Reported by BBC World
There was no clear winner following New Zealand's election on Saturday, as the leaders of its two major parties preparing for negotiations to form a coalition government.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's centre-right National Party won 42 seats but was 19 short of the simple majority needed to form a government, despite being the largest party, preliminary results show.
Combined with their coalition partners ACT and New Zealand First, they would have a slim lead over the left-leaning bloc if a deal could be reached.
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But opposition leader Chris Hipkins, whose Labour Party won 36 seats, showed no signs of conceding, saying the "shape of the next government" will remain uncertain "for a while".
The tight result followed a campaign shaped by the cost of living and unemployment.
Projections show the National Party on 42 seats and Labour on 36. The Greens are on 16, with ACT on 13, New Zealand First on 12, the Opportunity Party on 7 and Te Pāti Māori, which represents Māori interests, on 5.
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon addressed supporters in Auckland as votes were being counted
The electoral commission was not due to announced the official result until 27 November.
Luxon congratulated Hipkins on a "very hard-fought race" before addressing party colleagues, saying "whatever the final count, we are incredibly proud of each and everyone for you".
He said he would run a caretaker government until the final results were confirmed later in the month, adding: "With those final results there can then be meaningful negotiations."
Elsewhere, Labour leader Kipkins said "the people have spoken", adding: "It may take a bit longer to work out what they've said."
Hipkins said the results made clear the "next parliament is going to require all of us to compromise, to work together and to find a common ground".
More than 99% of votes have been counted in New Zealand, with National and Labour neck-and-neck in terms of vote share.
But the preliminary results pointed to historically low support for the two major parties, with a combined vote share of around 60%.
They were followed by the…