New Zealand election race tightens as cost of living dominates voter concerns

WELLINGTON, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand's ruling National Party and opposition Labor Party are locked in a tight race ahead of Saturday's general election, with the cost of living, healthcare and fuel prices topping voters' concerns, according to recent surveys.

The latest poll by The Post/Freshwater Strategy, released Friday, put Labor slightly ahead at 30.7 percent, against National's 26.4 percent. Support for ACT and New Zealand First, the two governing partners, stood at 9.8 percent and 12 percent, respectively.

Among the opposition bloc, the Green Party was at 13 percent, the Maori Party at 2 percent, and the Opportunity Party, seen as a potential kingmaker, had 5.1 percent.

The poll projected a combined 59 seats in a 120-seat parliament for the ruling coalition, two short of the 61 needed to govern on its own, compared with 55 seats for Labor, the Greens and the Maori Party.

A survey of 1,008 New Zealanders aged 18 and older, released by Ipsos, showed that the cost of living and inflation remained the biggest concern for voters, with 64 percent naming it among their top three issues, followed by healthcare at 45 percent and fuel prices at 31 percent. Concern over fuel costs rose sharply from seventh to third place in the latest survey.

More than 2,300 voting places are scheduled to open nationwide on election day on Saturday, when voters will elect a new parliament under the mixed-member proportional system, in which the government is usually formed by two or more parties.

Official election results are scheduled to be declared on Nov. 27.