Wellington - The New Zealand election has witnessed a victory for the National Party, securing enough seats to forge a coalition with its right-wing political allies.

Incumbent Prime Minister Chris Hipkins, representing the Labour Party, conceded defeat by making a phone call to National's leader, Chris Luxon.

Mr. Luxon expressed his gratitude to National's supporters, noting that they had "embraced hope" and "voted for change."

This marks a swift rise for Mr. Luxon, who became a Member of Parliament in 2020 and assumed the role of National Party leader just a year later.

According to The New Zealand Herald, National was projected to secure 50 seats with approximately 39% of the vote. When combined with the projected 11 seats of the Act Party, a natural right-wing ally, this would give them the slimmest of majorities in a 121-seat parliament.

The projected seat allocations for other parties included Labour with 33 seats, the Greens with 13, Act with 12, NZ First with 8, and Te Pāti Māori with four. Approximately 96% of the votes have been counted.

Upon the announcement of National's projected victory, Mr. Luxon, a former airline executive, stated, "I am immensely proud to say that, based on the numbers tonight, National will be able to lead the next government." He pledged to deliver for all New Zealanders, emphasizing plans to boost the economy, provide tax relief, reduce the cost of living, enhance law and order, improve healthcare, and prioritize education for children's future.

However, a National-Act coalition would possess only a narrow majority, which may necessitate securing the support of NZ First, whose leader, Winston Peters, has played a pivotal role in past Labour and National-led coalitions.

Mr. Hipkins, who succeeded Jacinda Ardern in January, expressed his gratitude to supporters for their campaign efforts and acknowledged that the election result was not what they had hoped for.

The election campaign was characterized by key promises from Mr. Luxon, including tax cuts for middle-income earners, addressing youth offending, implementing a school phone ban, and scrapping the Labour government's plan to increase fuel taxes.

The cost of living was a central issue leading up to the election, particularly given New Zealand's economic ties with China and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which have impacted the nation's economy.

The outcome is surprising for the Labour Party, which, under Jacinda Ardern, achieved an outright majority in government in 2020, a rare occurrence in New Zealand's proportional representation system. However, Labour's support waned due to concerns about rising prices and extended Covid lockdowns.

The party faced significant losses, with notable members potentially losing their seats. For instance, Nanaia Mahuta, the foreign minister, was trailing in her constituency with 51% of the votes counted.

Mr. Hipkins acknowledged the uphill battle he faced as he took on the role of party leader after Ms. Ardern, saying, "I knew when I took on this job that it was going to be an uphill battle."

Chris Luxon conveyed optimism, stating, "New Zealanders are waking up to not only a new day but the promise of a new government and a new direction." He eagerly anticipated getting to work, emphasizing that New Zealand had chosen change and expressed his commitment to getting the country back on track.

The final election result is scheduled to be declared on November 3rd.

News Courtesy BBC