A voter casts his vote in the 2023 general election at a voting center at Johnsonville school in Wellington, New Zealand, October 14, 2023. /CFP
New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins on Saturday conceded his Labour Party had lost the general election.
Hipkins, who replaced Jacinda Ardern this year, said he was "not in a position to form a government" and congratulated incoming conservative premier Chris Luxon.
Luxon later said at a victory speech that his National Party was on course to form the next government with coalition partner ACT New Zealand.
The National Party, now in opposition, had nearly 40 percent of the votes while the ACT party had over 9 percent, which based on the current tally would give the two parties enough seats to form a government, according to the Electoral Commission.
(With input from agencies)