Greens gain extra seat in New Zealand election

Greens gain extra seat in New Zealand electionWellington  - New Zealand's Greens have won an extra seat after votes cast in advance of this month's general election were counted, giving them a total of nine members in the 122-member parliament, the Chief Electoral Office announced Saturday.

The official declaration reduced the number of seats won by the conservative National Party by one to 58 but does not affect the power-sharing arrangement it has made with three other parties, which gave the centre right an overall majority.

The ousted Labour Party, which had ruled for nine years until the November 8 election, won 43 seats and with the Greens' nine comprise the official opposition.

The final votes counted were from New Zealanders who cast their ballots before the election because they live outside the country or their electoral district.

The new prime minister, John Key, is running a minority government but is assured of 69 votes in parliament with promises of support from the free market ACT and Maori parties, which each won five seats, and a sole United Future member.

Key has appointed five of the support parties' members as ministers outside the cabinet.

The next election does not have to be held before November 2011. (dpa)

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