Still, there has been criticism of Ms Ardern's economic policies and a looming summer season with no international tourists will be a major test. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern won a second term in office Saturday in an election landslide of historic proportions. A position paper from her foundation argues that indigenous Maori have faced disproportionate and excessive punishment from the legal system when caught with the drug. Eradicated covid? Biden Speaks With New Zealand Prime Minister (10:05 a.m.) Biden held yet another call with a foreign leader, moving forward with his transition as Trump and many Republicans refuse to recognize his win. The election was postponed by a month after a new outbreak surfaced in Auckland, but this has since been quelled with no active cases in the community. Winston Peters (pictured last week) is forecast to lose his seat in parliament. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has won Saturday's general election in a landslide and secured three more years in power after the country stopped the spread of coronavirus. ', Celebrations: New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern enjoyed her victory with partner Clarke Gayford. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern won a second term in office Saturday in an election landslide of historic proportions. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern Wins Landslide Re-Election After Swift Handling of Pandemic this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. The only new cases found recently have been among returning travelers, who are in quarantine. The country eliminated community transmission for 102 days before a new cluster was discovered in August in Auckland. The following year, she became only the second world leader to give birth while in office. Voters have rewarded Ms Ardern, 40, for her successful handling of Covid-19 after the country extinguished the disease with only 1,883 cases and 25 deaths recorded. Each voter casts two votes - one for their local MP and another to nominate their preferred party. The National Party's leader, Judith Collins, is a former lawyer. And she was praised for her handling of last year's attack on two Christchurch mosques, when a white supremacist gunned down 51 Muslim worshippers. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. It was the 75-year-old who ensured Jacinda Ardern would become prime minister back in 2017, deciding to back Labour over National after weeks of government negotiations. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern at the Kilbirnie Mosque on March 17, 2019 after the Christchurch terror attack, Family: Ms Ardern and partner Clarke Gayford pose with their daughter Neve Gayford in Waitangi in February. Challenger: Ardern's rival, National Party leader Judith Collins (centre), has tried to stir fears of a left-wing government raising taxes, Cars drive past a billboard on Friday urging voters to vote 'no' against euthanasia in Christchurch, A man leaves a polling station in Auckland, New Zealand after voting in the general election. After the 2011 election, on a global ranking New Zealand is 21st in terms of its representation of women in Parliament. The former police minister, 61, declined to stand down, saying 'we will take time to reflect and we will review and we will change'. The election also saw Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters and his small New Zealand First party voted out. Ms Ardern and Clarke Gayford (pictured on Saturday night), who have not married, welcomed their daughter Neve in 2018 before the prime minister took maternity leave, In her second government, Ms Ardern (pictured with a supporter on Saturday night) will be under huge pressure to reduce child poverty and advance her progressive agenda, In a unifying speech at Auckland Town Hall, Ms Ardern said: 'We will govern for every New Zealander. First published on October 17, 2020 / 7:49 AM. With most votes counted, Ardern's progressive Labour Party … Copyright © 2021 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Tax: New top rate of tax at 39 per cent for income over $180,000 (current max rate is 33 per cent on income above $70,000), Wages: Increase the minimum wage to $20 (currently $18.90) and double sick leave from five to 10 days a year, Foreign Affairs: Increase foreign aid, seek nuclear disarmament and trade deals with the EU and the UK, Energy: Achieve 100 per cent renewable electricity generation by 2030, Public housing: Build 18,000 public houses, Training and employment: Provide free access to apprenticeships for two years, Immigration: Allow a broader range of people to get visas and re-start the refugee intake program, Community: Ensure schools have gender neutral bathrooms, Tax: Temporary tax cuts for two years worth up to $4,026 for people on below $90,000. As the pandemic began to gather pace across the globe, the PM in March opted for a draconian lockdown and sealed off the country's border to all but returning citizens while shuttering non-essential shops and bars. The system has been mixed-member proportional (MMP) since 1996. "It's been full of uncertainty and anxiety, and we set out to be an antidote to that.". While life is back to normal in New Zealand, its borders are still shut, its tourism sector is bleeding, and economists are predicting a lasting recession. New Zealand is at the lowest level of restrictions with no limits on gatherings and social distancing merely a suggestion, allowing fans to return to sports grounds. New Zealand is battling its first coronavirus outbreak in more than three months and that’s forced Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to postpone the general election by 4 … About 1.7million of the 3.5million registered voters cast early ballots. They say today's marijuana is strong, addictive and harmful, and that keeping it illegal deters people from using it. Jacindarella A fairy-tale election result beckons for New Zealand’s prime minister. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. 'I think the problem is that we would be going from criminalisation, and a bit of medicinal use, to full-on recreational use,' she said. … New Zealand has voted in a new parliament but exactly who will hold power has yet to be decided. The 1993 New Zealand general election was held on 6 November 1993 to determine the composition of the 44th New Zealand Parliament.Voters elected 99 members to the House of Representatives, up from 97 members at the 1990 election.The election was the last general election to use the first-past-the-post electoral system, with all members elected from single-member electorates. The Auckland outbreak also prompted Ardern to postpone the election by a month and helped increase the early voter turnout. Defending her record on domestic issues, Ms Ardern said: 'If we genuinely want to make sure what we are doing on child poverty and on climate change isn't just a three-year burst, I have to make sure it's sustained. I say to everybody, we will be back,' Ms Collins said. 'Even though tonight has been a very tough night for us all, three years will be gone in the blink of the eye. Labour was on target to win an outright majority of the seats in Parliament, something that hasn't happened since New Zealand implemented a proportional voting system 24 years ago. A record number of voters cast early ballots in the two weeks leading up to the election. Require secondary schools to teach financial capability, Immigration: Relax requirements for technology related work visas and grant more investor visas, Debt: Reduce the government debt to GDP ratio to below 30 per cent by 2030, Normal life: Fans pack into a stadium in Wellington last weekend to watch the All Blacks play Australia, after New Zealand scrapped most restrictions relating to coronavirus. With New Zealand having the advantage of being an isolated island nation, the strategy worked. After graduating from the University of Waikato in 2001, Ardern began her career working as a researcher in the office of Prime Minister Helen Clark. The prime minister of New Zealand (PM; Māori: Te pirimia o Aotearoa) is the primary minister of the Crown.The prime minister chairs the Cabinet and selects its members, advises the Crown on the exercise of executive power, and acts as the head of government for New Zealand.The prime minister is responsible to Parliament.. Jacinda Ardern is the 40th and current prime minister of New Zealand. The following year, she became only the second world leader to give birth while in office. “Holding an election during a Covid epidemic carries … New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern won a second term in office Saturday in an election landslide of historic proportions. Ardern was first elected as an MP in the 2008 general election, when Labour lost power after nine years. She later worked in London, within the Cabinet Office, and was elected president of the International Union of Socialist Youth. The general election was delayed by a month due to coronavirus. The economy shrank 12.2 per cent in the second quarter to its worst level since the Great Depression. National Party leader Ms Collins has tried to exploit fears of a left-wing government raising taxes and being hostile to business. New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern won a second term in office on Saturday, delivering the biggest election victory for her centre-left Labour Party … In her second government, Ms Ardern will be under huge pressure to reduce child poverty and advance her progressive agenda after struggling to make significant reforms during the past three years of coalition. Ardern, 40, won the top job after the 2017 election when Labour formed an alliance with two other parties. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern Wins Landslide Re-Election Center-left Labour Party is projected to have enough seats in parliament to form New Zealand… © 2020 The Associated Press. But she has won international praise for her handling of a series of crises during her tenure, including the Christchurch terror attack in March 2019 and the White Island volcano eruption in December. Ms Ardern's re-election was far from assured before the pandemic, amid criticism that her government has failed to transform the country despite an ambitious domestic policy. 'We will not take your support for granted. The 2020 New Zealand general election was held on Saturday 17 October 2020 to determine the composition of the 53rd parliament. In a speech to her supporters in Auckland, Collins said she'd called Ardern to congratulate her. Polls on Friday gave Ms Ardern a double-digit lead over National, led by former lawyer Judith Collins, who is nicknamed 'the Crusher' over her 2009 plan to crush boy racers' cars. Typically, parties must form alliances to govern, but this time Ardern and Labour can go it alone. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is celebrating a historic election win, earning her second term in office after the Labour Party scored it's greatest result in 50 years. Following the election in 2011, 39 MPs (almost one third) were women. Polls taken before the election indicated the euthanasia referendum was likely to pass while the outcome of the marijuana vote remained uncertain. "We are living in an increasingly polarized world, a place where, more and more, people have lost the ability to see one another's point of view," she said. Bring on 2023.'. The libertarian ACT Party increased its support to 8% and the Green Party won 7.5% of the votes. Lara Greaves, a lecturer in New Zealand politics at the University of Auckland, said she thinks the marijuana referendum is destined to fail. With more than 90 per cent of ballots counted, her centre-left Labour Party had won 49 per cent of votes, enough to secure 64 seats in the 120-seat parliament, the country's first majority since 1996. AUCKLAND: New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern won a second term in office on Saturday in an election landslide of historic proportions. Charlie Moore, Political Reporter For Daily Mail Australia. The Auckland outbreak also prompted Ardern to postpone the election by a month and helped increase the early voter turnout. Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group, CBS releases new clip from bombshell interview: Meghan claims she was stopped by Palace aides from talking to Oprah 'personally' when host tried to set up interview with her before her wedding and says that she's now 'ready to talk', Six people, including two children, are injured in dramatic Manhattan crash after suspected DWI driver hit a car that destroyed an outdoor dining structure, Fox News CEO Lachlan Murdoch says that his network will serve as the 'loyal opposition' to Joe Biden and that 'you'll see our ratings really improve' as a result, Lt. Gen. Russel Honore recommends 24/7 'quick reaction force' of D.C. Guard to protect the Capitol after review - as Tucker Carlson brands Pelosi pick an 'unhinged partisan', Joe Biden gets presidential honeymoon with a majority approving his job performance and his handling of COVID pandemic, new poll finds, Former GOP Gov. By Charlie Moore, Political Reporter For Daily Mail Australia, Published: 02:10 EST, 17 October 2020 | Updated: 20:20 EST, 1 November 2020. She moved quickly to pass new laws banning the deadliest types of semi-automatic weapons. 'Cannabis use is a reality in New Zealand, and the results of our current policy approach damage our health, worsen social equity, and drive crime,' Clark's foundation said. Labour Minister David Parker said it was a landslide win for his party. On the campaign trail, Ardern was greeted like a rock star by people who crammed into malls and spilled onto streets to cheer her on and get selfies with her. She said she phoned Ms Ardern and congratulated her on the 'outstanding result for Labour.'. But the more popular she gets, the less transforming Jacinda Ardern becomes If a party's share entitles it to ten seats and its candidates win seven constituencies, it will be awarded three list seats, bringing it up to its required number. New Zealand has a single-house legislature with 120 members. All Rights Reserved. Countries that allow some form of euthanasia include the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Canada, Belgium and Colombia. Pictured: Her partner Clarke Gayford hands out food to neighbours on election night, Video captures waves rolling in along coast in NZ after earthquake, William and Kate speak to the parents of a boy who messaged Shout, Delivery driver's runaway Lexus rolls into garden and destroys plants, Hungry croc steals shark catch off fisherman's line, Footage of moment 7.2 magnitude earthquake hits North Island in NZ, Young girl's final moments before she was crushed by a 90kg tyre, GRAPHIC: Bodycam footage of a police officer shooting 17-year-old, NZ residents waiting to see if tsunami comes after earthquake, Mississippi residents spotted without masks after mandate, Pigeon pushed in front of oncoming subway train by rival birds, Adorable moment puppy is spotted hugging a kangaroo, Officials say crash victims came via border fence hole. Scrap targets for renewable energy, Public housing: Allow state housing tenants to buy their homes, Training and employment: Pay businesses $10,000 for each full time new employee. She shut the borders and outlined an ambitious goal of eliminating the virus entirely rather than just trying to control its spread. However, support for his party has dissolved as Kiwis overwhelmingly backed Labour - which is set to win a parliamentary majority. In a victory speech in front of hundreds of cheering supporters in Auckland, Ardern said her party had gotten more support from New Zealanders that at any time in at least 50 years. Ms Ardern pledged to increase taxes for top earners, while Ms Collins promised short-term tax cuts, but they have otherwise shown few major differences on policy. Jacinda Ardern, New Zealand's prime minister, waves as she arrives at an election night event at Auckland Town Hall in Auckland, New Zealand, on Saturday, October 17, 2020. There is currently no community spread of the virus in the nation of 5 million and people are no longer required to wear masks or social distance. "It has been a tough campaign.". Pastors at odds about faith and politics, British press up in arms over Meghan and Harry interview, Economic fallout from pandemic disproportionately hits Latinas, Doctors, officials react to Texas' reversal of COVID-19 restrictions, CDC finalizing guidance on what's safe for those who are vaccinated, New report lists worst states for kids during the pandemic. New Zealand eliminated community transmission for 102 days before a new cluster was discovered in August in Auckland. The centre-right National Party had only 27 per cent of the vote and 35 seats, a disastrous result for the main opposition party which suffered its second-worst tally in its 84-year history. The prime minister did admit during the campaign to smoking marijuana when she was younger. The next New Zealand general election to determine the composition of the 54th Parliament will be held after the currently elected 53rd Parliament is dissolved or expires. The Prime Minister said New Zealand had shown the Labour Party its greatest support in at least 50 years and it was clear they would lead the government for … The comments below have not been moderated. Business confidence, which hit historic lows in the early months of Ms Ardern's government, has improved after her successes. Ms Ardern swiftly imposed a second lockdown in Auckland and the new outbreak faded away. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has shared a message of congratulations for US President-elect Joe Biden on his victory over Donald Trump. She said a large turnout of younger voters would be necessary for the measure to have any hope of passing but that was far from certain. With most votes counted, Ardern’s liberal Labour Party was winning 49% of the vote compared to 27% for its main challenger, the conservative National Party. "This has not been an ordinary election, and it's not an ordinary time," she said. Ms Ardern came to power with an ambitious domestic agenda but was unable to introduce flagship policies such as a capital gains tax and has not reduced child poverty. Early signs in the New Zealand election suggest Mr Peters' party New Zealand First is on track to miss out on any seats in parliament. ', Opposition leader Judith Collins graciously conceded defeat, saying: 'Boy we knew it was going to be tough.' 'Three years will be gone in a blink of an eye... just to avoid any doubt, tonight is the start of the next campaign. With a majority, Labour would be the first party to govern alone since New Zealand switched to a form of proportional representation in 1996.