Photo: Getty ImagesNational and New Zealand First do not need to wait for special votes to be counted to form a coalition government, Prof Andrew Geddis, of the University of Otago, says. The parties’ combined vote was large enough to offset an expected swing to the left in special votes. The 15% special votes yet to be counted would not give the two parties more votes than National once distributed. Fourth-term arrogance was a risk, Prof Geddis said. "You become wrapped in a bubble; you have lots of people around you telling you how wonderful you are," Prof Geddis said.

Source: Otago Daily Times September 24, 2017 16:07 UTC