New Zealand vote leaves National, Labour nearly deadlocked

New Zealanders were unlikely to have much clarity on Sunday over who will govern the country for the next three years, after overnight results showed

the ruling centre-right National Party and main opposition Labour Party were nearly deadlocked in the popular vote.



Electoral Commission preliminary results showed that both parties were polling at just under 30% of the popular vote, with only a few hundred votes separating them.



An Electoral Commission projection showed the current three-party ruling coalition, led by National, would secure a two-seat majority after an election dominated by a struggling economy and voter disillusionment with the two largest parties.



The final vote count, however, which will include special votes that have historically favoured left-leaning parties, will not be released until November 27.