PM John Key set to win New Zealand vote despite ‘dirty tricks’ allegations
Incumbent set for third term as voters shrug off mass-spying charges against centre-right National Party which has widespread approval for its economic record
New Zealanders head to the polls on Saturday amid signs Prime Minister John Key has managed to ride out dirty tricks allegations and will narrowly win a third term after highlighting his economic record.
While New Zealand’s complicated proportional voting system is notoriously hard to predict, most opinion polls have Key’s centre-right National Party returning to power with the support of a handful of minor parties to form a government.
The main opposition Labour Party along with the Greens stand as their closest rivals – with Winston Peters, the leader of the minor New Zealand First party, shaping up to become kingmaker if the election night count is too close to call.
Much of the National Party’s success through a tumultuous campaign is credited to the personal popularity of the charismatic Key, a 53-year-old who rose from a humble childhood to earn his fortune as a merchant banker.
“My guess is the National Party ... will get it.”
Policies have largely taken a backseat in the campaign to allegations of government “dirty tricks”, based on hacked emails, and accusations of mass spying on the population.
