Populist New Zealand First Party leader Winston Peters said on Saturday that his party would decide the next government.
Peters reiterated that he would not rush to a decision on whether to support the incumbent National Party, which has ruled for nine years, or the centre-left opposition Labour Party.
He said he would not say this evening or tomorrow who he would support and that his party would not rush to take a decision.
Votes cast for the ruling National Party reached 46.4 per cent with 80 per cent of results counted by the Electoral Commission.
The final result that includes all votes will not be released until October 7.
Reuters/NAN.