...

New Zealand's Maori Party may hold key to government as country prepares for election

Other News Materials 7 November 2008 04:59 (UTC +04:00)

A party representing New Zealand's indigenous Maori may hold the key to power at elections Saturday that could also end the rule of one of the world's longest-serving elected women leaders, the Associated Press reported.

Polls have shown a center-right coalition is consistently ahead of Prime Minister Helen Clark's Labour government, though both sides were cautious Friday, the last day of campaigning.

The conservative National Party and Labour are racing to get a majority in the 123-seat parliament, but the

country's complex proportional voting system means multiple small parties could make the contest volatile.

While the National's coalition is close to a majority, the last opinion polls of the campaign indicate that if Labour gains back late ground, the Maori Party could play kingmaker.

Latest

Latest