Ardern vows to tackle housing crisis as New Zealand readies for early voting

FILE PHOTO: New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern participates in a televised debate with National leader Judith Collins at TVNZ in Auckland, New Zealand, September 22, 2020. Fiona Goodall/Pool via REUTERS

WELLINGTON (Reuters) - New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Friday vowed to tackle the country's chronic housing shortage, focusing in on a vulnerable election issue for the Labour Party ahead of early voting starting this weekend.

Ardern is expected to secure re-election in the Oct. 17 poll after winning praise for her handling of the COVID-19 outbreak and other crises, but Labour has done less well on some domestic issues, including plans to build new homes and rein in the cost of housing.