New Zealanders have started voting in a general election that could see Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern strengthen her left-of-centre hold on government.
Voters were seen queuing at schools and community halls across the South Pacific nation to cast their ballots.
Labour Party leader Ms Ardern is seeking another three-year term with Judith Collins leading the challenge for the conservative National Party opposition.
Officials opened polling stations at 9am Saturday morning (9pm Friday Irish time) with about 3.5 million people registered to vote.
New Zealand has strict election day laws that restrict media reporting and political advertising while polling booths are open to prevent voters being swayed.
The laws also do not allow exit polls, so the electorate will have no gauge of how the vote is going until early results are released after polls close.
However, almost half the electorate cast their ballots early, a much higher proportion than previous elections. That means the result could be known relatively early tomorrow night.
Labour leader Alan Kelly wished Ms Ardern good luck in a Twitter post. "You have shown phenomenal leadership and resolve in the face of this unprecedented crisis," he wrote.
The very best of luck to @jacindaardern and our friends in the @nzlabour party. You have shown phenomenal leadership and resolve in the face of this unprecedented crisis #NewZealand #NZElection2020
— Alan Kelly TD (@alankellylabour) October 16, 2020
The election was originally set for 19 September but was delayed by a virus outbreak in Auckland that has now been contained.
Voters will also cast ballots in two referendums, one on legalising recreational cannabis and the other on legalising euthanasia, although the results of those votes will not be known until 30 October.
