Wellington, Sep 20 (IANS): David Cunliffe, leader of New Zealand's main opposition Labour Party Saturday, conceded defeat in the general election.

Cunliffe said in a televised address to party faithful that he had called Prime Minister John Key and congratulated him on winning a third term in office, Xinhua reported.

The Labour Party would Sunday begin a three-year campaign to win government benches in parliament in 2017, said Cunliffe.

The campaign had been unique in New Zealand's history, "beset by dirty politics and sideshows that will take months and months to unravel", he said in reference to allegations of smear tactics and mass surveillance of the public.

Key's governing centre-right National Party was returned in a much stronger position than either of its first two terms in power.

National had 48.2 percent with almost all the votes counted, enough to take 62 seats in the 120-seat Parliament and to govern alone, according to preliminary results.

National's minor partner, the Maori Party, dropped from three to two MPs.

Labour had 24.52 percent and its Green Party allies 10.02 percent, giving them a total of 44 seats.

The centrist New Zealand First party was in fourth place with 8.87 percent, giving it a possible 11 seats.

About 2.07 million of the 3.1 million registered voters cast their ballots, according to the Electoral Commission.