What the world's media made of NZ's election cliffhanger

New Zealand's general election has made headlines overseas, with most - though not all - focused on the lack of any clear result.While the governing coalition of National, NZ First and ACT has a fragile majority in an expanded 131-seat Parliament on the preliminary results, hundreds of thousands of special votes are yet to be counted, which could leave no one with a path to power without the help of newcomer Opportunity.Here's how the world reacted and reported the outcome.AustraliaNew Zealand may not know its government for weeks / New Zealand election remains on a knife edgeIn the words of Labour leader Chris Hipkins, "New Zealand has spoken", but exactly what it has said is anything but clear.Starting with our closest neighbour, Australia's ABC covered the election live before summing it up with Hipkins' election-night comments on the uncertain outcome."The two major parties - Labour and National - are in an exceptionally close race, showing that every vote really does count," its Auckland-based team wrote.ABC also highlighted the role Opportunity might play, and explained to readers how MMP's overhang system works.NZ PM has a long month ahead with little to crow aboutWriting in The Australian, David Cohen noted Luxon would be without many of the big names from his previous Cabinet, and that his party's "campaign lost direction as it moved from law and order to affordability and cultural issues".He also pointed out both National's governing minor partners, NZ First and ACT, increased their presence in Parliament, and suggested it was over for Hipkins if he didn't become prime minister, since he would have lost two consecutive elections.United KingdomNo clear winner after tight New Zealand general electionThe BBC focused on the lack of a clear winner too, noting that with 42 seats on the present count, National was far short of governing on its own. The authors wrongly suggested 61 seats would have been enough for a majority, apparently unaware of how New Zealand's MMP system works and what voters delivered on Saturday night.Cost of living was noted as the campaign's biggest issue, linking the Greens' boost in support to their plan for a publicly owned supermarket chain.Professor Andrew Geddis from the University of Otago was quoted, calling Opportunity a "wildcard" and noting the results won't be known until at least 27 November.New Zealand faces weeks of uncertainty with election 'too close to call'The Guardian too focused on the coalition's narrow lead, and said the "collapse of the two major parties, amid a sluggish economy and stubbornly high inflation, is feeding record support for the smaller parties" and helped Opportunity cross the 5 percent threshold.It too gave readers a lesson on MMP's quirks, and said the final result would not be known for potentially weeks.Nicola Willis speaks to the media as she arrives at the National Party’s election night event at Viaduct Event Centre.Fiona Goodall/Getty ImagesNew Zealand conservatives see path to power after deadlocked election"The National Party looks to have the best chance of forming a government, given its coalition options," it wrote, while also noting its reluctance to work with newcomer Opportunity.It also pointed out special votes, yet to be counted, tend to favour the left-leaning parties.United StatesNew Zealand in political limbo after knife-edge electionAnother knife-edge metaphor led CNN's coverage, saying it would take just a "small variance" to change the outcome.The outlet noted Labour at this stage actually had more party votes, but National - though a "diminished force" - was in a stronger position due to its performance in individual electorates."Its struggle to secure an emphatic victory this time signifies the level of public discontent over living costs, stubbornly high unemployment rates and concerns over healthcare."Conservative bloc takes a slim lead in New Zealand election that's still too close to callThe Associated Press reported the election "produced no definitive victory for the right or the left", but the coalition "hovered on the brink of a wafer-thin majority that could allow it to eke out a precarious return to power"."Voters instead bolstered power for minor parties on the ideological flanks and propelled to office a centrist political newcomer, Qiulae Wong of the Opportunity party, who has pledged a non-partisan and pragmatic agenda that draws from socially liberal, technocratic and pro-environment ideals."New Zealand's Election 'Too Close to Call' as Voters Turn to Minor PartiesThe New York Times said "minority parties [emerged] as the real winners in a vote dominated by economic sluggishness and political discontent"."Both [major] parties were polling near historic lows before the vote, signalling a lack of faith in their ability to steer the nation out of its malaise."Opportunity's rise was covered before any mention of the other minor parties, and the author noted that if the coalition failed to form a government, it would be "the first time in 50 years that a government has lasted just one term".New Zealand's election results are too close to callIn a short article barely seven paragraphs long, the Washington Post managed to fit in "the battle of the Chrises", Wong's recruitment via advertisement and Luxon's telling-off of a supporter who booed when National's rivals were mentioned.Opportunity Party leader Qiulae Wong arrives at the Opportunity Party’s election night event.Phil WalterNew Zealand party leader Qiulae Wong's disbeliefNews.com.au covered Wong's excitement as she realised Opportunity was going to break the 5 percent threshold, with a focus on her failed effort not to swear.Middle East and AsiaTwo main parties neck and neck after New Zealand vote, near complete countAl Jazeera, like most other outlets, zeroed in on the lack of any outcome, saying it was "an election dominated by a struggling economy and voter disillusionment with the two biggest contenders".It quoted former Cabinet minister Peter Dunne, who worked with both National and Labour governments, as saying Labour and National were "carbon copies of the other", leaving "a whole rising generation of voters, who want to see a bit more adventure in politics".In talking about how long it might be until a result is clear, Al Jazeera noted that New Zealand counts votes "by hand, not by machine".New Zealand govt holds narrow lead in poll nailbiterIn its 'rest of the world' category, the Times of India, in a short article, noted the coalition's narrow advantage and said Opportunity could end up being the kingmaker.