New Zealand has now entered an unknown number of weeks of political limbo following a general election on Saturday, which left neither bloc able to declare victory. Now, we wait until 27 November, the deadline for tallying the 400,000 special votes, and then perhaps another week while recounts happen.
Then the coalition negotiations can really begin.
As it stands, the National-led centre-right bloc, supported by Winston Peters’ populist New Zealand First and the libertarian ACT, just have enough to govern. But they could easily lose a seat or two as special votes, which tend to favour the left, come in.
The Labour Party, supported by the Greens and Te Pāti Māori, would need the support of newcomer Opportunity, a centrist party that’s strong on climate and shares much in common with Australia’s Teals. Their road to majority is convoluted but not impossible.
The outcome could considerably change the tone, if not the overall trajectory, of New Zealand’s foreign policy. The outcome could significantly change the tone, if not the overall trajectory, of New Zealand’s foreign policy. While the country will still continue to rely on China economically and count on the US-led security infrastructure in the Pacific, the way Wellington communicates with and about these two giants could take on a markedly different tone.
Anna Fifield/The Interpreter, New Zealand’s foreign policy could change – but we won’t know for weeks
