The make-up of the next parliament will be clearer when the full election results come out at 2pm Friday.
As well as a thorough audit of the election, the official results will include the choices of about 570,000 so-called special voters: people who voted from overseas, outside their electorate, or enrolled late.
After 2pm, National says formal negotiations on governing arrangements will start - with ACT and perhaps New Zealand First.
Wellington lawyer Graeme Edgeler spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.
