New Zealand election too close to call with 95% votes in

Key Points:

• New Zealand's general election results with 95% of votes counted show a near tie between the ruling center-right National Party and the opposition Labour Party, each with just under 30% of the vote, reflecting a deadlock amid economic concerns.
• Prime Minister Christopher Luxon of the National Party claims a pathway to forming the next government with a slim lead and a potential coalition majority of 67 seats alongside ACT and New Zealand First, while Labour leader Chris Hipkins calls for political compromise and finding common ground.
• Special votes, including overseas ballots that tend to favor left-leaning parties, will be counted over the next three weeks, with final results expected on November 27; these could impact the balance of power and the potential role of the centrist Opportunity Party as a kingmaker.
• New Zealand's mixed-member proportional voting system and an anticipated overhang have expanded parliament to a record 130 seats, complicating the formation of a majority government amid a backdrop of high living costs and rising unemployment.
• Voting occurred under strict media blackout laws on the final day, but early voting was significant, with nearly 1.7 million out of 3.8 million eligible voters casting ballots before the official election day.