Wellington - Some voters on welfare rang police emergency numbers and counselling hotlines on New Zealand's election night fearing that the winning conservative party would slash their benefits, a newspaper reported on Tuesday.

The National Party won Saturday's election, ending nine years of Labour-led government that raised welfare benefits and pensions.

Constable Ray Matthews took one call at the Masterton police station from a man concerned about how the result would impact on his future. "We basically talked to him and worked through some issues," he told the paper.

A police communications spokeswoman said that most callers just needed reassurance, and some were referred to counselling agencies.

An operator on the government's family services hotline said callers were really worried about what the change of government would mean for their benefit payments.

"There was real distress and uncertainty for some," she said. "It was quite heartbreaking and there were no answers to give them."

A new National Party government in 1990 did slash welfare benefits, but new prime minister-elect John Key has pledged not to cut them but to raise them annually in line with inflation. (dpa)