Jacinda Ardern re-elected - 21st October 2020

Prime Minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern, won a landslide victory in the country's general election on Saturday.

With all of the country’s votes now counted, the Labour Party has secured a historic win, receiving 64 of the parliament’s 120 seats.

It's the first time since a new voting system was introduced in 1996 that any New Zealand party has won an outright victory.

Ardern: “Tonight, New Zealand has shown the Labour Party its greatest support in at least 50 years.”

Prime Minister since 2017, during her first term Ardern had to deal with a series of catastrophes: the country experienced its deadliest terror attack, a volcanic eruption, and the worst recession in 30 years. However, Ardern’s handling of these events has earned her great respect both at home and internationally.

On the night of her victory, Ardern outlined the next steps for New Zealand. She addressed the electorate in both English and Maori, two of the island nation's official languages.

Ardern: “Now more than ever is the time to keep going, to keep working, to grab hold of the opportunities that lay in front of us. So let’s step forward together. Ka Hoake tonu tatou (Let’s keep moving in Te Reo Maori). Let's keep moving.”