WELLINGTON: New Zealand Prime Minister John Key announced on Monday that the country’s general elections will be held on September 20.
“I’m announcing the election date well in advance as I believe this gives New Zealanders some certainty and is in the country’s best interests,” Key told reporters on Monday.
Key, whose centre-right government will seek a third term in office through elections, said that his National Party will campaign “strongly on its record in government and plans to continue the good progress New Zealand is making.”
A recent opinion poll gave the ruling National Party 51 percent of the vote, with the Labour Party, which led the country between 1999 and 2008, receiving 34 percent and the Greens eight percent.
“We will be taking nothing for granted,” Key said. “I always think elections are like World Cups, they look easy to win but they’re actually very difficult, they can be very complex and can have different outcomes to what people think.”
