New Zealand Prime Minister John Key is offering is his congratulations to the new American president-elect, Donald Trump.

'I congratulate Mr Trump on his victory after a long campaign,” says John.

'I will be writing to Mr Trump to offer my personal congratulations.

'Our two countries share a strong relationship and I look forward to that continuing. Over the coming months we will be looking to build close ties with the incoming Trump Administration.”

John also paid tribute to the outgoing administration, led by former president Barack Obama.

'I have had a close and constructive relationship with President Obama and I wish him all the best for his future.”

There have been mixed emotions and some controversy since news broke of America's new president-elect.

WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair is in some hot water after posting a picture of his ballot ticket on Twitter.

The post showed he had written himself in as a candidate and was accompanied with the line; 'I'll just leave this right here…. #MakeAmericaWoooooAgain.”

I'll just leave this right here... #MakeAmericaWoooooAgain https://t.co/VBBchLOLp9#vote #ElectionDay #Elections2016 #ElectionNight pic.twitter.com/YpPQwbjiim

— Ric Flair® (@RicFlairNatrBoy) November 8, 2016

Back in New Zealand, New Zealand First leader Winston Peters thought Donald Trump would always win the US presidential election

'His victory results from the establishment treating ordinary Americans with contempt, and they are fighting back with their vote. Leading up to the election 72 per cent had no trust in Washington politicians,” Winston says in a statement released last night.

'This is yet again a dramatic lesson for the commentariat, pollsters and the political establishment.

'The greatest message for the elite is that the ordinary people in the Western world are not going to go on being ignored.

'The pollsters and media got it wrong because they refused to see what is happening in America and this is not a Republican victory over the Democrats, this is a rejection of neo-liberalism or, in plain words, the elite enriching themselves at the expense of the hard working, law abiding middle-class and workers.”

Emotions are mixed on social media with one person posting: 'My thoughts? I'm scared and disgusted!! He is a man full of hate, racism, discrimination. He has no clue about politics or the world. This has got to be one of the worst days in history, ever. We are all screwed”.

Another person posted; 'Best news of 2016, if you despise Trump due to the constant lies being told by the mainstream media congrats you are officially brainwashed”.