National assured of victory

With 90 percent of general election votes counted National and its right-wing partner the ACT Party were assured of holding a majority and forming a coalition government in the new Parliament.

National held 45 percent of the party vote against Labour's 33 percent.

ACT had won 3.7 percent of the vote and the Greens 6.5 percent.

On those figures, National and ACT would hold 64 seats -- a clear majority over Labour and the Greens with 51.

United Future leader Peter Dunne joints National and Progressive Party leader Jim Anderton adds one seat to Labour's tally, making the totals 65 against 52.

National would not need the Maori Party, expected to hold five seats, but it is likely to reach an arrangement in which the Maori Party supports a National-led government.