Labour's Ardern Says Still a Lot in Play in New Zealand Election

(Bloomberg) -- Jacinda Ardern, who electrified New Zealand’s election when she took over as main opposition Labour leader just seven weeks ago, acknowledged her party won’t get a majority but signaled she’s not giving up hope of forming a government.

“There’s still a lot in play at the moment,” Ardern, 37, said as she emerged from her home in Auckland shortly after 10 p.m. With almost 88 percent of the vote counted, the ruling National Party was on 46.3 percent and Labour on 35.7 percent, meaning both are likely to need the support of the anti-immigration New Zealand First to gain office. Winston Peters, the wily 72-year-old leader of that party, said earlier Saturday he won’t be rushing into any decisions.

“I don’t expect there will be any conversations for a little while yet,” said Ardern, who spent the evening at home with family and briefly thanked supporters via a Facebook Live video steam.

To contact the reporter on this story: Edward Johnson in Sydney at ejohnson28@bloomberg.net.

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Tracy Withers at twithers@bloomberg.net.