New Zealand general election, 20th September 2014

[Frodo]

So are we going to start thinking about predictions?

PM Key will win a third term, and the Nats will continue to control Parliament.  That much is clear.  The question rather should be whether they can win enough seats such that they can govern without coalition partners. 

[Frodo]

It looks like the Nats will be the first party in New Zealand history (since the adoption of MMP) to be able to form a majority government on their own, assuming results hold.
----------------------------------

Update -with virtually all the votes in:

Nationals: 61 seats (48%)
Labour: 32 seats (25%)
Greens: 13 seats (10%)
New Zealand First: 11 seats (9%)
Maori: 2 seats -quota (1.3%)

61 seats is the bare minimum required for a political party to form a government on its own.  

[Frodo]

Follow the results here:
http://www.electionresults.govt.nz/

And here's another:

http://data.nzherald.co.nz/

[Frodo]

Is David Cunliffe still insisting he is going to lead Labour into the next election despite the thumping it took last night? 

[Frodo]

New Zealanders definitely voted National & thr right & they've got a National government whose deserved majority will be effectively bolstered by the ACT member for Epsom & Peter Dunne's UF seat to be 63/120

That would be 65 seats if you count the two Maori MPs who were just elected, and with whom PM John Key is also negotiating to form a government.  

[Frodo]

New Zealanders definitely voted National & thr right & they've got a National government whose deserved majority will be effectively bolstered by the ACT member for Epsom & Peter Dunne's UF seat to be 63/120

That would be 65 seats if you count the two Maori MPs who were just elected, and with whom PM John Key is also negotiating to form a government.  

Why bother negotiating with the Maori Party MPs as well? For the sake of broader inclusion?

Besides further padding their majority, the Nationals think it worthwhile to include the Maori Party since it was part of the previous coalition which seemed to have worked out satisfactorily for both parties.  Also, settling Treaty of Waitangi claims is a part of the National Party platform.  And the Nationals seem to have a good track record on it.  

And I'll leave it to those more knowledgeable to answer your other questions....

[Frodo]

So can someone kindly catch me up on what happened?

This article should give you the basics.  

[Frodo]

We still have hundreds of thousands of 'special votes' that have yet to be counted.

Just an FYI.

[Frodo]

Labour leader David Cunliffe has just resigned.

It only took him a week to decide. 

[Frodo]

It looks like the Nats will be the first party in New Zealand history (since the adoption of MMP) to be able to form a majority government on their own, assuming results hold.
----------------------------------

Update -with virtually all the votes in:

Nationals: 61 seats (48%)
Labour: 32 seats (25%)
Greens: 13 seats (10%)
New Zealand First: 11 seats (9%)
Maori: 2 seats -quota (1.3%)

61 seats is the bare minimum required for a political party to form a government on its own.  

The election results have just been certified, and with the counting of the special votes, the Nats have just lost their majority, with the Greens picking up a seat.

Here are the updated results:

Nationals: 60 seats (47%)
Labour: 32 seats (25%)
Greens: 14 seats (11%)
New Zealand First: 11 seats (9%)
Maori: 2 seats -quota (1.3%)

ACT and United Future each keep their MPs.