National keeps lead with 30 percent of votes counted

With 30 percent of the votes counted in the general election, National continued to lead Labour with 48 percent of the party vote against 31 percent.

The ACT Party, National's partner, had gained 3.6 percent of the vote and Labour's ally, the Greens held 6.3 percent.

If those results translated into final results, National and ACT would hold 66 seats and a majority in Parliament.

Labour and the Greens would 49 seats.

New Zealand First's share of the vote was dropping as more results came in, and on 30 percent counted it held 4.3 percent.

It needs 5 percent to win seats in Parliament.

The Maori Party was leading in all four of the Maori seats it holds but the trend in the three that are hold by Labour was uncertain.