New Zealand voters have delivered a forceful rejection of the Labour government and a surge in support for the National party. Speaking to a large crowd of party-faithful at his election night event in Auckland, National party leader Christopher Luxon said his party was on course to form the next government with libertarian party Act. The result marked a dramatic change in fortunes for the Labour party, which three years earlier – led by Jacinda Ardern - secured a historic mandate, but saw its support dwindle in the face of rising living costs and the Covid pandemic New Zealand abandons Labour and shifts to the right as country votes for wholesale change