National has led a right-wing surge to power in the election.
After just one term in Parliament, including two years as National Party leader, Christopher Luxon will be the new Prime Minister.
National really painted the country blue on Saturday night. Parties need 61 seats to form a Government, and on current voting, National would have 50 seats and its preferred coalition partner ACT would have 11.
But there are still half a million special votes to be counted so Luxon has made reassuring overtures to Winston Peters, whose New Zealand First has eight seats, in case he needs his help.
On the left, Labour, with 34 seats, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori could only muster 52 all up.
That has allowed 53-year-old former Air New Zealand chief executive Christopher Mark Luxon to complete arguably the most meteoric rise in New Zealand's political history.
He's the new rockstar of the centre-right. Entering National's headquarters on Saturday to high-fives, handshakes and hugs, he was embraced by the patron Saint of the National Party, Sir John Key, as the mantle was passed. Luxon's day has come.
Victory is his. He woke up on Sunday as an incoming Prime Minister of Aotearoa New Zealand.
"New Zealand, from all over your country, this great country, you have reached for hope and you have voted for change," said Luxon.
A bright blue endorsement from New Zealanders - the winds of change blew his way.
"National will be in a position to lead the next Government," said Luxon.
He donned a winner's outfit on Sunday - an All Blacks shirt.
He'll captain the side - but the full team won't be revealed for a few weeks.
On current numbers, National and ACT can do it themselves.
"People have high expectation. This country has voted for change because it faces some real challenges," said ACT leader David Seymour.
"We've been neighbours for four years so we do know each other fairly well," said Luxon.
But look who got knocked down and got up again.
"We have done the impossible," said Peters.
Asked if he would call Peters even if he had enough seats to form a Government without him, Luxon said: "This afternoon we'll bring our strategy team together and that'll be our chance to think through the next steps."
No one has dialled the numbers yet, but the line's open.
"If we can help going forward we will," said Peters.
There are still half a million special votes to be counted. Peters said there will be time enough for calling is when the countings done - November 3.
Luxon said he was "very appreciative" of Peters' remarks.
The result on Sunday night draws a close on what has been an at times nasty negative election campaign.
Luxon will take the reins of a divided country, politically fatigued, in need of a reset.
"I think that's the job of a Prime Minister, you want every Prime Minister to leave the country more unified than when they came to the job and that's my role."
A role he's pole-vaulted himself into after just three years in politics.
