Spoiled for choice

The polls were right, sadly. On election night figures, National and ACT can form a majority government. However, the success of Te Pati Maori (winning four electorate seats) will produce an overhang. Parliament will have 123 or possibly 124 MPs rather than 120. To guarantee a majority, any coalition will need 62 or even 63 MPs. With special votes still to be counted not only is there a possibility that three narrow National wins will revert to Labour; Greens may get another list MP as they have done well with special votes in recent elections.

We may end up with the NZ First party being able to form a Governing majority either with National and Act or with Labour, Greens (the third biggest party in this Parliament) and Te Pati Maori. That has happened once , perhaps twice before.Nothing will be finally settled for three weeks. Or even longer.