WELLINGTON, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand's general election campaign is intensifying ahead of the Nov. 7 vote, with the ruling National Party and the opposition Labor Party locked in a tight contest and smaller parties emerging as potential kingmakers in the formation of the next government.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's center-right National Party is seeking a second term after taking office in 2023, while Labor, led by former prime minister Chris Hipkins, is campaigning to return to power amid public concerns over the cost of living, economic growth, jobs and public services.
National has emphasized economic stability and policies intended to encourage growth, and Labor has focused on affordability, healthcare and infrastructure.
A 1News-Verian poll released on Tuesday put National and Labor both at 28 percent, followed by the Green Party at 15 percent, the ruling partners New Zealand First and ACT New Zealand at 10 percent each, and the Opportunity Party at 8 percent.
The result suggested that neither major party could readily secure a parliamentary majority without support from smaller parties.
The Opportunity Party, led by Qiulae Wong, has drawn particular attention after polling above the 5-percent threshold generally required for parliamentary representation under New Zealand's mixed-member proportional (MMP) electoral system.
Its potential leverage reflects one of the election's defining features: the outcome may depend as much on post-election coalition negotiations as on which major party wins the largest share of votes.
New Zealand uses the MMP voting system to elect its parliament. Under this system, the government is usually formed by two or more parliamentary political parties.
The electoral system makes the party vote particularly important. Voters cast two ballots, one for a political party and another for their local electorate candidate. A party generally needs at least 5 percent of the party vote or to win an electorate seat to qualify for proportional representation in parliament. This allows smaller parties to enter parliament and potentially hold the balance of power when neither major bloc commands a majority.
The campaign is unfolding against a difficult economic backdrop, with unemployment at 5.6 percent in the June quarter, according to data from the statistics department Stats NZ.
Televised debates over the past two weeks have focused on economic management, the cost of living, jobs and wages, while a multi-party debate on Tuesday highlighted the potential influence of smaller parties in shaping the next government.
Tax and housing policies have emerged as another point of difference. Labor has proposed a capital gains tax on some property sales, while the Greens and the Maori Party support wealth taxes. The Opportunity Party has proposed a land value tax, while National has pledged not to introduce new taxes.
Advance voting begins on Oct. 26. Official election results are scheduled to be declared on Nov. 27. New Zealand citizens or permanent residents of 18 years or older, who have lived in New Zealand continuously for 12 months or more at some time in their life, are eligible to vote in the election, according to the New Zealand Electoral Commission.
As vote day nears, youth voter participation has emerged as a campaign focus, as the youth-led initiative On A Roll organized events in five cities on Saturday to encourage young people to enroll and vote, Radio New Zealand reported.
About 166,000 people aged 18 to 24 remain unenrolled, although more than 20,000 enrolled between September and October. The campaign aims to mobilize young voters, many of whom feel disconnected from politics or question whether their votes can make a difference, according to the report. ■
