If National and Act can form a government with 61 seats, then it’s straightforward negotiations and a mini-Budget before Christmas. In that scenario it could be 2024 before a government is decided. Parliament must have met by no later than December 21 – six weeks after the final writ day for the general election, and six days after the final by-election writ return. Parliament could meet before Christmas, with a caretaker government still in place, while negotiations between National, Act, and New Zealand First were still being sorted. In that scenario it could be 2024 before a government is decided.

Source: The Guardian October 11, 2023 08:47 UTC