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Jacinda Ardern won a second term after her rival relented in the New Zealand general election.
Initial counts showed that Ms Ardern’s Labor Party was ahead after her campaign was dominated by her successful handling of the coronavirus crisis.
The 40-year-old leader faced Judith Collins of the National Party in elections to form the country’s 53rd parliament, a referendum on Ardern’s three-year term.
Ms. Ardern told the crowd: “Thank you to the people who worked so hard to share our message. Who volunteered in what seemed like a never-ending campaign.
“But most importantly, thank you to the many people who gave us their vote, who trusted us to continue to lead New Zealand’s recovery. And to those of you who may not have supported Labor before, and the results tell me that There were some of you – I thank you. We will not take your support for granted. And I can promise you that we will be a ruling party for all New Zealanders. “
Ms. Ardern brought the scones to thank the volunteers from the Polish House in Auckland.
Ms. Ardern’s party was on track to win nearly 50% of the vote when the results came in on Saturday, while the opposition had less than 30%.
Collins, a 61-year-old former attorney, congratulated Ardern on the victory, but said the government would have to do better to navigate the economic debris of the coronavirus crisis.
She said: “To Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, whom I have telephoned, congratulations on her result. It has been an outstanding result.”
In the two weeks leading up to the elections, a record number of voters cast their early votes.
Earlier in the day, Ms. Ardern brought home made cheese buns to the campaign volunteers and seemed relaxed as she awaited the results.
Ardern, whose government has been particularly focused on New Zealand’s housing crisis, child poverty and social inequality since taking office in 2017, has been hailed and hailed by crowds trying to take selfies with her on the election campaign.
“Elections are not always good for bringing people together, but it is not necessary for them to be separated from each other,” he said after his victory.
“And in times of crisis I think New Zealand has shown it and for that again, I thank you.”
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It comes after his popularity soared earlier this year after he led a successful effort to combat the coronavirus crisis in New Zealand.
There is currently no community spread of COVID-19 in the nation of five million and people are no longer required to wear masks or socially distance themselves.
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Labor was seeking a second term thanks to Ardern’s success in controlling the virus, yet opposition leader Ms Collins argued that she was in the best position to address the financial challenges brought on by the pandemic.
Before the vote, Labor had led by wide margins in opinion polls, with polls initially suggesting that Ms Ardern was on track to form a Labor-only government, which would be the first absolute majority government since that New Zealand adopted a proportional voting system. in 1996.
When only about 100 people tested positive for COVID-19 in late March, Ardern put New Zealand on a strict lockdown with the slogan “do it all and go early.”
Judith Collins is the leader of the National Party
She and her health officials closed the borders and outlined an ambitious goal of eliminating the virus entirely rather than simply trying to control its spread.
Since New Zealand had the advantage of being an isolated island nation, the strategy worked.
She said: “The result tonight has been strong. And it is clear that Labor will lead the government for the next three years.”
“And in the next three years there is a lot to do. We are going to rebuild better from the COVID crisis.”
New Zealanders are also voting in referenda to legalize euthanasia and recreational marijuana, the results of which were announced on October 30.
