November 03, 2023
Winston’s arm strengthened by Labour Māori seat rout
New Zealand First holds the balance of power following the final tally of special votes.
It’s the same position the party held in 2017 when it went with Jacinda Ardern’s Labour party – but this time Labour leader Chris Hipkins has ruled out any deal.
National dropped from 50 seats on election night to 48.
The Greens picked up one extra seat to go to 15 and Te Pati Maori picked up two electorates at the expense of Labour.
Labour retained its election night party vote entitlement of 34 seats, but the loss of Tamaki Makaurau and Te Taitokerau and the fact Phil Twyford in Te Atatū and Rachel Boyack in Nelson turned around their election night losses means there is as yet no list position for ousted Northcote MP Shanan Halbert .
ACT retained all 11 seats following the count and New Zealand First remains on 8.
PM elect Chris Luxon says he prefers a two way coalition with ACT but their collective total of 59 falls short of being able to govern without Winston Peters’ New Zealand First.
Te Pāti Māori’s six seats means parliament has a two seat overhang, which will increase to three when as expected Andrew Bailey is returned as an electorate MP in the Port Waikato by-election November 25.
Ousted Te Tai Tokerau MP Kelvin Davis has indicated he would quit politics if he lost to Mariameno Kapa-Kingi.
Takutaimoana Natasha Kemp is the new Maori Party MP for Tamaki Makaurau, with Peeni Henare consigned to the Labour list.