New Zealand's next Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says it's time to turn the country around as preliminary votes have National and ACT forming the next Government.
From Auckland, Luxon told his supporters that on these results National will be in Government. He said earlier tonight he took a call from Chris Hipkins who conceded as Prime Minister.
"Thank you, New Zealand, because from all over your country, this great country, you have reached for hope and you have voted for change," Luxon said.
"I am immensely proud to say that on the numbers tonight National will be in a position to lead the next government," Luxon said.
The preliminary vote count has National sitting around the 40 percent mark and ACT around 9 percent. Combined, these results show the two parties could govern by the skin of their teeth but with special votes still needing to be counted, Luxon may have to pick up the phone to NZ First's Winston Peters.
Luxon said he congratulated both ACT leader David Seymour and NZ First leader Winston Peters for their success in this election. He added he appreciates Peters' comments that he is willing to help when needed.
"The promise of New Zealand is quite simply that if you work hard in the best country on planet earth, you should be able to get ahead," Luxon said.
"It's what unites us that matters most to me and that will always be the ethos of a government that I lead."
He pledged that National's government would deliver for everybody because it would rebuild the economy, deliver tax relief, bring down the cost of living, restore law and order, deliver better health care and educate our children so they can live the lives they dream of.
"To all of you who voted for National, thank you. We won't let you down. And to all of those who didn't vote for National, we won't let you down either," Luxon said.
He said turning the country around will take time and hard work, but he is energised and cannot want to get stuck in.
"Tomorrow morning, New Zealanders are going to wake up to not only a new day but the promise of a new Government and a new direction," Luxon said.
"New Zealanders have chosen change and our new government will deliver it and we will get this country back on track."
Watch his full speech above.
