NZ PM-elect says role is a 'tremendous privilege'

Christopher Luxon said it was a "tremendous privilege" to wake up yesterday as New Zealand's incoming prime minister as he eyed talks to form a new coalition government.

Voters ended the six-year reign of the center-left Labour government on Saturday as Luxon's conservative National Party won enough seats to govern in a coalition with liberal party ACT.

Labour leader Chris Hipkins, who replaced Jacinda Ardern as prime minister in January, conceded defeat after his party lost nearly half their number of seats from the previous election in 2020.

Luxon, who prides himself on needing only a few hours of sleep each night, said he had celebrated with family and supporters before an early sporting start.

The 53-year-old former airline executive, who entered politics in 2019, can only take over as prime minister after the final election results are declared on November 3.

"It's a tremendous privilege," he said on being the incoming premier. "I feel very optimistic about our path going forward."

In their first 100 days, National has promised changes such as a ban on cellphones in schools, a crackdown on crime and the scrapping of planned fuel tax hikes.