It promises to be the tightest election in years, a nail-biter that could define the country's future for decades to come. New Zealand goes to the polls on Saturday, with the left-leaning Labour prime minister, Helen Clark, hoping to clinch a historic third term in office by fighting off a challenge from Don Brash, leader of the conservative National Party.
Opinion polls have see-sawed for weeks, suggesting that the two sides will both command about 40 per cent of the vote, forcing them into deals with minor parties.
The election is being cast as a choice between two dramatically different versions of New Zealand's future and the direction in which its four million people want it to move.
'Helen Clark stands for a multicultural, diverse society,' said Barry Gustafson, emeritus professor of politics at Auckland University. 'Don Brash is much more divisive.'
Campaigning has been dominated by two issues: Maori rights and the economy. Mr Brash has inflamed race relations by demanding an end to special privileges for Maori, arguing that they should be treated the same as everyone else.
He has promised to abolish special affirmative action programmes and government agencies devoted to Maori, as well as the seven seats in the 120-seat parliament elected only by Maori. Health, education and welfare would be funded on the basis of need, not race, he said.