Will New Zealand’s election reshape its ‘softly-softly’ approach to Trump?

With the major parties locked in a close contest ahead of Saturday's vote, the next government's approach to Washington, as well as its defence priorities, could hinge on the smaller parties needed to form a coalition.

Robert Patman, a professor of international relations at New Zealand's University of Otago, said a key issue at stake was whether Wellington would continue its so far unsuccessful "softly-softly" approach to the second Trump administration.