New Zealand premier calls national election for September 23

Wellington: New Zealand Prime Minister Bill English called an election on Wednesday for September 23 after taking over as premier in December following the unexpected resignation of his predecessor, John Key.
English's centre-right National Party has governed for the past eight years and is seeking a fourth term straight term, this time without the popular Key. The next election was due around September this year.
The centre-left Labour and Green parties have formed an alliance to challenge the National Party.