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Veteran epidemiologist calls for review, and openness to adopting measures suggested by political rivals, now that voters have given PM a mandateJacinda Ardern won New Zealand’s election with a commanding majority, in part attributed to her handling of the Covid-19 pandemic in her country. But a veteran epidemiologist is exhorting the prime minister to use the political capital gained in her decisive victory to...

After securing a historic election victory, the New Zealand prime minister was asked about the world leaders who sent her congratulations. 'I have had a few lovely messages. Scott Morrison ... I've had the prime minister of Denmark, Pedro Sánchez from Spain. Of course, Boris Johnson reached out as well.' When asked about whether Donald Trump had been in touch, she replied: ' I...

Prime minister says she will be ready to form a government in two to three weeks as New Zealanders enjoy return to normal life • New Zealand Greens on the rise after voters return to the fold • Opinion: New Zealanders have recognised their good luckJacinda Ardern has held out the possibility of forming a coalition government despite securing a historic election victory that...

New Zealanders give Labour more votes than at any other election in past five decadesFollow the results liveJacinda Ardern will govern New Zealand for a second term after the Labour party secured a historic landslide victory in the general election, attracting so many votes it could become the first party in decades to be able to govern alone. Ardern’s deft handling of the Covid-19...

As prime minister, Ardern inspired love and trust; now she has to do something with itAnd the winner is … New Zealand. It was the happiness election – Covid fizzled out, lockdown was released, and a sense of gratitude and sheer joy buoyed Jacinda Ardern through a long campaign to Saturday’s landslide victory.“Let’s keep moving,” Labour’s campaign slogan urged, but in reality it was...

Jacinda Ardern condemns divisive elections during victory speech, saying polls 'don’t need to tear people apart'. Her words were interpreted as a veiled allusion to the divisive US election, which take place in two weeks. The Labour party secured a landslide victory with its best result in five decades after Ardern emphasised kindness and cooperation during her first term, and told voters she needed...

Jacinda Ardern has secured a second term as leader after a resounding victory in the country’s general election. The Labour leader had led a coalition government since October 2017, ending nearly a decade of National rule. During her first term Ardern had to deal with responses to the Christchurch terrorist atrocity, the Whakaari volcano eruption and the Covid-19 pandemic. She gave birth to her...

Jacinda Ardern is on track to be re-elected as the prime minister of New Zealand. The Labour party looked set for a landslide victory, attracting so many votes in the general election it could become the first party in decades to be able to govern alone.With more than 90% of the vote counted, Labour had secured 49%, with the opposition National party on 27%. Addressing...

PM tours shopping malls in Auckland, while Collins takes final chance to attack Ardern’s recordPolitical leaders in New Zealand put in a frantic final day on the campaign trail before Saturday’s vote, with Jacinda Ardern, the Labour leader and prime minister, making a whistle-stop tour of shopping malls in the largest city, Auckland, where she was greeted by hundreds of fans who clamoured for...

PM’s management of pandemic and ‘politics of kindness’ place her well ahead for Saturday’s voteIt’s been called the Covid election, with stability the order of the day.But it has turned into the weirdest general election campaign New Zealanders have ever seen, with most of the country desperate for it to be over and some semblance of normality to resume in a deeply abnormal year....

Judith Collins has the look of a defeated woman as Labour heads to likely victoryLong time no see. Jacinda Ardern left it late, but turned up at last night’s fourth and final debate of the election campaign as the prime minister. Ghostly versions of herself made weird, kind of shifty appearances in the previous three debates. God she was terrible, an anxious mess, uptight,...

Leader says she will resign if not re-elected but polls show Labour 15 points aheadJacinda Ardern has dominated the final leaders’ debate before New Zealand goes to the polls on Saturday, appearing confident and prime ministerial as she took on a subdued Judith Collins.In a surprise admission, Ardern said if she was not re-elected, she would resign as Labour leader. Continue reading...

Prime minister heads to polls in Auckland district after visit to suburban marketNew Zealand’s prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, has voted in the country’s general election, a week before polls officially close.Ardern cast her vote in her Auckland district on Saturday after visiting a market in the suburb of Ōtara, where she was thronged by supporters. Continue reading...

She is wildly popular in the polls but significant risk lies in Labour’s decision to pin all their hopes on their leader’s profileRead our weekly election briefingOn the lush green grounds of New Zealand’s oldest university, prime minister Jacinda Ardern is getting mobbed.Half a dozen police officers clear a path through the heaving crowd in Dunedin, while her security detail tightly flank Ardern, and...

In the election Judith Collins is up against one of the most popular PMs in recent times“I’ve been having an awfully fun time, can you tell?” Judith Collins, the leader of New Zealand’s centre-right National party enthused, to a campaign trail meeting packed with her admirers outside the South Island city of Dunedin. “I can’t stop grinning.”It was true; she could not. Collins, the...

Jacinda Ardern and Judith Collins both bring B-game to seemingly interminable showAre we there yet? Is it election day? Is it possible to bring the date forward a little bit from 17 October? Not by too much – things have to be put in place, pens secured to pieces of string and the like. How’s tomorrow?Election fatigue hit hard during Tuesday night’s leaders’ debate....

New Zealand and the United States both had leaders' debates this week, and some political junkies noticed a distinct difference in tone. In New Zealand, where the Labour leader and incumbent prime minister Jacinda Ardern faced off against National leader Judith Collins, the pair exchanged compliments in a debate described by Collins as 'robust and a win for politics'. Meanwhile, in America, president Donald...

Quickfire questions led to dope-smoking and Trump-admiring revelations from Jacinda Ardern and Judith CollinsJacinda Ardern admits cannabis use in heated New Zealand debateQueen Street! The main shopping drag in New Zealand’s biggest city, a valley that rolls down towards the harbour in downtown Auckland, is hanging in there, just, even in these stay-at-home Covid days, as someplace fun and weird and chaotic – rare...