2008 New Zealand general election

The 2008 New Zealand general election was held on 8 November 2008. The liberal-conservative National Party, headed by its parliamentary leader John Key, won the largest share of votes and seats, ending nine years of government by the social-democratic Labour Party, led by Helen Clark. This marked the beginning of the Fifth National Government which governed for the next nine years, until the 2017 general election, when a government was formed between the Labour and New Zealand First parties.

2008 New Zealand general election

8 November 2008 (2008-11-08)
All 120 seats (plus 2 overhang seats) in the New Zealand House of Representatives 62 seats were needed for a majority
Opinion polls
Turnout	2,376,480 (79.46%) 1.46
First party Second party Third party   Leader John Key Helen Clark Russel Norman Jeanette Fitzsimons Party Leader since 27 November 2006 1 December 1993 3 June 2006 21 May 1995 Leader's seat Helensville Mount Albert List List Last election 48 seats, 39.10% 50 seats, 41.10% 6 seats, 5.30% Seats before 48 49 6 Seats won 58 43 9 Seat change 10 6 3 Electorate vote 1,072,024 46.60% 6.22 810,238 35.22% 5.13 129,584 5.63% 1.51 Party vote 1,053,398 44.93% 5.83 796,880 33.99% 7.11 157,613 6.72% 1.42   Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party   Leader Rodney Hide Tariana Turia Pita Sharples Jim Anderton Party ACT Leader since 18 June 2004 7 July 2004 27 July 2002 Leader's seat Epsom Te Tai Hauāuru Tāmaki Makaurau Wigram Last election 2 seats, 1.51% 4 seats, 2.12% 1 seat, 1.16% Seats before 2 4 1 Seats won 5 5 1 Seat change 3 1 0 Electorate vote 68,852 2.99% 1.02 76,836 3.34% 0.02 25,981 1.13% 0.51 Party vote 85,496 3.65% 2.14 55,980 2.39% 0.27 21,241 0.91% 0.25   Seventh party Eighth party   Leader Peter Dunne Winston Peters Party Leader since 16 November 2000 18 July 1993 Leader's seat Ōhariu List (lost seat) Last election 3 seats, 2.67% 7 seats, 5.72% Seats before 2 7 Seats won 1 0 Seat change 1 7 Electorate vote 25,955 1.13% 1.71 38,813 1.69% 1.80 Party vote 20,497 0.87% 1.80 95,356 4.07% 1.65
Results of the election.
Prime Minister before election Helen Clark Subsequent Prime Minister John Key

The Chief Electoral Officer released the official results on 22 November 2008.

2008 New Zealand General Election Media

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  Poll results for all political parties that exceeded the 5% mixed-member proportional (MMP) representation threshold between the 2005 and 2008 elections.

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  2008 New Zealand general election - composition chart

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  Party affiliation of the winning electorate candidates.

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  Highest polling party in each electorate.