Prime Minister John Key won an emphatic victory Saturday in New Zealand's general election to return for a third term, a result that will be seen as an endorsement of the way his National Party has handled the economy.
"This is a great night. This is a victory for those who kept the faith," Key told a cheering crowd in Auckland. "This is a victory for those who refused to be distracted and who knew that a vote for National was a vote for a brighter future for all New Zealanders."
Key gave credit to his deputy prime minister, Bill English, whom he described as "the best finance minister in the developed world."
With just a small number of special votes remaining to be counted, Key's party ended election night with 48 percent of the vote.
It was a disastrous night for the National Party's closest rival, the Labor Party, which won just 25 percent. - AP