WELLINGTON, New Zealand — Three weeks before a general election, the dramatic rise of New Zealand opposition leader Jacinda Ardern was highlighted by an opinion poll that put her liberal party ahead of the ruling conservatives for the first time in more than a decade. The unexpected result late Thursday caused the New Zealand dollar to drop before regaining some ground as traders priced in an uncertain election outcome. Yet National retains strong support and it remains unclear which party will be in a position to govern after the election. And one key small party, New Zealand First, has yet to say which of the larger parties it will back. The poll result came ahead of the first televised debate between Ardern and English.

Source: National Post September 01, 2017 02:21 UTC