New Zealand goes to the polls on Saturday, with the ruling Labour party facing the prospect of defeat to a rightwing coalition following the resignation of charismatic former leader Dame Jacinda Ardern.
As deepening economic and social rifts divide the Pacific nation, the latest public opinion polling suggests that Prime Minister Chris Hipkins, who replaced Ardern this year, is likely to be unseated by a centre-right coalition led by National party leader Christopher Luxon, a former corporate executive.
According to the latest 1News Verian poll, National and the rightwing ACT party are set to win 58 of 120 seats in parliament, while a bloc formed by Labour with junior leftwing partners the Greens and indigenous party Te Pāti Māori would have 54.