New Zealand PM Bill English announces national election on Sep 23

New Zealand Prime Minister Bill English who took over office after John Key's unexpected resignation in December called for a national election on September 23. Under New Zealand law, the prime minister gets to choose the date of the national election, which is held every three years.

New Zealand's centre-right National Party has governed for the past eight years and under the leadership of English is seeking a fourth-straight term. Campaigning will last just five weeks untill August, when parliament finishes. The centre-left Labour and Green parties have formed an alliance to challenge the National Party.

A poll by Roy Morgan in January showed the National Party more than 6 percent ahead of the rival coalition of the Labour Party and The Greens, enough to comfortably win re-election.

"The National Party will be campaigning on its strong record as a government and New Zealand's strong economic performance," English told reporters in Wellington.

Meanwhile, Kiwi showed little reaction to the news of national elections on September 23. However, offered tone around the NZD gathered pace today after data showed NZ unemployment rate ticked higher to 5.2 percent in Q4. Markets were expecting the figure to print at 4.8 percent.