Polls have closed in New Zealand’s general election, in which Prime Minister John Key, of the National Party, appears on course to secure a third term in office.

Opinion polls indicate that the National Party has around 46 percent support, with the Labour Party trailing a distant second at 25 percent.

During the campaign, Key’s government faced accusations of “dirty” politics, as well as from NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden of mass surveillance on New Zealand citizens.