WELLINGTON (REUTERS) - New Zealand Prime Minister Bill English called an election on Wednesday for Sept 23 after taking over as premier last month following the unexpected resignation of his predecessor John Key.
Mr English's centre-right National Party has governed for the past eight years and is seeking a fourth straight term, this time without the popular Mr Key. The next election was due around September this year.
The centre-left Labour and Green parties have formed an alliance to challenge the National Party.