New Zealand heads to poll September 19th

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Tuesday called an election for September 19, in a contest that will test whether her support at home matches her widespread popularity overseas.

Ardern’s centre-left Labour Party-led coalition came to power in 2017 and is seeking a second term.

“I will be asking New Zealanders to continue to support my leadership and the current direction of the government, which is grounded in stability, a strong economy and progress on the long term challenges facing New Zealand,” Ardern told a media conference

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Opposition leader Simon Bridges has led the centre-right National party into more populist territory, attacking Ardern over a land dispute with Maori groups and attacking the gun buy-back scheme introduced after Christchurch.

The government announced infrastructure projects worth 12 billion New Zealand dollars ($7.90 billion) last month, boosting capital spending to its highest in 20 years, as it seeks to fire up the economy.

“We will be asking for a further term to get the job done,” Ardern told the news conference.

In addition to electing the next government, New Zealanders will also take part in a double referendum at the 2020 polls, as they vote on whether to legalise recreational cannabis and euthanasia.

The parliament will be officially dissolved on August 12 and until then the government will function as usual, Ardern said

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