Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Monday delayed New Zealand's looming election by four weeks to Oct. 17 after a renewed coronavirus outbreak hampered campaigning. "This decision gives all parties time over the next nine weeks to campaign and the Electoral Commission enough time to ensure an election can go ahead," she said. New Zealand, whose original election date had been set for Sept. 19, is battling a return of COVID-19 which last week forced the country's largest city Auckland into lockdown and ended 102 days without community transmission. Opposition parties had been requesting a delay after a virus outbreak in Auckland last week prompted the government to put the city into a two-week lockdown and halted election campaigning. Before the latest outbreak, New Zealand had gone 102 days without any known community transmission of the virus, and life had returned to normal for most people, who were going to restaurants, sports stadiums and schools without fear of getting infected. The only known cases during that time were returning travelers who were quarantined at the border. Officials believe the virus was reintroduced to New Zealand from abroad but haven't yet been able to figure out how it happened. The Auckland outbreak has grown to 49 infections, with authorities saying they believe the cases are all connected, giving them hope the virus isn't spreading beyond the cluster. Ardern said in making her decision, she had first called the leaders of all the political parties represented in the parliament to get their views. "Ultimately I want to ensure we have a well-run election that gives all voters the best chance to receive all the information they need about parties and candidates, and delivers certainty for the future," Ardern said. She said she wouldn't consider delaying the election again, no matter what was happening with any virus outbreaks. Opinion polling indicates Ardern's Labor Party is favored to win a second term in office. — Agencies
