Never have the conceit to believe your problems are unique; to wit minority governments or hung parliaments. The measure of a politician is how they deal with such challenges, not simply whether their positions are "popular". For many, the view on how Julia Gillard has handled minority government is a poor one; broken promises, odd policy compromises and now parliamentary tricks.

In New Zealand, however, a "hung" parliament has been the norm since 1996 and today its people go to the polls under a voting system that mostly guarantees this.

Under the mixed-member proportional (MMP) system used in New Zealand, each elector casts two votes; one for an electorate, as in the Australian lower house, and one for a nationwide party "list", like a Senate list - all sitting in one house; the "party vote" determining the final proportions. This system has meant the major parties- National and Labour - have not had a clear majority since 1996.

In 2008 the National Party's John Key swept into a position to form government and chose to do so with the Maori Party, United Future and the ACT party, cushioning the left and right. What would have been a political straitjacket in Australia allowed Key to form an unashamedly centrist, pragmatic government. That was fortunate, as the challenges to New Zealand have been significant.

As a trading nation, and without the Pilbara, New Zealand was hit harder by the global financial crisis, and Key did not have the luxury of inheriting a large surplus.

Key's government also had to cope with a triple-whammy of disasters: the Christchurch earthquakes which destroyed homes, businesses and lives in the South Island's largest city; the Pike River explosion that killed 29 miners; and, most recently, the grounding of the container ship Rena off Tauranga.

But John Key made the most of what he had to meet these challenges and sought not to rely on political excuses. In one term he has reformed the tax system, rebalancing the country's GST and income taxes for fair incentive; his government has started on the long road to rebuilding Christchurch; he has taken tough decisions to drive efficiency measures in government departments and concentrate on delivering services; and he has implemented about 120 economic and pro-business reform measures. Salvage operations limited the oil spill from the Rena, and the Rugby World Cup was a hit.

Most Kiwis support Key's co-ordinated set of reforms, including partial asset sales, because they chart a clear path to economic recovery and physical rebuild. Compare this with the majority judgment of our own minority government's performance: a carbon tax people didn't want or need, a mining tax compromised by minority interests, the absence of an effective deterrent on boatloads of asylum seekers, and a rising cost of living.

Key has based his relationship with the electorate on positivity, honesty and empathy. Regardless of the coalition his party found itself in, he has kept trust and persuaded the electorate to go with him on difficult reforms while balancing expectations of his political partners.

This openness has led to stellar poll approval and leadership figures - as good as those Kevin Rudd enjoyed in his heyday; the difference being Key has held on to them, and leadership.

The National Party is predicted to get about 50 per cent of the party vote. To even contemplate this is rare under MMP voting, but this election has also been a wake-up call to voters.

First, to the annoyance of voters, and Key, some segments of the New Zealand media have been overly focused on the process of politics, not the issues (to be fair, this is now true everywhere). Body language and marketing experts at every turn, endless reporting of insignificant poll movements, and nearly two weeks of coverage of Key's cup of tea with a coalition party candidate. To voters these were unwelcome distractions from policy issues.

Second, despite overwhelming poll support for Key and the Nationals' direction, they are still only on the cusp of being able to govern in their own right; an ironic outcome in times that call for stability.

Public polls show the MMP system will likely stay. This outcome would be an endorsement of Key and his team's abilities under this system, not the function of it. But what is certain is that if the Nationals are re-elected, whether in coalition or governing in their own right, they will take on difficult tasks such as reducing debt and implementing welfare reforms with a strong measure of support, unlike Julia Gillard's Labor-led coalition.

Mark Textor has provided research-based advice to several conservative parties, including the British Conservative Party, the New Zealand National Party and the Liberal Party of Australia.