Both the Greens and NZ First are very close to the threshold level of 5% and up to 20% of the vote in this election
could end up being discarded.
At last count with 13.3 percent of the vote counted Winston Peters had a 32 vote majority in Tauranga.
In Coromandel National’s Murray McLean is ahead by 177 votes with 14% of the vote counted.
Both the Greens and NZ First are on 5% with NZ First falling and the Greens – seemingly floating.
Frankenstein Government could be averted. But a lot of voters could end up feeling disenfranchised….
The merits of the 5% threshold seem likely to get a bit of a going over in coming months.
Phew!
(continuing)