Jacinda Ardern gathers inner circle to consider the shape of her second term

The Labour Party leader led the party to a decisive result in the general election, securing a parliamentary majority for the first time since MMP was introduced in 1996.

Labour has 49 per cent of the vote, giving a return of 64 MPs in the 120-seat parliament.

Up to half a million special votes, including overseas votes, will be counted in the next fortnight but are not expected to substantially change results.