Christopher Luxon, Leader of the National Party waves to supporters at his election party after winning the general election to become New Zealand’s next prime minister in Auckland, New Zealand, October 14, 2023.
REUTERS/David Rowland/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWELLINGTON, Oct 16 (Reuters) - New Zealand's prime minister-elect, Christopher Luxon, said on Monday while his party was waiting for special votes to be counted, they would also "get cracking" on building relationships with both ACT New Zealand and New Zealand First.
Luxon's centre-right National Party and preferred coalition partner ACT won a razor-thin electoral victory on Saturday, together securing 61 seats in 121 seat parliament.
Luxon told government-funded Radio New Zealand on Monday that National would be waiting for the special votes to be counted but were going to get started on building relationships and having conversations with both ACT and New Zealand First.
He added he would ideally like to have a government formed before the APEC meeting in November but that this will depend on the special votes and how negotiations have progressed.
Persons:
Christopher Luxon, David Rowland, Luxon, Lucy Craymer, Sandra Maler
Organizations:
National Party, New, REUTERS, Rights, ACT New, New Zealand, ACT, National, APEC, Labour, Thomson
Locations:
Auckland , New Zealand, ACT New Zealand, New, Luxon's, New Zealand, Wellington