aaaaaand we're off

Not long to go now

Do we need to stay up late to see the result?

Authorities scramble to find missing travellers

READ MORE

What else is at stake?

READ MORE

And now for some wholesome content

Kia ora and welcome to the New Zealand election

previous

2of2

next

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