New Zealanders end vote on final day of tight elections

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Voters in New Zealand cast their ballots on the final day of close-fought general elections on Saturday, with the rising cost of living and general economic problems the main issues at stake. Preliminary results released shortly after polling stations closed at 7 p.m. local time (0600 GMT) showed the ruling center-right National Party on nearly 31% and the opposition Labour Party on almost 30%. The voting took place under New Zealand's strict laws banning media reporting and political campaigning on the final day. New Zealanders have, however, been able to cast their votes since October 26, with almost 1.7 million of the country's 3.8 million eligible voters already casting their ballots by Thursday, according to the electoral commission.