The world's media have reported on the victory for incoming prime minister Christopher Luxon, described as the "Conservative former businessman," whose National Party thrashed "the party once led by Jacinda Ardern".
Ardern's name has led in some overseas coverage of this year's contest — despite a largely absent presence on the campaign trail back home.
In several publications, the former prime minister's name appears before Chris Hipkins'.
'Most conservative government in decades' - New York Times
In the US, the New York Times headlined its story as: "New Zealand Elects Its Most Conservative Government in Decades."
"The rightward shift came as voters punished the party once led by Jacinda Ardern for failing to deliver the transformational change that it had promised," the paper published.
"After an election campaign of fits and starts, in which neither major party appeared to offer much solace to a weary nation, voters in New Zealand on Saturday ousted the party once led by Jacinda Ardern and elected the country’s most right-wing government in a generation, handing victory to a coalition of two conservative parties.
"For many voters, Ms Ardern and her successor, Chris Hipkins, failed to deliver on the Labour Party’s promise of transformational change."
'Love scandal rocks election' - news.com.au
Meanwhile one of Australia's largest news websites, news.com.au, led on Sunday morning with the headline: "Love scandal rocks New Zealand election"
The headline is in reference to Chris Hipkins' comments about his new partner, Toni, during his concession speech last night.
"There is someone else I want to thank tonight, someone that most of you won’t know, and that is my partner, Toni,” he told Labour supporters last night.
"Being prime minister is not the only special thing that has happened for me this year and I want to thank you for being with me every step of the way over the last few months as we have gone through this campaign."
'Voters punish ruling party' - CNN
CNN's website led with the headline: "New Zealand shifts right as voters punish ruling party."
"Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has conceded his Labour party lost Saturday’s election, as voters punished the government and took the country rightwards nine months after his predecessor Jacinda Ardern suddenly resigned," the broadcaster wrote.
'Bloodbath election' - Daily Mail
In the UK, the Daily Mail website led on: "New Zealand votes out Jacinda Ardern's Labour party in 'bloodbath' election - as ex-Air New Zealand CEO becomes country's next Prime Minister."
Meanwhile, the Associated Press, a wire service that provides copy to thousands of publishers around the world, described Luxon as a "conservative former businessman."
AP wrote: "Conservative former businessman Christopher Luxon will be New Zealand’s next prime minister after winning a decisive election victory Saturday. People voted for change after six years of a liberal government led for most of that time by Jacinda Ardern."
'NZ resoundingly chooses conservative government' - Daily Telegraph
In the UK, the Daily Telegraph newspaper said Kiwis had "resoundingly elected" a new conservative government.
"Voters elect for change after six years of a liberal government led for most of that time by Jacinda Ardern," the paper published.
It went on to profile two farmers, one who said the victory for National would be a "weight off our shoulders".
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