Cannabis referendum: Votes confirm New Zealand won't legalise marijuana

New Zealand won't be legalising marijuana after the final votes counted in a referendum failed to overturn the result from election night although it got close

New Zealand won't be legalising marijuana after the final votes counted Friday in a referendum failed to overturn the result from election night although it got close.

The referendum to legalise the drug ended up with 48 per cent support and 51 per cent against, a tightening from the election night split of 46 per cent in favour and 53 per cent against. The special votes counted after the October 17 election included those cast overseas and accounted for about 17 per cent of the total vote.

The special votes also slightly increased the majority of liberal Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and her Labour Party, which ended up with just over 50 per cent of the total vote, and 65 of Parliament's 120 seats.

It is the first time any single party has commanded a majority in Parliament since New Zealand introduced a proportional system 24 years ago.