New Zealand Election: Labour and National in Close Race
Listen to the story
New Zealand had an election this week. People voted for a new government.
Now workers are counting the votes. Two big parties are close. They are Labour and National.
Labour and National have the same number of votes right now. This is a very close race.
Polls are studies that ask people who they will vote for. Before the election, polls said no single party would win enough seats to rule alone.
In New Zealand, parties often work together. This is called a coalition. A coalition is a group of parties that rule together.
A small party could be very important. It might help decide who becomes the next government.
The vote count is still happening. People are waiting to see the final result.
This is one of the closest elections in New Zealand for many years.
Vocabulary15 words
- election
- a time when people vote to choose leaders
- votes
- choices people make for who should lead
- polls
- studies that ask people questions before a vote
- coalition
- a group of parties that work together to rule
- government
- the group of people who run a country
- count
- to check how many votes each side got
- party
- a group of people with the same political ideas
- race
- a competition between people or groups
- seats
- places in parliament that parties can win
- majority
- more than half
- result
- what happens at the end
- close
- almost the same; very near
- rule
- to lead or control a country
- workers
- people who do a job
- important
- something that matters a lot
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Quiz
Answer key
1. Votes are being counted after an election 2. Labour and National 3. No party would win enough seats alone
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Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
New Zealand had an _____ this week. People voted for a new government.
Now workers are counting the _____. Two big parties are close. They are Labour and National.
Labour and National have the same number of _____ right now. This is a very close race.
_____ are studies that ask people who they will vote for. Before the election, polls said no single party would win enough seats to rule alone.
In New Zealand, parties often work together. This is called a _____. A coalition is a group of parties that rule together.
A small party could be very _____. It might help decide who becomes the next government.
The vote _____ is still happening. People are waiting to see the final result.
This is one of the _____ elections in New Zealand for many years.
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