Auckland (CNN) New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says she is delaying the country's parliamentary election by four weeks to October 17 after the reemergence of Covid-19 in the country last week. Ardern said that New Zealand's Electoral Commission had assured her that a safe and accessible election would be possible on the new date. Ardern said while the decision to change the election date rested solely with her as Prime Minister, she consulted with other party leaders as "moving an election date especially this late in an electoral cycle is a significant decision." "Any decision to review the election date must be as free from partisan political interests as possible." Ardern said New Zealand's Electoral Commission had been preparing for a range of circumstances, such as holding an election in level two or three lockdown, and that she did not intend to change the election date again.

Source: CNN August 17, 2020 00:15 UTC