New Zealand election may turn on spy scandal

Labour and National parties neck-and-neck ahead of Saturday’s vote

China-born MP Yang Jian denies being a spy
China-born MP Yang Jian denies being a spy
(Image credit: Twitter)

New Zealand’s conservative National party had hoped to coast into a fourth consecutive win at this Saturday’s election, but the status quo is being threatened by an upstart Labour opposition leader and an internal spy scandal.

Energetic 38-year-old Jacinda Ardern moved into the spotlight only two months ago when Labour leader Andrew Little resigned. Previously Little's deputy, Ardern was appointed opposition leader to take on Prime Minister Bill English.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up
Explore More