New Zealand Conservatives on Track to Win Majority in First Election After Ardern

SYDNEY—New Zealand’s conservative opposition was poised to win the most seats in a parliamentary election that centered on costs of living and crime, a result that would end six years of left-leaning government in a U.S. partner in the region. 

With 87% of the vote reporting, the conservative National Party and ACT, a smaller right-wing party allied with it, were on track to win 62 seats, while the Labour Party of Prime Minister Chris Hipkins and its left-wing Green allies were heading for a tally of 47 seats. The result would give the center-right parties enough for a majority in Parliament, which typically has 120 seats but can vary depending on the vote count.