New Zealand to go to polls on Sept 20 - PM Key

WELLINGTON, March 10 (Reuters) - New Zealand will hold its general election on Sept. 20, Prime Minister John Key said on Monday, in vote that is likely to focus on his centre-right National Party's economic record.

An election for the 120 seat parliament was required by the end of the year, as the government was due to complete its three-year term.

A Reuters survey of six polls shows Key's National Party, which has been in power since 2008, with a significant lead over the centre left Labour Party, but short of an outright majority, leaving it needing smaller parties to govern.

National currently has agreements with the centrist United Future, free market Act Party, and the Maori Party, which guarantee it a majority on all financial and confidence issues.

(Reporting by Gyles Beckford; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore)

((Gyles.Beckford@thomsonreuters.com)(+64 4 802 7977)(Reuters Messaging: gyles.beckford.reuters.com@reuters.net))

Keywords: NEWZEALAND POLITICS