Former businessman elected Prime Minister of New Zealand

Christopher Luxon's National Party wins the general election, qualifying him to form a coalition government to become Prime Minister of New Zealand.

With 92% of votes counted on October 14, the New Zealand National Party led by Christopher Luxon won 39% of the vote, while the Labor Party of incumbent Prime Minister Chris Hipkins received 29%.

Mr Luxon's National Party will join forces with ACT, which has 9% of the vote, to hold 61 of New Zealand's 120-seat parliament , qualifying it to form a new government, with Mr Luxon as prime minister.

However, the National-ACT coalition's majority is fragile and the two parties may need support from New Zealand First. Talks to form a coalition government are set to begin in the coming days.

"With today's result, the National Party will lead the next New Zealand government. We will make this country better," Mr Luxon said.

Mr Luxon's National Party won voters' support with a pledge to support struggling middle-income New Zealanders and pledges to control inflation and reduce the country's debt.

New Zealand Prime Minister-elect Christopher Luxon in Auckland on October 14. Photo: Reuters

In the 2020 election, under the leadership of former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, the New Zealand Labour Party became the first party to win an outright majority since 1996. However, the party has lost support amid public discontent over prolonged Covid-19 lockdowns and rising living costs.

Mr Hipkins, Ms Ardern's successor, has tried to reconnect with voters, focusing on what he calls people's "basic needs", but has failed to gain traction in the polls.

New Zealand's final vote count will be announced on November 3.

Mr Luxon, 53, is a former Air New Zealand chief executive who entered politics only three years ago. He has a master’s degree in commerce from the University of Canterbury in Christchurch. He spent 18 years working for the company in Australia, Britain, Canada and the United States before returning home to lead Air New Zealand.

Ngoc Anh (According to Reuters/Sky News )

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