NAU MAU, HAERE MAI, EVERYONE ` WELCOME TO 'YOUR VOTE 2023'. WE'RE ABOUT TO FIND OUT WHO WILL LEAD THIS COUNTRY, YOUR COUNTRY, FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS. THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN IS OVER, AND IT HAS ALL COME DOWN TO THIS. THIS IS THE COUNTDOWN CLOCK. AFTER INTERMINABLE WEEKS OF TWO CHRISES FIGHTING OVER WHICH CHRIS IS THE BEST CHRIS, WE NOW HAVE JUST SECONDS TO GO. IT'S 7 O'CLOCK. THE POLLS ARE CLOSED. IT'S 7 O'CLOCK. THE POLLS ARE CLOSED. CAPTIONS BY SEAN LYDIARD AND MAEVE KELLY. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2023 E NGA MANA NUI O TE MOTU. NAU MAI, HAERE MAI. KI TENEI, KO WHIRINGA POTI. WELCOME, EVERYONE. WE'RE HONOURED TO HAVE YOUR COMPANY. AND WE HAVE GOOD NEWS ` THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN IS OVER. SO WHAT HAVE YOU, THE VOTERS, SAID? WILL NATIONAL WIN ENOUGH SEATS TO MAKE CHRISTOPHER LUXON PRIME MINISTER? WILL NEW ZEALAND FIRST BE THERE? HOW ABOUT THE GREENS, TE PATI MAORI AND ACT? OR HAS CHRIS HIPKINS PERFORMED A NEAR MIRACLE FOR LABOUR? THE FIRST RESULTS WILL BE ANY MOMENT, AND WE'LL HAVE THEM FOR YOU AS THEY COME IN. NEARLY 1.4 MILLION OF US VOTED EARLY. JACK TAME IS OUR NUMBERS GUY TONIGHT, OUR SMOOTH-AS GEEK-IN-CHIEF. HE'LL NOT ONLY BRING YOU THE ALL-IMPORTANT DIGITS; AS WE GET THEM, HE'LL EXPLAIN WHAT THEY MEAN. KIA ORA, JACK. THANKS, JOHN. KIA ORA, E TE WHANAU. WE'VE GOT A DIRECT LINK TO THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION TONIGHT, SO THE SECOND WE GET NUMBERS, I'LL BE BRINGING THEM TO YOU LIVE. DON'T FORGET ` TO FORM A GOVERNMENT, PARTIES HAVE TO GET ENOUGH SEATS OVER HERE IN THE DEBATING CHAMBER. TO FORM A GOVERNMENT, YOU NEED A MAJORITY ` 61 IS THE MAGIC NUMBER. TO GIVE YOU A SENSE OF HOW THIS WORKS, BASED ON OUR LATEST POLL NUMBERS, NATIONAL AND ACT, AT 58 SEATS COMBINED, WOULD NEED THE SUPPORT OF NEW ZEALAND FIRST TO GET ACROSS THE LINE WITH 66 SEATS. A LABOUR, GREEN AND TE PATI MAORI COMBINATION WOULD BE WELL SHORT ON 54. WE'RE NOT FAR AWAY FROM GETTING THE FIRST RESULTS OF THE NIGHT, AND I'LL BRING THEM TO YOU AS SOON AS THEY COME THROUGH. THEY WERE EARLY LAST ELECTION. SO JACK, JESS AND I ARE IN THE STUDIO, AND WE'LL ALSO BE JOINED BY SOME VERY SPECIAL GUESTS ` YOU'LL MEET THEM SHORTLY. BUT WE'RE OUT AND ABOUT ` LET'S MEET OUR TEAM. HERE THEY ARE. FROM RUSSELL IN THE FAR NORTH, DOWN TO DUNEDIN IN THE SOUTH, FROM THE CRUCIAL MAORI ELECTORATES TO THE PARTY HQs, AND EVEN THE ODD ELECTION WATCH PARTY ` YOU NAME THEM, OUR REPORTERS ARE WITH THEM FOR YOU. LET'S CHECK IN WITH SOME OF THEM NOW. LET'S CHECK IN WITH SOME OF THEM NOW. STARTING WITH DEPUTY POLITICAL EDITOR MAIKI SHERMAN AT NATIONAL HQ IN DOWNTOWN AUCKLAND. MAIKI, POLLS ARE SUGGESTING IT'S NATIONAL'S ELECTION TO LOSE. HAS LUXON DONE ENOUGH? CHRISTOPHER LUXON WILL BE WISHING, HE WILL BE HOPING HE WILL BE CROSSING ALL OF HIS FINGERS AND ALL OF HIS TOES, HOPING THAT HIS PARTY HAS DONE ENOUGH, BECAUSE THEY HAVE SPENT THE LAST SIX YEARS IN OPPOSITION ` THAT IS A LONG TIME BY ANY STRETCH OF THE IMAGINATION WHEN IT COMES TO POLITICS. THEY ARE DESPERATE TO WIN TONIGHT, THEY ARE TELLING VOTERS NOT TO BE COMPLACENT. THEY DO NOT THINK IT IS A DONE DEAL. ALL EYES ON THE NATIONAL PARTY. WE ARE EXCITED HERE, WAITING FOR THE RESULTS. WE WILL BE WITH THE TEAM THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT. LOOKING RESPLENDENT IN YELLOW. LABOUR IS BASING THEMSELVES IN LOWER HUTT TONIGHT. JOINING THEM IS SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER BENEDICT COLLINS. HOW CONTROVERSIAL IS IT FOR LABOUR TO BE IN UPPER HUTT, BENEDICT? I DON'T THINK THE BOY FROM THE HUTT WOULD HAVE IT ANY OTHER WAY. CHRIS HIPKINS HAS BUILT HIS IDENTITY AROUND THIS PLACE. IT MAY NOT BE AWKWARD, BUT IT MAKES PERFECT SENSE, AND HE GETS A DECENT AMOUNT OF SUPPORT HERE. OPEN FOLLOWING CHRIS HIPKINS ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL, IT HAS BEEN INTERESTING TO WATCH HIM EVOLVE. HE WAS STANDOFFISH AT FIRST, BUT HE HAS STARTED TO BURN A BIT OF MOMENTUM, AND WE SEEN THE POLLS PICK UP. CHRIS HIPKINS HAS SPENT THE LAST WEEK, TODAY WE WILL FIND OUT. WE'VE GOT A RAFT OF EXPERT PANELLISTS HELPING US MAKE SENSE OF EVERYTHING AS IT HAPPENS. LET'S MEET A FEW OF THEM NOW ` FORMER NATIONAL PARTY LEADER SIMON BRIDGES AND FORMER GREEN PARTY CO-LEADER METIRIA TUREI ARE WITH US. LET'S START WITH YOU, SIMON. LABOUR HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING IN THE POLLS, ESPECIALLY OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS. WHY IS NATIONAL NOT DOING BETTER? THEY SHOWED GOOD ENERGY IN THE FIRST HALF, CHRISTOPHER LUXON SURPRISED. BUT THEY HAD ISSUES IN THE SECOND HALF, THEY HAVE NOT HAD A GOOD ISSUE ON THE TAX QUESTION. THIS PROBLEM IS A YEAR IN THE MAKING, THE NATIONAL PARTY HAS ALWAYS HAD A STRATEGY REGARDING WINSTON PETERS, BUT THIS ONE HASN'T. THEY HAVE GIVEN HIM OXYGEN, AND THAT IS AN ISSUE FOR THEM. I DON'T MEAN TO PILE THE PRESSURE ON, BUT THIS SHOULD BE AN UNLOSEABLE ELECTION ` THEY HAVE NOT BEEN BOLD, THEY HAVE BEEN CAUTIOUS. WE WILL SEE IF THAT HAS WORKED, OR IF IN BEING SMALL TARGET, THEY HAVE LEFT ROOM FOR LABOUR. TURN OUT WILL BE IMPORTANT ` WHEN IT IS UP IT FAVOURS THE LEFT. METIRIA TUREI, IT IS NICE TO HAVE YOU HERE. THINKING BACK TO WHEN THE GREENS HAD THE BEST NIGHT IN 2011. AND THEY LOOK TO HAVE HAD THE BEST CAMPAIGN. PETERS MAY DISAGREE. ON HIS HORSE. BUT THEY ARE LOOKING AT THE BEST ELECTION EVER, THE GREENS. THEY HAVE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, AS ALWAYS, THEY HAVE A VALUE BASE WHICH IS THE FOUNDATION OF THEIR CAMPAIGN. THEY ARE COMMITTED TO SAYING WHAT THEY BELIEVED TO BE TRUE, AND IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE COUNTRY. THEY HAVE NO FEAR OF SAYING THOSE THINGS ` WEALTH TAX, POVERTY, CLIMATE CHANGE ` THEY HAVE THE PASSION THEY HAVE ALWAYS HAD, EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE NOW A BIT OF AN OLD PARTY. BUT THEY KEEP UP THE ENERGY BECAUSE THEY ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT THESE ISSUES. IT IS ALL BASED ON SOLID VALUES, THAT WILL BE THE PROBLEM FOR LABOUR AND NATIONAL. GREAT TO HAVE YOU BOTH HERE ` TO OF OUR EXCELLENT EXPERTS. THEY COULD BE THE POWER-PLAYERS THIS ELECTION, SO IT'S TIME TO GO TO RUSSELL, WHERE GARTH BRAY IS STANDING BY AT THE NZ FIRST GATHERING. GARTH, ANY SIGN OF WINSTON YET? HE LIKES TO ARRIVE LAST! NO SIGN YET ` BUT PLENTY OF SIGN OF SHANE JONES, WHO IS IN A NICE SUIT AND TIE. WE SPOKE TO HIM EARLIER, WITH SOME ENORMOUS SNAPPER. HE SPENT THE MORNING FISHING. AND THEY MAY BE CONSUMING SOME OF THE SPOILS NOW. IF YOU HAD TO WAIT A PARTY ON ATMOSPHERE, THEY HAVE IT HERE. I HAVE ALREADY PASSED ON CRAYFISH RISOTTO! WINSTON PETERS, THE MAN OF THE MOMENT, NO SIGN OF HIM YET. HE IS EXPECTED AROUND NINE, DEPENDING ON HOW THOSE COUNTS GO. WE HOPE TO BE GETTING HOLD OF SHANE JONES SHORTLY. GARTH WITH THE GOOD KAI. HEADING TO HAWERA NOW, TO ANOTHER IMPORTANT PLAYER; SUPPORTERS OF TE PATI MAORI'S DEBBIE NGAREWA-PACKER ARE GATHERING. TE ANIWA HURIHANGANUI IS THERE WITH THEM. WHAT'S THE TURNOUT LIKE THERE? AT THE MOMENT, PEOPLE ARE JUST STARTING TO TRICKLE IN, IT IS QUIET BUT IT WON'T BE FOR LONG ` DEBBIE NGAREWA-PACKER WILL BE HERE AND AROUND AN HOUR. SHE HAS SOME PRETTY AWESOME PERFORMERS ` THE PATIA MAORI CLUB, THE SINGERS OF POI E! NEW ZEALAND'S CATCHIEST SONG. THAT'LL BE A BIG PARTY, BUT THERE WILL BE NERVES ` THEIR SEATS HERE ARE VERY CLOSE. DEBBIE NGAREWA-PACKER AND SORAYA PEKE-MASON ARE CLOSE ` THE SEAT COULD GO EITHER WAY. THE SONG IS A HEAD ALREADY! SEVERAL SOUTH ISLAND ELECTORATES WILL BE ONES TO WATCH TONIGHT. JENNY SUO IS IN DUNEDIN. WHAT WILL YOU BE KEEPING AN EYE ON FOR US, JENNY? SOME INTERESTING ONES HERE ) DUNEDIN IS A SAFE LABOUR SEAT, DAVID CLARK IS AN, RACHEL BOYACK IS IN. A COULD BE A RACE BETWEEN LABOUR AND THE GREENS. INVERCARGILL WAS CLOSE LAST ELECTION. THAT IS USUALLY A SAFE NATIONAL SEAT. IT'LL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHO COMES OUT ON TOP. WE TOLD YOU THE RESULTS WOULD START COMING IN EARLY, AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT'S JUST HAPPENED! LET'S GET STRAIGHT OVER TO JACK FOR THE VERY LATEST. ABOUT 200,000 VOTES HAVE BEEN COUNTED SO FAR ` NATIONAL POLLING AT ALMOST 41%. NZ FIRST IS OVER THE 5% THRESHOLD, A STRONG SHOWING FROM ACT, PERHAPS LOWER THEN THEY WOULD LIKE. 200,000 MAY SOUND LIKE A HUGE NUMBER, AND IT IS ` OUR POLL HAS A SAMPLE SIZE OF A THOUSAND. AT THE LAST ELECTION, THE RESULTS AT THIS STAGE OF THEIR NIGHT WERE PRETTY CLOSE TO THE RESULT. THIS IS 200 TIMES LARGER THAN OUR STANDARD POLL ` I THINK NATIONAL WILL BE VERY PLEASED. POLLING SLIGHTLY LOWER, THE OTHER PARTIES. A COULD BE FAIR TO SAY THAT ADVANCE VOTING SKEWS TO NATIONAL. AND WE WOULD EXPECT SPECIAL VOTING TO FAVOUR THE LEFT. THEY ARE OUT OF THE BLOCKS LIKE PHAR LAPP. WHAT YOU THINK OF THAT SIMON? THAT NIRVANA FOR NATIONAL ` THEY MAY BE PLEASED, WE NEED TO HAVE SOME CAUTION OF COURSE, WE DO KNOW THE LEFT VOTE COMES IN LATER, BUT A VERY STRONG START FOR THE CENTRE-RIGHT. THE LEFT VOTE COMING IN LATER, IS IT BECAUSE LABOUR RAN AN UNDERWHELMING CAMPAIGN? THEY TRY TO OCCUPY THE CENTRE, WITHOUT HAVING A VALUE BASIS FOR THAT. PART OF THAT IS PROBABLY LACK OF CONFIDENCE, CHRIS HIPKINS TALKED ABOUT THAT WITH THE DEBATE. IT TOOK TOO LONG. AN ISSUE IS, WILL IT TURN UP? IF 80% OF NEW ZEALAND TURN OUT, WE'VE ALWAYS HAD A LABOUR LIVED GOVERNMENT. THAT IS THE THING WE WILL BE LOOKING FOR, DOES IT TURN OUT? DISCUSSING WHEN THE CAMPAIGN MAY PEAK DID LATER HAVE A GOOD FINAL WEEK? DID THEY GET IT WRONG? I THINK IN THOSE FIRST FEW WEEKS, HIPKINS WASN'T PREPARED TO STAND HIS MARK ON ANYTHING OTHER THAN TO SAY WHAT HE WASN'T GOING TO DO, WHICH IS NOT WHAT PEOPLE WANT TO HEAR. THEY WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOUR VALUES ARE, WHAT YOU WILL DO AND HOW YOU BASAL POLICIES, AND HE DIDN'T DO THAT UNTIL HE CAME OUT OF COVERT. THAT HAS BEEN A REAL PROBLEM. SIMON BRIDGES, THE TWO BIG PARTIES, I GREW UP WHEN THAT WAS ALMOST ALL THERE WAS. IF YOU ADD THEM TOGETHER YOU ARE LOOKING AT ABOUT 66%. WA IF YOU ADD THEM TOGETHER YOU ARE LOOKING AT ABOUT 66%. IN 2020 2011, THEY GOT 74%. WHY ARE THEY SO LOW? A DEFINING FEATURE OF THIS YEAR HAS BEEN THE RELATIVE WEAKNESS OF THE TWO MAJOR PARTIES. IS SOMETHING WE HAVEN'T SEEN BEFORE. EVERY ELECTION YOU HAVE COVERED THERE'S BEEN A SITUATION WHERE ONE OF THE MAJOR PARTIES SOMETIME EARLIER IN THE YEAR IS IN THE 40S, WHICH WE HAVEN'T SEEN. THAT IS NOT NECESSARILY WHAT HAPPENS. I THINK THE REASON IS THAT A LABOUR PARTY TIRED FROM COVID, AND NATIONAL, VERY INEXPERIENCED RATHER TO OTHER CAUCUSES, BECAUSE THEY ARE SMALLER AND THEY HAVE BEEN REGROUPING. I HOPE WE SEE MORE OF THIS, THAT MMP START TO TAKE A MUCH LARGER PROPORTION OF THE VOTE. THIS IS WHAT MMP WAS FOR. WE SHOULDN'T STILL HAVE THE TWO-PARTY SYSTEM. THAT IS WHAT FIRST-PAST THE POST WAS. WE ARE ON TRACK TO SEE THE GREENS AND ACT AT THE BEST NIGHTS EVER. REALLY INTERESTING. CUSHLA NORMAN IS AT THE GREENS HQ FOR US DOWN ON AUCKLAND'S WATERFRONT. AND THE GREENS, OF COURSE, HAVE POLLING NUMBERS THAT COULD SEE THEM GETTING 17 SEATS. IS THERE CONFIDENCE IN THE AIR THERE, CUSHLA? I WOULD SAY THERE IS CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM IN THE AIR. PEOPLE ARE NOT GETTING AHEAD OF THEMSELVES. WHEN THOSE NUMBERS FLASHED UP ON SCREEN, THERE WAS NOT MUCH OF A REACTION AT ALL. ONE VOLUNTEER TOLD ME HE WOULD BE DISAPPOINTED IF THEY DIDN'T GET OVER 12%. THEY TALK A LOT DOWN HERE ABOUT THE GROUND CAMPAIGN. THEY SAY IT HAS BEEN A REALLY STRONG, FELT REALLY GOOD OUT THERE. THEY KNOCKED ON 280,000 DOORS AND PHONE CALLS, 7000 VOLUNTEERS. THEY FEEL REALLY POSITIVE ABOUT THAT. THERE IS A SENSE THAT POTENTIALLY HISTORY COULD BE MADE HERE TONIGHT. ALSO, FOR ELECTORATES THE GREENS ARE TARGETING THIS TIME ` BE REALLY INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS THERE. WE HAVE PEOPLE THERE. WE WILL BE BACK THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT LOOKING AT THE POLLS. THE GREENS ARE NOW 10.89, HOVERING JUST BELOW THE 11%. THIS IS GOING TO BE A FASCINATING NIGHT. AND NOT VERY FAR FROM THE GREEN PARTY ` IN FACT, THEY'RE IN THE SAME BUILDING ` IS WHERE THE ACT PARTY IS BASING THEMSELVES TONIGHT. KATIE BRADFORD IS THERE. IT'S BEEN AN INTERESTING CAMPAIGN FOR ACT, KATIE, WITH SOME HIGHS AND SOME LOW LOWS. KIA ORA. I THINK THERE IS A GOOD BUZZ IN THE AIR TONIGHT. A LOT OF SPARKLES, A LOT OF PINK. LOOKING AT THOSE NUMBERS, THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW CHEERS. NATIONAL WILL BE HAPPY LOOKING AT THAT NOW BEING ABLE TO SAY, THAT IS THE NATIONAL/ ACT GOVERNMENT WE COULD FORM RIGHT NOW ALONE. I THINK THE END OF THE CAMPAIGN IT STARTED FEELING A BIT OF A DROP IN THE VIBE FROM DAVID SEYMOUR. WE SAW THAT IN THE POLLS. STARTED OFF REALLY WELL AND SLOWED DOWN THROUGHOUT THE ELECTION. BUT THINGS CHANGE REALLY RAPIDLY. THERE IS A LOT OF FUN HERE TONIGHT. YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO SEE ` IF YOU ARE A FAN OF DAVID SEYMOUR OR BARBIE AND KEN, YOU CAN COME AND TAKE A SELFIE AT THE BOOTH. PEOPLE ARE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO TONIGHT. MATERIA TODAY IS DEVASTATED SHE IS MISSING OUT. *METIERA. PACIFIC CORRESPONDENT BARBARA DREAVER IS IN OTAHUHU THIS EVENING WITH PASIFIKA LABOUR SUPPORTERS. I GUESS YOU ARE IN JENNY SALESA'S ELECTORATE. YOU ARE IN A SAFE LABOUR SEAT. BUT THE PACIFIKA CAUCUS MAY BE IN FOR A TOUGH NIGHT. THEY HAVE GONE FROM THE DIZZYING HEIGHTS OF HAVING 12 PACIFIC LABOUR MPS AND GOVERNMENT AND STARING DOWN THE BARREL OF RATHER GRIM POLLING RESULTS. IF THOSE RESULTS COME TRUE, AND WE ARE YET TO SEE THAT, PEOPLE COULD LOSE TO LABOUR MPS IN GOVERNMENT. BUT NATIONAL AND GREENS COULD POTENTIALLY BRING IN ONE EACH. ONE OF THE BIG THINGS HERE IS VOTER TURNOUT. LABOUR DOES DEPEND ON THE PACIFIC VOTE, SO WE HAVE YET TO SEE` THEY HAVE TRADITIONALLY HAD QUITE A LOW TURNOUT, SO THE FINGERS ARE CROSSED TO HAVE AS MANY PACIFIC PEOPLE COME TO THE POLLS AS POSSIBLE. PACIFIC PEOPLE DO HAVE` THERE IS A HUGE FEAR ABOUT WHAT A POTENTIAL NATIONAL GOVERNMENT COULD LOOK LIKE GIVEN THAT THEY HAVE A LOWER INCOME AND ALSO CIVIC PEOPLE HAVE WORRIES ABOUT ACT'S DESIGNS TO GET RID OF THE PACIFIC ISLANDERS AFFAIRS MINISTRY. HOWEVER, FINGERS ARE CROSSED HERE AT THE LABOUR HEADQUARTERS. PEOPLE ARE JUST HOPING FOR THE BEST.. BARBARA LIVE FROM JENNY SALESA'S ELECTORATE. THE RESULTS KEEP ON ROLLING IN ` LET'S GET STRAIGHT OVER TO JACK FOR MORE. THEY ARE DOING A STAGGERING JOB ON THE VOTE COUNTING. THIS IS JUST UNDER HALF A MILLION VOTES. 451,000. NATIONAL AT 40.9%. THE GREENS JUST UNDER 11%. I WANT TO SHOW YOU WHAT THIS MEANS IN TERMS OF THE MAKE UP OF THE HOUSE. THE REAL QUESTION IS WHETHER OR NOT NATIONAL AND ACT CAN COMBINE TO FORM A COALITION OR CONFIDENCE AND SUPPLY GOVERNMENT AND HAVE A MAJORITY IN THE HOUSE. FROM THESE NUMBERS, THEY CAN. THE KEY NUMBER TONIGHT IS A 61 SEATS. IN THE HOUSE, YOU HAVE HUNDRED AND 20 MPS AT THE MOMENT, SO FOR A MAJORITY YOU NEED 61. 63 SEATS. KEEP IN MIND WE ARE ALSO EXPECTING A BY-ELECTION IN PORT WAIKATO, WHICH WOULD PRESUMABLY GIVE NATIONAL ANOTHER MP 64 SEATS IN THE HOUSE. A COMFORTABLE MAJORITY. JUST UNDER HALF A MILLION VOTES COLLECTED SO FAR. ON THE BOAT SO FAR, WINSTON PETERS AND YOU NEW ZEALAND FIRST WOULD NOT BE NEEDED TO NEED THE NEXT GOVERNMENT. THAT IS 8% COUNTED SO FAR ALREADY, WHICH IS REALLY INTERESTING. HEADING TO JESSICA RODEN IN NELSON NOW. JESS, HOW CLOSE IS THE NELSON RACE EXPECTED TO BE? IT IS EXPECTED TO BE INCREDIBLY CLOSE. THAT IS BECAUSE THE ELECTORATE WAS ONE OF THOSE 15 ELECTORATES THAT LABOUR WAS ABLE TO TAKE FROM NATIONAL LAST TIME AROUND IN THAT RED WAVE. I AM HERE AT A PARTY HERE IN NELSON. SHE IS UP AGAINST NATIONAL NEWCOMER BLAIR CAMERON, RATED QUITE HIGHLY WITHIN THE PARTY. THE PARTY IS JUST BEGINNING TO FILL UP. TO GET A SENSE OF HOW CLOSE THIS COULD BE, I AM TOLD RACHEL'S CAMPAIGN WAS ACTUALLY OUT RIGHT UP UNTIL 7 O'CLOCK THIS EVENING TRYING TO GET AS MANY VOTES AS POSSIBLE, DOORKNOCKING RIGHT TILL SEVEN. A FASCINATING ELECTORATE. THANKS SO MUCH. BECAUSE... NICK SMITH MADE IT LOOK LIKE A SAFE NATIONAL SEAT, BUT IF BEFORE THAT, THERE WAS QUITE A LONG SUCCESSION OF LABOUR. INTERESTING STUFF. 40.9, WITH 8% COUNTED. CAN YOU IMAGINE A SCENARIO AT NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS WHEN THEY ARE WATCHING WHEN CHRIS LUXON IS WATCHING THIS, RUBBING HIS HANDS TOGETHER THINKING, MAYBE I WON'T NEED WINSTON? IT WILL BE A VERY DIFFERENT ATMOSPHERE THAN 2020. THEY WILL BE VERY EXCITED. WOULD BE CAUTIONING THEMSELVES ` THINGS CAN ROLL AROUND. HALF A MILLION THERE IS A DEFINITE TREND, BUT THEY WILL BE EXCITED. THAT WILL BE HIGHER THAN THEY WERE EXPECTING. THE INTERNAL NUMBER THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT IS 38. THE NUMBER I HAD IN MIND WAS 36.9, WHICH IS WHAT JACINDA AND LABOUR GOT INTO THOUSAND AND 17, BUT AT NEARLY 41%, THAT IS A BIG NUMBER COMPARED WITH WHAT WE HAVE SEEN. SO HE WILL PERHAPS BE THINKING THAT THAT POLITICAL RISK TO OPEN THE DOOR AND KEEP IT AJAR FOR WINSTON MAY NOT BE QUITE AS DISASTROUS? WITH THOSE NUMBERS, IT IS NOT. ON THOSE, IF WE LISTEN TO WHAT THEY HAVE ALL SAID, THEY ARE NOT NECESSARILY GOING TO TRY AND DO A DEAL WITH NEW ZEALAND FIRST. WE HAVE A NATIONAL/ACT GOVERNMENT. IF YOU ARE A NEW PRIME MINISTER, THAT IS A VERY CLEAN KIND OF DEAL. THIS IS A GOOD START TO THE EVENING FOR NATIONAL. A TERRIBLE START FOR LABOUR. I SHOULD SAY WE HAVE GOT DAVID CUNLIFFE AND KRIS FAAFOI STANDING BY. SO LET'S NOT TALK ABOUT LABOUR NOW. I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE GREENS. THEY ARE JUST HOVERING AROUND 11%. THEY WILL BRING IN PEOPLE LIKE STEVE ABEL, EFESO COLLINS, WHO WAS ONE OF THE PACIFIC MPS THAT BARBARA WAS TALKING ABOUT BEFORE. SO WHILE SO FAR THIS LOOKS LIKE A BRUTALLY TOUGH NIGHT FOR LABOUR, WITH THE POTENTIAL TO LOSE.. SORRY, I JUST WAS THROWING TO YOU, BUT WE ARE GOING TO BRING IN A SHOT OF NICOLA WILLIS. SHE IS ARRIVING NUMBER TWO ON NATIONAL'S LIST. DEPUTY LEADER. CAN YOU HEAR US? SHE HAS JUST ARRIVED. WE ARE DOWN AT NATIONAL PARTIES WELLINGTON HQ, WHICH IS WHERE SOME OF ITS MOST SENIOR MPS ARE GOING TO BE. THE DEPUTY LEADER HAS JUST ARRIVED. THERE WAS A HUGE CHEER WHEN SHE CAME IN AND ALSO WHEN THOSE EARLY VOTING NUMBERS CAME UP. IT IS A FAIRLY JUBILANT ATMOSPHERE ALREADY DOWN HERE. WE ARE ALSO EXPECTING OTHER SENIOR MPS CHRIS BISHOP, NUMBER THREE. THE FACT THOSE BIG NAMES I HEAR TELLS YOU SOMETHING ABOUT HOW CONFIDENT THEY ARE ABOUT SOME OF THOSE ELECTORATES. NICOLA WILLIS IS TRYING TO TURN OHARIU BLEW. A LONG WAY TO GO, BUT PLENTY OF OPTIMISM ALREADY HERE IN WELLINGTON. THANKS SO MUCH FOR THAT. IT IS REALLY INTERESTING TO GET A SENSE OF HOW THE PARTIES ARE FEELING WITH THOSE RESULTS. I WON'T BOTHER TO REPEAT MY ATTIRE QUESTION, BECAUSE THIS SHOW FINISHES AT MIDNIGHT, BUT THIS IS A DISASTROUS NIGHT FOR LABOUR AND THE GREENS, BECAUSE THE GREENS NEED TO WORK WITH THEM. BUT IT IS A GOOD NIGHT FOR THE GREEN SO FAR. EVEN WHEN NOT IN GOVERNMENT, IT CHANGES YOUR STRATEGY AROUND HOW YOU ARE GOING TO BUILD SUPPORT AND COMMUNITY. YOU HAVE OTHER JOBS TO DO. THE GREENS HAVE A LOT OF WORK OF ENCOURAGING THEIR NEW CAUCUS, OF WHICH THERE IS GOING TO BE A GREAT NUMBER, AND HOPEFULLY THE FIRST MP FROM THE SOUTH SINCE I QUIT IN 2017 SCOTT WILLIS, JUST ON THE CUSP OF GETTING HIM IN. BUT WHEN, INEVITABLY, THE COUNTRY SWINGS FROM BLUE TO RED AND BACK AGAIN, OTHER PARTIES CAN SPEND THAT TIME, IF THEY ARE NOT IN GOVERNMENT, BUILDING THEIR POLITICAL SUPPORT AND SKILLS OF THEIR FUTURE MPS AND THEIR CAMPAIGN. THERE ARE OTHER THINGS TO DO. REALLY GOOD WORK FOR THE COUNTRY STILL AND FOR THOSE PARTIES. I SHOULD ALSO POINT OUT THAT NUMBER 38 ON THE GREEN LIST HAS A PHD. ALWAYS BEEN A SMARTY. IT'S PROBABLY BEEN THE MOST RELAXING DAY THE LEADERS OF LABOUR AND NATIONAL HAVE HAD IN A WHILE, WITH NO HANDS TO SHAKE OR SMILES TO FORCE. BAZ MACDONALD IS OUTSIDE CHRIS HIPKINS' HOUSE TONIGHT. ANY SIGN OF HIM, BAZ? NO SIGN OF HIM YET, BUT I CAN ANSWER THE QUESTION THAT IS ON EVERYBODY'S MINDS. YES, THERE ARE SAUSAGE ROLLS. THAT IS TREMENDOUS NEWS, ALTHOUGH THE NATIONAL HEART FOUNDATION WILL HAVE A GUSTFUL. WE WILL GO STRAIGHT TO MELISSA NOW. I WANT TO BRING IN YOUR TRACK RECORD` SORRY, THIS IS A LIVE TEARS. HERE IS MELISSA. I AM JUST HERE TO THROW TO THE BREAK. HERE AT THE LUXON FAMILY HOME, COILED LIKE A SPRING READY TO JUMP INTO ACTION. WHILE WE WAIT I HAVE $60 WORTH OF SNACKS TO EAT AS WE WAIT TO SEE WHICH CHRIS COMES OUT ON TOP. WELCOME BACK. THE NUMBERS ARE ROLLING IN THICK AND FAST. THE NUMBERS FOR THE PARTY VOTE ARE NOT CHANGING ALL THAT MUCH ` NATIONAL IS STILL WELL AHEAD. 14% OF VOTES HAVE BEEN COUNTED, ALMOST 700,000. IN 2020 WE HAD ALMOST 3 MILLION BALLOTS CAST ` THOSE PERCENTAGES HAVE NOT SHIFTED MUCH THOUGH. LET'S LOOK AT SOME ELECTORATES ` WELLINGTON CENTRAL, THIS IS A FASCINATING RESULT ` GREEN CANDIDATE TAMATHA PAUL HAS LEAD OVER THE LABOUR MP IBRAHIM OMER. SCOTT SHEERAN IS ONLY A COUPLE HUNDRED BEHIND. NEXT TO MOUNT ALBERT, THAT IS A HUGE SURPRISE. NATIONAL HAS A 280 VOTE LEAD OVER LABOURS HELEN WHITE. HELEN WHITE IS THE MP WHO REPLACED JACINDA ARDERN ` THIS HAS BEEN A SAFE LABOUR SEAT FOR A LONG TIME. AND JUST QUICKLY, IF YOU IMAGINE LABOUR AND THE GREENS AS A LEFT BLOCK, HIS TOTAL AND HELEN'S TOTAL, THAT WOULD GIVE ONE CANDIDATE FROM THE LEFT A COMFORTABLE LEAVE. THIS IS AUCKLAND CENTRAL ` INCUMBENT HAS A LEAD OF JUST 60 VOTES. DON'T GET EXCITED YET THOUGH, ONLY 11% OF VOTES ARE COUNTED. THIS IS SHAPING UP AS A TIGHT RACE. THERE WERE A FEW ELECTORATES WE WILL KEEP AN EYE ON. THERE HAD BEEN A HUGE SWING TOWARD LABOUR LAST ELECTION, BUT THE RESULTS SO FAR, THERE IS A SHIFT. HEADING TO RUSSELL WHERE GARTH BRAY IS STANDING BY WITH SHANE JONES AT THE NEW ZEALAND FIRST GATHERING. WELCOME BACK ` AND WELCOME BACK TO PARLIAMENT, IN THOSE NUMBERS. IT GETS YOU THERE, BUT NOT THE DRIVER SEAT/ THE COUNTING HAS JUST BEGUN ` THERE HAS BEEN A TWO-YEAR CAMPAIGN BEHIND US, WINSTON PETERS HAS TAPPED INTO A DEEP SENSE THROUGHOUT THE REGIONS. I AM CONFIDENT AS THE COUNTING CONTINUES THAT WE WILL RISE. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS TO GET BACK INTO PARLIAMENT ` BUT I WILL TELL YOU, KIWIS HAVE NOT OPENLY REFLECTED ON THE LEVELS OF ANXIETY, THEY HAVE KEPT THEIR CARDS CLOSE TO THE HAND. AND MANY OF THOSE CARDS ARE BEING DEALT FOR WINSTON. THERE HAVE BEEN SOME WRINKLES WITH THE PROCESS ` ARE YOU OKAY WITH THAT? I WAS OUT FISHING, I CANNOT COMMENT. I HEAR THAT AT KERIKERI THEY RAN OUT OF VOTING FORMS. WHEN THE ELECTION GOES THROUGH THE SELECT COMMITTEE PROCESS, IT WILL BE IMPORTANT TO CHECK. AND ENSURE THAT IN FUTURE, THAT IS RESOLVED. WILL BE BACK WITH MORE. ON THOSE NUMBERS, THERE WOULD BE EIGHT MEMBERS FOR NEW ZEALAND FIRST. THEY WON'T BE REQUIRED TO FORM A GOVERNMENT THOUGH ` ALTHOUGH THESE ARE MOVING NUMBERS. I AM SO DELIGHTED BY YOUR TRACK RECORD` DON'T RAISE YOUR EYEBROWS AT ME! LET'S TALK ABOUT PREVIOUS ELECTIONS, AND WHERE YOU HAVE STOOD. 2014 I STOOD OUTSIDE DAVID CUNLIFFE'S HOUSE, HE BROUGHT OUT FOOD, AND THE DOG ATE IT, I REMEMBER, WHICH SUMMED UP THE NIGHT FOR DAVID CUNLIFFE. I THINK I WAS BENCHED FOR THE NEXT ELECTION. 2020, I SAT AT THE BACK OF SKYCITY, ALMOST IN THE GUTTER, WHILE JUDITH COLLINS WAS INSIDE AS NATIONAL WENT TO A TERRIBLE DEFEAT. BUT I AM HERE OUTSIDE CHRISTOPHER LUXON'S HOUSE, AND I AM THRILLED TO BE HERE. I HAVE BEEN TOLD HE IS FEELING REMARKABLY RELAXED. WE WILL SEE IF HE TALKS TO ME LATER, IF MY BAD VIBES CONTINUE! HE WILL BE WATCHING, AND HE WILL BE CHUCKLING, BECAUSE THE NATS ARE HAVING A FANTASTIC NIGHT. PERHAPS HE WILL COME OUT AND OFFER HER FOOD! ON SAUSAGE ROLL WATCH IN WELLINGTON, OUTSIDE CHRIS HIPKINS' PLACE, IS BAZ MACDONALD. BAZ, HAVE THEY FED YOU DINNER YET? WE HAVE HAD SOME SAUSAGE ROLLS, IT WAS VERY MUCH APPRECIATED, BUT IT WAS A GAMBLE I WAS NOT WILLING TO TAKE. I DID IN FACT BRING MY OWN. AND THOUGH MINE COLD,THEY ARE BIGGER. I WENT FOR THE FULL SNACK BOARD ` I HAVE SOME CLASSIC TOMATO SAUCE,FOR THE LABEL FEEL AS I AM SO IMPRESSED WITH YOUR COMMITMENT, AND FOR YOUR COOKING PROWESS. LET'S GO TO MAIKI SHERMAN AT NATIONAL HQ NOW, WHO'S JOINED BY NATIONAL'S PARTY PRESIDENT, SYLVIA WOOD. MAIKI, CAN YOU HEAR US? THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO HEAR US ` IT IS ALLOWED TO BE. CHRIS FAAFOI, I AM LOOKING AT THIS` WELCOME, NICE TO HAVE YOU HERE. I KEEP WANTING TO CALL YOU MINISTER! LOTS OF THE PEOPLE YOU HAVE WORKED WITH ARE HAVING A DREADFUL NIGHT. AND CONSIDERING AN ELECTORATE LIKE MAUNGAKIEKIE, WHERE THE LABOUR CANDIDATE IS FAR BEHIND. I EXPECT KIERAN MCANULTY IS IN TROUBLE. DAVID PARKER IS NOT EVEN STANDING IN ELECTORATE. AND NONE OF THOSE SENIOR CABINET MISTERS WILL GET IN AS IT CURRENTLY STANDS. THOUGH IT IS STILL EARLY! I THINK WILL BE AN UNCOMFORTABLE NIGHT, WHEN YOU ARE 26.5, YOU START TO WORRY! I THINK, ALSO, I DON'T THINK ANYONE EXPECTED NATIONAL TO GET TO THE 40S. THE ELECTION IS CHANGING ` NO LONGER A THREE HORSE TEAM, A TWO HORSE TEAM. I THINK SOME PEOPLE WILL BE HAVING AN INVERSE EXPERIENCE AS TO THE LAST ELECTION. DO YOU THINK PEOPLE WILL BE THINKING THERE WAS A STRATEGIC MISTAKE ON THE LIST. THAT THEY OVERESTIMATED LABOUR? I THINK IT IS TOUGH, I THINK WHEN YOU ARE GOVERNING FOR SIX YEARS, AND YOU THINK OF COVERT ET CETERA. IT IS TOUGH TO CHANGE PRIME MINISTER. THE LAST POLL HAD THEM AT 30, AND NOW YOU WILL START TO WORRY ABOUT WHO STICKS AROUND, AND WHO YOU ARE HOPING WOULD GET TO STICK AROUND. AND THAT IS NOT JUST A WORRY FOR AN ELECTION NIGHT, THAT IS CONCERN FOR THE NEXT 3 TO 6 YEARS. THE BIG PRIZE HERE IS GOVERNMENT, BUT FOR THE PARTIES, RESOURCES FLOW BASED ON THE SIZE OF YOUR PARTY. EVERY CANDIDATE YOU LOSE, IT MAKES IT HARDER TO REBUILD. AND CONSIDERING HUTT SOUTH, GINNY ANDERSEN IS BEHIND AND SHE WOULD NOT BE GETTING IN ON THE LIST. WE WILL HAVE THE LATEST NUMBERS, AND HEATED NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS AFTER THE BREAK. LET'S GO TO MAIKI SHERMAN AT NATIONAL HQ NOW, WHO'S JOINED BY NATIONAL'S PARTY PRESIDENT, SYLVIA WOOD. KIA ORA. YOU WILL HAVE TO FORGIVE ME. THERE WERE TECHNICAL ISSUES. PERHAPS IT WAS BECAUSE THE PEOPLE HERE WERE CHEERING SO LOUDLY. 20% OF THE VOTE COUNTED, AND NATIONAL IS ON 40% ON THESE NUMBERS. NATIONAL AND ACT WOULD NOT NEED NEW ZEALAND FIRST ON THESE NUMBERS. IS A WONDERFUL START, BUT IT IS EARLY DAYS, AND WE WANT TO SEE WHERE THE BOAT GOES. I'D THINK NEW ZEALANDERS ARE READY FOR CHANGE, AND THIS IS AN EARLY INDICATION OF THAT. LOOKING AROUND AT THE CROWD, THEY ARE ECSTATIC. HOW DESPERATELY DO YOU WANT THE WIN? WE REALLY WANT IT.. TELL US ABOUT THE GROUND GAME. THEY ARE CRUCIAL IN ALL OF THIS. WHAT HAVE THEY BEEN PUTTING IN? IT IS A MASSIVE TEAM EFFORT. THANKS TO OUR VOLUNTEERS, OUR MEMBERS AND CAMPAIGN TEAM HAS DONE AN EXTRAORDINARY JOB. THE DONORS HAVE ALLOWED US TO RUN THE CAMPAIGN OF OUR LIVES, AND WE ARE JUST... I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW GRATEFUL I AM TO OUR TEAM. ON THE ISSUE THERE OF DONORS THE NATIONAL PARTY HAD 7 1/2 TIMES THE AMOUNT OF DONATIONS THAN THE LABOUR PARTY. HOW PUT INTO HIS IT TO HAVE DEEP POCKETS IN AN ELECTION? CAMPAIGNS ARE EXPENSIVE THINGS TO RUN. I THINK OURS IS A MIX OF SOME VERY LARGE DONATIONS, BUT A HUGE NUMBER OF SMALLER DONATIONS, BECAUSE PEOPLE WANTED A CHANGE, AND THIS IS A GOOD EARLY INDICATOR OF THAT. 7 1/2 TIMES MORE, THOUGH DOES THAT MEAN IT'S A LITTLE UNFAIR? NO. PEOPLE CHOOSE TO DONATE. THEY CHOOSE TO DONATE BECAUSE OF THE POLICIES AND THE VALUES OF THE NATIONAL PARTY HAS. NATIONAL PARTY PRESIDENT SYLVIA WOOD, THANK YOU. ENJOY TONIGHT. WE WILL KEEP AN EYE ON THOSE NUMBERS. THANKS SO MUCH, AT A PRETTY BOY INTERNATIONAL HQ. TIME FOR A LOOK NOW AT THE MAORI ELECTORATES. HERE'S JACK. THIS IS HAURAKI WAIKATO. THIS IS STAGGERING. THE 21-YEAR-OLD IS A LEADING NANAIA MAHUTA. TAMAKI MAKAURAU THIS IS THE SHAPE OF THE RACE AT THE MOMENT. LET'S SEE IF WE CAN GET THE NUMBERS. TAKUTAI HAS A 28 VOTE TO LEAD. AGAIN, ANOTHER SENIOR LABOUR MP TRAILING. I 28 VOTE LEAD IS RELATIVELY NARROW. FURTHER SOUTH, LET'S LOOK AT TE TAI HAUAURU. DEBBIE NGAREWA-PACKER HAS A 2 1/2 THOUSAND VOTE LEAD. THESE EARLY VOTES ARE SUGGESTING TEHPARTY MULTI-IS HAVING AN INCREDIBLE NIGHT. TE TAI TONGA MIGHT BE THE MOST SURPRISING RESULT FROM THE EARLY VOTES, KEEPING THIS IN CONTEXT. WE ARE EARLY IN THE NIGHT, BUT AT THE MOMENT, FERRIS IS LEADING BY JUST OVER 500 VOTES. RINO WAS CONSIDERED BY MANY TO BE A SURE THING, AS SURE AS ANYTHING COULD BE. FERRIS HAS HAD A VERY STRONG PERFORMANCE IN THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN, PARTICULARLY IN THE DEBATES. AT THE MOMENT HE LEADS BY MORE THAN 500 VOTES. HERE IS THE THING TO KEEP IN MIND. IF THESE NUMBERS WERE TO CHANGE SLIGHTLY AND THE ELECTORATES WERE TO GO TO TE PATI MAORI, WE COULD HAVE AN OVERHANG MORE THAN 120 IN PARLIAMENT. IF WE HAD 122 FOR EXAMPLE, ANY PARTIES THAT FORMED CONFIDENCE AND SUPPLY AGREEMENT OR COALITION AGREEMENT WOULD HAVE TO GET TO 64 IN ORDER TO HAVE A MAJORITY. IF THE NUMBERS WERE TO CHANGE JUST A LITTLE BIT ` SO LET'S SAY THAT THE NATIONAL AND ACT NUMBERS WENT DOWN SLIGHTLY AND THAT LABOUR AND THE GREENS WENT UP SLIGHTLY ` WITH TE PATI MAORI, WE COULD SEE WINSTON PETERS BACK IN THE GAME. BEAUTIFULLY EXPLAINED. I WANT TO TALK BRIEFLY ` TE TAI TONGA. THAT'S IT HAS BEEN HELD FORWARD DECADES. RINO'S GRANDFATHER AND AUNT HELD IT FOR MAYBE AS MUCH AS DECADES. THAT IS COMPLETELY RIGHT. *SIX DECADES I SAW JOHN ON THE STREET TONIGHT, AND HE THOUGHT THAT THEY COULD DO IT. TAROI BLACK IS IN HAWKE'S BAY FOR US TONIGHT. JOINED BY MEKA WHAITIRI. TAROI, WHAT ARE THE NIGHT LOOKING LIKE FOR HER? TAROI, WHAT IS THE NIGHT LOOKING LIKE FOR HER? TENA KOE. OBVIOUSLY, IT HAS BEEN HUGE NEWS HERE IN IKAROA-RAWHITI. MEKA WHAITIRI, TENA KOE. TALK ABOUT THE WHANAU HERE. THEY ARE FAR AND WIDE, EVEN OVERSEAS. WE HAVE AN AUNTIE ALL THE WAY FROM CANADA. WE HAVE A WIFE OF A SUPPORTER FROM HAWAII, AND OF COURSE WE HAVE REPRESENTATION THROUGHOUT THE ELECTORATE OF IKAROA-RAWHITI. THESE LECTURES ARE MASSIVE, SO I AM PROUD TO HAVE PEOPLE HERE FROM RIGHT THROUGH TO THE HUTT VALLEY. YOU CAN HEAR THE BUZZ IN THE BACK. TELL ME ABOUT THE RESULTS SO FAR. CUSHLA IN FRONT BY A THOUSAND VOTES. WE ALWAYS KNEW IT WAS GOING TO BE TIGHT. WE SAID IT WAS GOING TO BE. SO REALLY WHAT WE ARE SEEING PLAY OUT IS WHAT WE KNEW WAS GOING TO BE A VERY CLOSE RACE. OF COURSE SHE IS AHEAD. WE ARE PREPARED FOR THAT, BUT IT IS NOT ABOUT WHAT HAS HAPPENED; IT IS AROUND A MOVEMENT THAT GOES BEYOND ELECTIONS. EVEN THOUGH WE ARE NOT CONCEDING YET... I AM SO SORRY TO INTERRUPT. SHE IS HAVING A TOUGH ENOUGH NIGHT AS IT IS. SHE IS TRAILING THERE. LET'S GO STRAIGHT TO MELISSA NOW. TWO RESULTS FEEL LIKE THEY'RE GOING YOUR WAY? WE ARE JUST ENJOYING THE NIGHT AND WATCHING IT COME THROUGH, SO THAT'S WHERE WE ARE AT. I AM INCREDIBLY PROUD OF MY HUSBAND AT THE MOMENT. HE HAS DONE A REALLY GOOD RACE AND WORKED REALLY HARD. I HEAR HE IS FEELING VERY RELAXED. IT IS HARD TO FEEL RELAXED WHEN THERE IS A BIG DECISION COMING UP. BUT HE IS RELAXED. WHAT HAVE YOU BROUGHT OUT FOR US? DID YOU ROLL THE PASTRY YOURSELF? I AM NOT THAT TALENTED, I AM AFRAID. A BIT OF PARTY PIES FOR THOSE WHO NEED THEM, AND A BIT OF PIZZA. I DID NOT ORDER THEM, SO I CAN'T TELL YOU, BUT THEY WILL BE GOOD. I KNOW THAT YOUR HUSBAND DOESN'T DRINK, SO YOU BROUGHT SOME NON-ALCOHOLIC DRINKS. YES, I AM SORRY. HOPEFULLY THERE IS A BIT OF COKE AND WATER. HOW ARE YOU FEELING ABOUT THE NIGHT? IT IS BIG NIGHT. JUST ENJOYING THE NIGHT WITH THE FAMILY. WATCHING IT ALL HAPPEN. IT LOOKS LIKE YOUR DAD COULD BE THE PRIME MINISTER. INCREDIBLY PROUD. IT IS A GREAT DAY FOR ME. IT HAS BEEN AWESOME. DAD HAS BEEN AROUND AT HOME, HAVING A GREAT TIME TOGETHER, A NICE BREAK FROM THE RUSH AND BUSTLE. CAN'T REALLY COMPLAIN. WHAT'S HE DOING? AT THE MOMENT WE ARE ALL JUST ENJOYING THE TIME TOGETHER AND JUST ENJOYING THAT MOMENT AND THAT ENERGY. EVERYTHING COULD CHANGE. IT COULD, BUT WE ARE STILL ASKED, AND WE ARE STILL THE SAME PEOPLE, SO IT WILL BE WHAT IT WILL BE. YOUR DAD COULD BE PRIME MINISTER TOMORROW. WHAT DAD DOES IS WHAT DAD DOES. IT'S AWESOME. I THINK HE HAS WORKED REALLY HARD. IF IT GOES THAT WAY, I THINK HE HAS THE RIGHT CHRIS FOR THE JOB. I AM VERY PROUD, OF COURSE. HE HAS WORKED SO HARD. SET A GREAT EXAMPLE. WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO FOR THE REST OF THE NIGHT? IT IS JUST A NICE ATMOSPHERE INSIDE, SO WE WILL SIT AROUND. WHO WAS WITH YOU? JUST SOME STAFF. THE PARENTS ARE HERE, AND IT IS GREAT. THEY MUST BE VERY PROUD OF HIM. THEY ARE. HE IS AN AMAZING PERSON. A LOT TO BE PROUD OF. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING OUT. I LOVE MY FAIRY LIGHTS. ANY DECORATIONS ON SITE? KNOW, JUST THE FAIRY LIGHTS. THEY ARE THE YEAR-ROUND. LOVING THE TOMATO SAUCE AS WELL. GOOD NEW ZEALAND TOMATO SAUCE. WE WERE LISTENING THERE TO... AMANDA AND WILLIAM LUXON THERE, WHERE THEY ARE DISHING OUT SOME SNACKS AND TREATS TO THE REPORTERS. THEY LET MELISSA STAY, WHICH IS NICE OF THEM. COMING UP, WE WILL BE LIVE TO SOME OTHER KEY ELECTORATES. DAVID SEYMOUR IS DUE TO ARRIVE SHORTLY. WE WILL SEE YOU SOON. LET'S BRING IN TE ANIWA HURIHANGANUI, WHO'S IN HAWERA, WHERE SUPPORTERS OF TE PATI MAORI'S DEBBIE NGAREWA-PACKER ARE GATHERING. IT IS A PRETTY SPECIAL MOMENT. (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) (GROUP PERFORM HAKA) (HAKA CONTINUES) (APPLAUSE) DEBBIE NGAREWA-PACKER THERE BEING WELCOMED WITH AN IMPRESSIVE HAKA. SHE IS IN FRONT BY 2700 VOTES IN HER ELECTORATE. LIAM, YOU WERE HERE THREE YEARS AGO. AS A LABOUR THAT WAS TRIUMPHANT, YOU ARE A REMARKABLE GOOD SPORT. YOU HAD THE MOST MISERABLE EVENING. AND YOU TEASED ME ALL NIGHT! IT WAS NOT MEAN-SPIRITED, BUT WHEN THIS FIRST VOTES CAME IN, I THOUGHT YES! TIME FOR REVENGE. I'M SURPRISED YOU'RE NOT OUTDOING A DANCE, THE NATS ARE HOVERING AT 42. IT IS BETTER THAN ANYONE COULD HAVE EXPECTED, INCLUDING THE NATIONAL PARTY. THEY WERE HOPING TO PUSH TO 36 OR 37, THIS RESULT IS BEYOND ANYTHING THEY COULD HAVE HOPED . IT IS EARLY ` AND WE DON'T KNOW HOW THE DYNAMICS OF THE EARLY VOTE MAY PLAY OUT. THE NATIONAL PARTY HAS COPPED A LOT OF FLAK FOR THIS CAMPAIGN, AND THEY WILL BE FEELING PRETTY VINDICATED. THREE YEARS AGO, THEY HAD ONE OF THE WORST EVER RESULTS. WE WONDERED IF IT WOULD TAKE TWO CAMPAIGNS TO COME RIGHT. THERE ARE NO TWO WAYS ABOUT IT ` A FIRST TERM MP IN THE DRIVER SEAT, READY TO BE PRIME MINISTER. THEY WILL BE ON A HIGH! AS AN 'IMPARTIAL' SPECTATOR I AM PLEASED. YOU SUPPORT A PARTY BECAUSE YOU PREFER THEM, YOU SHOULD NEVER BE A ZEALOT, BUT YOU SUPPORT AN AGENDA. THE IMPORTANT THING IS THAT NATIONAL PARTY SHOULD NOT OVER INTERPRET ITS MANDATE. THIS IS A CHANGE ELECTION, DO YOU JUST WANT TO GO, KRIS. I AM FASCINATED, THERE IS STILL SOME TIME TO GO. BUT THERE WOULD HAVE TO BE A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE. WHAT IF SOME OF THOSE KEY SEATS, WHO ARE SOME OF THOSE BIG PLAYERS? PEOPLE LIKE KIERAN MCANULTY, DAMIEN O'CONNOR. WHEN YOU'RE AT THE PARTY VOTE THAT THE PARTIES AT NOW, IT IS TOUGH. SOME OF THOSE MAORI SEATS, WHICH HAVE BEEN STABLE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A GENERATION OF PEOPLE WHO ARE BEING OUSTED OUT. THEY COULD BE A WOUNDING NIGHT FOR THE PARTY. KIERAN MCANULTY IS TRAILING ` AT THIS HE IS OUT. TOUGH EVENING, IT IS THE OPPOSITE OF LAST YEAR. YOU SIT THERE AND SMILE AWAY. LEADER OF THE OPPORTUNITIES PARTY RAF MANJI ARRIVED AT HIS PARTY HEADQUARTERS IN CHRISTCHURCH EARLIER. HERE'S WHAT HE HAD TO SAY TO REPORTER RYAN BOSWELL. HOW ARE YOU HOLDING UP? YEAH, FINE. I MEAN, IT'S` LOOKS LIKE A VERY STRONG RESULT FOR NATIONAL, SO CONGRATULATIONS TO THEM. AND, YEAH, WE HAVEN'T PROBABLY DONE AS WELL AS I'D HOPED WE WOULD DO, BUT IT'S EARLY DAYS. 32% OF THE VOTE COUNTED. YEAH. YOU'RE ABOUT 5000 VOTES BEHIND NATIONAL. YEAH. WELL, I'D SAY WE'RE NOT GOING TO OVERCOME THAT. WHAT WENT WRONG? ERM, I DON'T KNOW. I THINK WE RAN A GREAT CAMPAIGN. I JUST THINK IT'S BEEN A VERY STRONG RESULT FOR NATIONAL ` AND PROBABLY THE POLLS UNDERSTATED THAT. IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE CIRCUS OF THE LAST SIX WEEKS, ACTUALLY, NATIONAL'S VOTE HELD UP VERY WELL. YEAH. RAF'S STRATEGY WAS TO PUMP A LOT OF RESOURCE INTO THE ILAM SEAT. ABBEY WAKEFIELD JOINS US LIVE FROM MASTERTON IN WAIRARAPA NOW. THE SEAT WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT, KIERAN MCANULTY. WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE MOOD? IT IS A GREAT MOOD HERE, A PLACE DEAR TO KIERAN'S HEART. HE HAS A GOOD CROWD HERE. HOW ARE YOU FEELING? WE ARE WAITING AND SEEING ` IT'S A BIT OVER THE SHOW. THE RESULTS CHANGE, ONLY 23% COUNTED, OTHER SEATS ARE MUCH HIGHER. YOU THINK THIS STILL A CHANCE? ABSOLUTELY, YOU DO NOT GIVE UP, BUT OBVIOUSLY IT WILL BE TIGHT. WE WILL HAVE TO SEE HOW IT GOES, 23% COUNTED, WE WILL WAIT AND SEE. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT PARTY NUMBER? IT IS DISAPPOINTING, WE WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE SEEN A HIGHER PARTY VOTE. I AM STOKED TO SEE THAT LABOUR IS POLLING HIGHER IN THIS REGION. BUT IT IS STILL EARLY, IF I WAS UP BY 1200, I WOULD NOT BE CLOSING. CORRECTION: GLOATING. IT WILL BE A BIG NIGHT HERE. (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) INTERESTING TO SEE THAT KIERAN IS PERSONALLY MUCH HIGHER, THAN THE LABOUR PARTY VOTERS, WITHIN THEIR REGION. BUT AT THE MOMENT HE IS NOT IN PARLIAMENT. IT IS NOT UNUSUAL THAT A POPULAR LOCAL INCUMBENT, WHO WORKS HARD. SPEED LIMITS HAS BEEN A HUGE THING. HAVING LIVED THERE, FOR THE BIGGER PICTURE, I'LL BE WATCHING ELLEN CLOSELY. TIME FOR A QUICK BREAK. WE'LL BE BACK WITH MORE RESULTS, AND THE LEADERS START TO ARRIVE AT THEIR PARTY HEADQUARTERS. WELCOME BACK. STRAIGHT TO THE NUMBERS. 27% SO FAR. NATIONAL WELL OUT AHEAD. LABOUR STILL AROUND THOSE MID 20S. WE WANT TO SHOW YOU THE STATE OF SOME OF THE ELECTORATES AT THE MOMENT. MOUNT ROSKILL ` THIS WAS THE SEAT HELD BY MICHAEL WOOD PREVIOUSLY AS SENIOR MINISTER. CURRENTLY, NATIONAL HAS A 1400 VOTE LEAD. THAT IS NOT THE ONLY ONE. WE WILL GO ACROSS TOWN TE TAMAKI. BROOKE VAN VELDEN HAS A LEAD OF 2 1/2 THOUSAND OVER SIMON O'CONNOR. A COMFORTABLE LEAD. SHE HAS HELD A VERY HIGH PROFILE CAMPAIGN. SHE IS COMFORTABLE AHEAD AT THE MOMENT. THIS RESULT WOULD LIKELY SEE SIMON O'CONNOR OUT OF PARLIAMENT. GOING DOWN TO CHRISTCHURCH, THIS IS HOW THINGS ARE SHAPING UP. ILAM ` YOU SAW HIM SAYING BEFORE HE WAS DISAPPOINTED WITH THE RESULT, RAF; HE IS ALMOST 5000 VOTES BEHIND NATIONAL. YOU MIGHT REMEMBER IN 2020 THAT WAS ONE OF THE ELECTORATES THAT TO THE GREAT SURPRISE OF MANY WENT TO LABOUR, HAVING BEEN HELD BY NATIONAL FOR MANY YEARS. FROM THERE, WE GO TO TE ATATU. ONCE AGAIN, FASCINATING. PHIL TWYFORD CURRENTLY 637 VOTES BEHIND NATIONAL. A WHOLE SLAB OF WESTERN AUCKLAND AT THE MOMENT CURRENTLY BEING LED BY NATIONAL CANDIDATES. OHARIU ` GREG O'CONNOR AT THE MOMENT HAS JUST 100 VOTES SEPARATING HIM AND NATIONALS DEPUTY LEADER NICOLA WILLIS. O'CONNOR HAS OPTED NOT TO BE ON THE LIST FOR THIS CONTEST, SO HE HAS TO WIN THE ELECTORATE IF HE IS TO BE RETURNED. THAT IS THE STATE OF THOSE ELECTORS AT THE MOMENT. I WANT TO SHOW YOU WHAT THOSE CURRENT PERCENTAGES MEAN IN TERMS OF HOUSE. I SAID AT THE START THAT YOU NEED TO GET A MAJORITY IN ORDER TO FORM A GOVERNMENT. USUALLY, THAT MEANS 61 SEATS. THAT IS NOT NECESSARILY THE CASE. LOOK AT THESE NUMBERS ON THE CURRENT NUMBERS NATIONAL WOULD RETURN TO PARLIAMENT WITH 53 MPS; TAKE ACT 12 MPS, GIVING THEM A COMFORTABLE MAJORITY ` $0.65. THE THING TO KEEP AN EYE ON IS TE PATI MAORI. SIX SEATS AT THE MOMENT. THEY ARE LEADING IN ELECTORATES ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. AT THE MOMENT BECAUSE THEIR PARTY VOTE IS LIKELY TO BE LOWER THAN THE ELECTORATE VOTE, THAT WOULD RESULT IN AN OVERHANG. IF WE WERE TO END UP WITH 123 MPS IN PARLIAMENT, YOU WOULD NEED A HIGH NUMBER IN ORDER TO COMMAND A MAJORITY. 65 SEATS WOULD DO IT, BUT 123, THAT WOULD MEAN SOMETHING LIKE 62 SEATS YOU WOULD NEED. SO JUST IMAGINE FOR A MOMENT THAT THOSE NUMBERS WERE TO CHANGE JUST A BIT. IF WE SAW THE RIGHT NUMBERS REDUCE A BIT, IT MIGHT MEAN NATIONAL AND ACT WOULD NEED NEW ZEALAND FIRST IN ORDER TO COMMAND A MAJORITY. I REALLY THINK THAT THOSE SEATS IN PARTICULAR AND POTENTIAL FOR AN OVERHANG IS WORTH KEEPING AN EYE ON. THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THAT 61 AND 63. THAT IS A BIG GRIND TO GET THERE. IF THERE ARE HUNDRED AND 23 SEATS, YOU NEED 62 TO COMMAND HOUSE. BUT LIKE I SAY, IF THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF MOVEMENT, YOU COULD SEE A COUPLE OF SCENARIOS. EITHER NATIONAL WOULD NEED NEW ZEALAND FIRST, OR NATIONAL MIGHT HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE PORT WAIKATO BY-ELECTION IN ORDER TO HAVE ANOTHER MP. THAT WOULD TAKE THE TOTAL NUMBER 224, BUT THEY MIGHT HAVE A MORE COMFORTABLE MAJORITY. THANKS SO MUCH. HEADING TO JESSICA RODEN IN NELSON NOW. JESS, HOW'S THE RACE SHAPING UP THERE SO FAR? ACROSS THE TOP OF THE SOUTH, I KNOW YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THOUSANDS AND HUNDREDS, THE NUMBERS WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A MUCH SMALLER. HERE IN THE NELSON REYES, 44% OF THE VOTE HAS BEEN COUNTED. JUST 28 VOTES IN IT. I SAID IT. 28. AT THE MOMENT, NATIONALS CANDIDATE, WHO IS RELATIVELY NEW, AS SLIGHTLY AHEAD. BUT IT IS EARLY DAYS. RACHEL IS GOING TO BE ARRIVING SOON, BUT IT IS FAIR TO SAY NERVES ARE ON EDGE. EVERYBODY IS REFRESHING THEIR PHONES. WE HAVE JUST HAD A DELIVERY OF PIZZA. THEY MAY NEED TO BE MORE IF IT KEEPS GOING LIKE THIS. EVEN MORE INTERESTING IS THE WEST COAST-TASMAN SEAT. CURRENTLY, THERE ARE JUST 10 VOTES IN THE SEAT. THAT IS INCREDIBLY INTERESTING. YOU WILL HEAR SOME OF THE RESULTS ARE COMING UP AT THE MOMENT. THAT IS INCREDIBLY INTERESTING BECAUSE DAMIEN O'CONNOR HAS HELD THAT SET FOR 30 YEARS. MOST OF MY LIFETIME, APART FROM A SHORT STINT IN 2008. SO THAT IS GOING TO BE INCREDIBLY CLOSE TO BE WATCHING. LAST ELECTION, HE WON THAT SEAT BY ABOUT 6000. NOW THERE ARE JUST 10 VOTES AND IT. SUCH INTERESTING STUFF THERE. IF YOU EVER WANTED AN EXAMPLE OF WHY EVERY SINGLE VOTE COUNTS, IT IS HAPPENING THERE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT. DESPITE THE NUMBERS ARE SO FAR, LABOUR SUPPORTERS SITTING ON 26% ARE STILL OPTIMISTIC. BENEDICT COLLINS HAS TALKED TO A FEW. LOOKING A BIT TOUGH FOR YOU GUYS, ISN'T IT? NOT A LOT HAPPENS IN THE FIRST COUPLE OF HOURS. IT'S NOT OVER TILL THE FAT LADY SINGS, AS THEY SAY. YOU'RE HOPEFUL FOR A COMEBACK? ABSOLUTELY ` I WAS OUT DOOR-KNOCKING TODAY, AND LOTS OF PEOPLE SAID THEY VOTED LABOUR, AND FOR MY LOCAL MP, GINNY ANDERSEN, I'M VERY HOPEFUL FOR HER. OH, WE'VE JUST STARTED ` WE'VE ONLY COUNTED ABOUT 15% OF THE VOTES. SO, GOT TO BE OPTIMISTIC. DOESN'T MEAN IT'S OVER, STILL A FIGHT TO GO. WE'VE STUCK TO OUR VALUES, AND THATS WHAT MATTERS AT THE END OF THE DAY. BENEDICT COLLINS HA SO PEOPLE ARE HOLDING ON TIGHT TO HOPE. LET'S BRING IN TE ANIWA HURIHANGANUI, WHO'S IN HAWERA. WHAT IS GOING ON THERE? PROBABLY THE BEST TIME, BECAUSE POI E HAS JUST UTTERED. I HAVE INTERESTING THINGS TO TALK ABOUT IN TERMS OF THE RESULTS. I KNOW IT IS EARLY DAYS, BUT TE PATI MAORI IS DOMINATING AT THIS POINT. DEBBIE NGAREWA-PACKER IS COMFORTABLE AHEAD. TE PATI MAORI ARE AHEAD IN SIX OF THE SEVEN MAORI SEATS, INCLUDING HAURAKI WAIKATO. THE YOUNGEST CANDIDATE, 21 YEARS OLD, IS AHEAD OF NANAIA MAHUTA. IF SHE BEATS HER, THEN NANAIA MAHUTA IS EFFECTIVELY OUT OF PARLIAMENT. SHE WOULD BE ONE OF THE MOST SENIOR MILD EMP'S TO LEAVE THE SELECTION IF IT PLAYS OUT THAT WAY. THANKS SO MUCH FOR THAT REALLY INTERESTING STUFF. WE WILL BE KEEPING AN EYE ON IT REALLY CLOSELY. THANKS SO MUCH. REMEMBER, TE PATI MAORI, HELD ONE ELECTORATE. THEIR COLEADER IS 5000 VOTES CLEAR OF LABOUR. IS EXPECTED BY MANY. HEADING TO TE PATI MAORI'S RAWIRI WAITITI'S BASE NOW IN ROTORUA. WHERE TE OKIWA MCLEAN IS LIVE. KIA ORA! KIA ORA. THAT IS RIGHT. I AM HERE AT THE HQ HERE IN ROTORUA. LET ME TELL YOU VOTERS HAVE ALREADY STARTED TO TURN OUT. ABOUT 200 VOTERS AT THE MOMENT FROM ACROSS THE ELECTORATE. MOMENTS AGO, THE CANDIDATE FOR THE ROTORUA SEAT JUST ARRIVED. ALTHOUGH SHE IS FALLING A LITTLE BIT BEHIND THE INCUMBENT NATIONAL PARTIES TODD MCCLAY AND, SHE IS STILL CONFIDENT SHE HAS HIGH HOPES SHE WILL GET THROUGH BY MIDNIGHT. WE ARE EXPECTING RAWIRI, WHERE HE WILL ADDRESS THE VOTERS HERE, SO STAY TUNED. WE WILL HAVE MORE TO COME VERY SOON. THANKS. I THINK HE HASN'T GOT A CHANCE, BUT WHERE THERE IS LIFE THERE IS HOPE. RAWIRI WAY AHEAD IN THE ELECTORATE. TODD MCCLAY AND IS THE GUY THE NATIONALS WANT TO NEGOTIATE WITH WINSTON PETERS. NEVER LET ME DOWN. INTERESTING STUFF. THEY MIGHT NOT NEED TO. I WAS BEING SERIOUS ABOUT THE INTERESTING STUFF. I BELIEVE SO, BECAUSE IF YOU WANT A BUFFER IN THE PARLIAMENT AND IF YOU ARE THINKING AHEAD FOR THE NEXT ELECTION, WHEN THE TIDE GOES OUT ON SUPPORT, YOU WANT TO HAVE SOME KIND OF CONFIDENCE COALITION OR CONFIDENCE AND SUPPLY TO MAKE SURE HE IS NOT THE BAD FAIRY AT THE CHRISTENING ENTRANCE YOU UP EVERY DAY IN PARLIAMENT. I HAVEN'T INTRODUCED YOU. WE WILL TAKE A BREAK AND THEN WE WILL COME BACK AND TALK TO YOU. LOVELY TO HAVE YOU HERE. YOUR TEAM ARE HAVING A GREAT NIGHT. THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US. AND THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US. STAY WITH US. WE ARE GOING TO BE BACK SHORTLY. WELCOME BACK. TIME NOW TO HEAD TO GREENS HQ IN DOWNTOWN AUCKLAND, WHERE CUSHA NORMAN IS STANDING BY. WHAT'S REACTION TO THE RESULTS THERE? PEOPLE ARE STILL HOPEFUL, BUT THE ATTENTION IS ON THE ELECTORATES. A BIG CHEER WENT UP FOR CHLOE SWARBRICK, WHEN HER RESULTS FLASHED ON THE SCREEN. IT IS TOUCH AND GO, BUT RIGHT NOW SHE IS AHEAD BY 700. BUT THERE IS A STRONG PARTY VOTE FOR NATIONAL. PEOPLE ARE SAYING WE LIKE YOU CHLOE, BUT THE PARTY VOTE IS FAVOURING NATIONAL. WELLINGTON CENTRAL ` TAMATHA PAUL IS HAVING A GREAT RUN, SHE IS ABOUT 3000 AHEAD, IN A TRULY READ SEAT. IT HAS BEEN RED SINCE 1999. AND SIMILARLY IN RONGOTAI ` THE NATIONAL CANDIDATE IS IN THE LEAD. LOOKS AT THERE IS VOTE SPLITTING BETWEEN THE LABOUR AND GREEN CANDIDATES. OVER TO YOU JACK ` IT HAS BEEN ABOUT AN HOUR SINCE THE FIRST RESULTS, BUT IT HASN'T MOVED MUCH. FROM THE FIRST SLAB, WITH ONLY CHANGED A PERCENTAGE OR TWO. DON'T FORGET, TPM CANDIDATES LEAD RIGHT AROUND THE COUNTRY, THEY COULD RETURN WITH 5 TO 6 MPS. TAMAKI MAKAURAU AUCKLAND ` A CLOSE CONTEST. THE INCUMBENT MP, CHLOE SWARBRICK, STILL AHEAD. A FASCINATING RESULT IN MOUNT ALBERT. A CLASSIC RED SEAT ` BUT IT COULD BE MELISSA LEE'S. SHE IS ONLY A FEW HUNDRED AHEAD, BUT THAT IS EXTRAORDINARY. BUT A WHOLE SLAB OF AUCKLAND ELECTORATES, ARE TURNING TOWARD NATIONAL. CARLOS CHEUNG LEADING MICHAEL WOOD ` MICHAEL WOOD WAS DISCUSSED AS A POTENTIAL FUTURE PRIME MINISTER, AND NOW HE MAY LOSE HIS SEAT. AND THIS IS A MASSIVE SURPRISE ` AT THE MOMENT AT LEAST ` RIGHT NEXT DOOR, ANGEE NICHOLAS LEADING BY HUNDREDS. A WHOLE SLAB OF AUCKLAND ELECTORATES, THAT LABOUR WOULD HAVE BEEN CONFIDENT ABOUT, BUT ARE NOW SET TO LOSE. NOW MIGHT BE A GOOD TIME TO BRING IN DAVID CUNLIFFE, FORMER LABOUR PARTY LEADER. WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THAT? MY FIRST THOUGHT IS, FOR ALL THE COLLEAGUES AND ACTIVISTS HAVING A WORST NIGHT OF THEIR LIFE, ACKNOWLEDGING THOSE PEOPLE. WE TALK ABOUT THE REDWALL OF WEST AUCKLAND, TO HAVE THOSE SEATS MOVE TO NATIONAL, I THINK SOME MAY COME BACK ON SPECIALS, BUT THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE. FOR LABOUR TO GO FROM SEVEN OUT OF SEVEN ON THE MAORI SEATS, AND NOW BE 6-1 DOWN. THESE ARE EXTRAORDINARY SHIFTS. A KEY THING TO CONSIDER, AS THE RISE OF THE GREEN PARTY. IT IS THE VOTE SHIFTED TO GREEN AND SOME OF THESE ELECTORATES, THAT HAS SHIFTED THE VOTE TO NATIONAL. WE MAY ASK WHY, BUT IT DEBATE MAY HAVE TO BE HAD ABOUT PLAYING TO THE CENTRE FROM LABOUR, AND NOT ENOUGH ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE. THIS IS EXTRAORDINARY STUFF. BRING YOU AND CATHERINE, YOU HAD QUITE A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE. YOU WERE ELECTED FOR NATIONAL AND 99, THE YEAR THAT JENNY SHIPLEY LOST THE ELECTION. YOU ARE OPPOSITION FOR THREE TERMS. I AM AN EXPERT ON LOSING! BUT YOUR PARTY IS CLEANING UP. WHAT IS IT LIKE TO WATCH? IT IS BEEN SUCH A SURPRISE, BECAUSE WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE POLLS, NO ONE HAS PREDICTED THIS. IT IS REALLY A CASE OF THE WISDOM OF CROWDS ` MAYBE THE METHODOLOGY FOR SOME POLLS IS NOT AS ACCURATE AS IT CAN BE. SOME OF THE LABOUR STRONGHOLDS FALLING ` WHO WOULD THINK THAT HELEN CLARK AND JACINDA ARDERN'S SEAT MIGHT TURN BLUE? THIS WILL CHANGE THE FABRIC OF THE NEW ZEALAND PARLIAMENT. THINKING OF PRIVATE MEMBERS BILLS, THE WAY THE PARLIAMENT WORKS, THE RISE OF THE GREENS, TE PATI MAORI COMING IN. IT WILL BE A DIFFERENT FLAVOUR FOR THE NEXT FEW YEARS. LET'S GO TO MAIKI SHERMAN AT NATIONAL HQ NOW, WITH PAUL GOLDSMITH. KIA ORA KORUA. THAT IS RIGHT, HERE IS PAUL GOLDSMITH ` WE ARE SEEING SOME BIG MOVING AND SHAKING AND SOME OF THE RED SEATS ` NAPIER, WEST COAST AMONG OTHERS. THAT IS AN ENCOURAGING START. THE ONLY THING THAT REALLY MATTERS IS THE PARTY VOTE, AND IT IS LOOKING GOOD AT THE MOMENT. OF COURSE THERE IS STILL A GREAT DEAL TO COUNT, BUT WE ARE CONFIDENT. SO MANY SEATS FLIPPING BLUE, DID YOU EXPECT IT? THERE'S BEEN A MOOD FOR CHANGE, AND THERE IS A PUSH FOR THE CENTRE-RIGHT. IT LOOKS IT LOOKS LIKE BROOKE VAN VELDEN COULD TAKE OUT A SEAT. THERE IS STILL A WAY TO GO ` THE MAIN THING IS, THE PARTY VOTE HASN'T CHANGED MUCH OVER THE NIGHT, AND HOPE IT STAYS THAT WAY. YOU WERE HERE LAST ELECTION, WHEN JUDITH COLLINS LOST, HOW DIFFERENT IS IT? VERY DIFFERENT, WE FEEL VERY ENCOURAGED. OF COURSE THERE IS A LONG WAY TO GO, BUT THIS COULD BE AN NIGHT WE SEE REAL CHANGE. AND ITS CHRISTOPHER LUXON THE MAN TO LEAD THE COUNTRY? I THINK HE WILL MAKE A GREAT PRIME MINISTER IF WE GET THE CHANCE. HE IS WELL EQUIPPED TO LEAD. AND WHETHER WE SEE THE GHOST OF WINSTON PETERS COME OUT WE SHALL SEE. BACK TO YOU IN THE STUDIO. PAUL GOLDSMITH, THE PICTURE OF UNDERSTATED EXCITEMENT. AND AFTER THE BREAK, LABOUR DEPUTY LEADER CARMEL SEPULONI ASSURES SUPPORTERS ALL IS NOT LOST. WE'LL SEE YOU SOON. THEREAFTER MORE EXTRAORDINARY STORIES TONIGHT THAN IN THE DISNEY STAPLE. AND TAMAKI, BROOKE VAN VELDEN IS DOING SIMON O'CONNOR. SHE HAS 2 1/2 THOUSAND VOTES CLEAR. GOODNESS GRACIOUS ME. SHE IS MORE LIBERAL THAN HE HAS. THAT IS A FAIRLY LOW BAR. HE IS ABOUT AS SOCIALLY LIBERAL AS I AM AN ALL-BLACK. ABSOLUTELY FASCINATING STORY. BUT LETS BRING IN KATIE BRADFORD, WHO IS THERE. IS DAVID SEYMOUR ON HIS WAY? HE IS HAVING A PRETTY GOOD NIGHT. AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, THEY ARE PRETTY HAPPY HERE. BROOKE HERSELF IS DUE TO ARRIVE ON 10 TO 15 MINUTES. SHE IS GOING TO TURN UP ON THAT BUS WE HAVE SEEN A BIT OFF, AND DAVID SEYMOUR NOT LONG AFTER. AS YOU CAN IMAGINE THE VIBE HERE PARTICULARLY WHEN THE RESULTS FOR TAMAKI CAME OUT, THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF CHEERING AND YELLING AND VERY HAPPY PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY BECAUSE AS YOU SAID, SHE IS STREAKS AHEAD OF SIMON O'CONNOR, NOT LIKE SOME OF THOSE OTHER SEATS, WHERE WE ARE SEEING A MARGINAL SHIFT. THIS AS LOOKING LIKE BROOKE IS GOING TO WIN. YOU MAY BE ABLE TO SEE THERE ARE PEOPLE LINED UP BEHIND ME. SO MANY PEOPLE WANTING TO COME HERE THAT THEY ARE HAVING TO LET PEOPLE OUT TO THEN LET MORE PEOPLE IN. GOOD VIBES HERE TONIGHT. ABSOLUTELY. SUCH INTERESTING STUFF. REALLY INTERESTING THAT THERE IS THAT BIG MAJORITY AND THAT BIG A LEAD WITH BROOKE, AND THAT WILL BE GIVING THE PARTY A WHOLE LOT OF BUOYANCY TONIGHT. THAT IS FOR SURE. LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT MORE OF THE RESULTS NOW WITH JACK. I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU SOME OF THE INTERESTING ELECTORATE RESULTS. THIS IS A RACE WE HAVE VERY KEEN ATTENTION ON. MEGAN WOODS, THE INCUMBENT MP AND WIGRAM, JUST 256 VOTES AHEAD. SHE IS ONE OF THE MOST SENIOR LABOUR MPS AND WAS ALSO THE CAMPAIGN CHAIR, WHICH MAKES THING DIFFICULT, BECAUSE GENERALLY YOU'RE NOT ABLE TO BE IN YOUR OWN ELECTORATE AS MUCH OF YOUR COLLEAGUES. SO AT THE MOMENT SHE HAS JUST 256 VOTES AHEAD. KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON THAT. HEADING UP TO THE EAST COAST AS YOU CAN SEE, KIRKPATRICK AT THE MOMENT ALMOST 2000 VOTES AHEAD OF LABOUR. THIS IS THE SEAT THAT HAD BEEN HELD BY KITTY TAPU ALLEN. TAMATI WAS INITIALLY GOING TO STAND DOWN BUT THEN DECIDED TO CONTEST. AT THE MOMENT, IT LOOKS LIKE KIRKPATRICK HAS PROBABLY... I WOULD NOTE JUST 20% OF THE COUNT HAS BEEN COUNTED. THIS IS THE STATE AND RONGOTAI. 248 VOTES AHEAD. LOOK AT THOSE NUMBERS AT THE MOMENT. JULIE-ANNE GENTER AND FLEUR FITZIMONS. MUTHU ON JUST OVER 1400. IT IS NOT INCONCEIVABLE THAT YOU COULD SEE SOME VOTE SPLITTING THERE, THE NATIONAL CANDIDATE COME THROUGH. KIERAN MCANULTY MORE THAN A THOUSAND VOTES BEHIND BUTTERICK. ALTHOUGH THOSE NUMBERS HAVE BEEN MOVING AROUND. FOR MOST OF THE EVENING, HE HAS BEEN MORE THAN A THOUSAND VOTES BEHIND. NATIONAL AT 42%, LABOUR 25.7%. A FULL THIRD OF VOTES HAVE BEEN COUNTED. THESE NUMBERS ARE NOT CHANGING MUCH. WE GOT THE FIRST NUMBERS TONIGHT AND OF COURSE THAT WASN'T NECESSARILY DEMOGRAPHICALLY REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ENTIRE ELECTORATE, BUT HE WOULD HAVE TO SAY THE NUMBERS HAVEN'T CHANGED THAT MUCH. NATIONAL STILL VERY COMFORTABLE HEAD. TE PATI MAORI HAVING A GREAT NIGHT. HEADING TO TE PATI MAORI'S RAWIRI WAITITI'S BASE NOW IN ROTORUA. KIA ORA. WELCOME BACK TO ROTORUA. HE HAS JUST ARRIVED OUTSIDE THE HEADQUARTERS. HE IS ACCOMPANIED BY HIS WHANAU. WE ALSO HAVE ONE OF HIS AUNTIE'S, RENOWNED IN TE AO MAORI AND IN THE NETBALL SCENE. THEY ARE ABOUT TO DO AN EXCEPTIONAL HAKA, WHERE HE WILL BE WELCOMED BY HIS PEOPLE. I AM JUST GOING TO TALK ABOUT TE PATI MAORI ` THEY ARE AHEAD IN WAIARIKI, TE TAI TONGA, WHICH IS SO REMARKABLY A LABOUR ELECTORATE THAT I DON'T THINK ANYBODY THOUGHT TE PATI MAORI COULD WHEN IT. THEY ARE AHEAD AND TE TAI TOKERAU AND TE TAI HAUAURU, WHICH IS DEBBIE NGAREWA-PACKER ` PROBABLY NOT SUCH A SURPRISE THERE. THEY ARE HAVING AN INCREDIBLE NIGHT. THIS IS GOING TO BE A NOISY HAKA, AND THIS COMES BACK TO THE POINT KATHERINE RICH WAS MAKING WE ARE SEEING PARLIAMENTS CHANGE IN A WHOLE LOT OF WAYS. IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT NATIONAL BEING WAY IN FRONT; IT IS ABOUT, AS DAVID CUNLIFFE IS NODDING AT ME NOW, TE PATI MAORI PICKING UP VOTES FROM LABOUR AND NUMBERS I DON'T THINK ANYBODY HAD PREDICTED. WHEN I WAS AN MP IN WEST AUCKLAND IT WAS EASY TO HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH GREEN POLITICS BECAUSE EVERYBODY KNEW THEY WEREN'T GOING TO THE ELECTORATE VOTE; IT WAS PARTY VOTE ONLY. NOT TRUE TODAY. THE GREENS COULD WIN RONGOTAI, WHICH WOULD HAVE ANETTE KING TURNING IN HER TIPPLER MAGIC CIRCLE. *DIPLOMATIC. THEN I AM A HUETTER IS BEHIND IN HAURAKI WAIKATO. WHICH IS A GREAT SHAME, BECAUSE SHE IS A PERSON OF EXTRAORDINARY INTEGRITY. SHE HAS PUSHED BACK BOUNDARIES FOR WOMEN. (ALL PERFORM HAKA) (HAKA CONTINUES) (HAKA CONTINUES) (HAKA ENDS) HAKA TAUTOKO, WHICH IS A WELCOME HAKA FOR RAWIRI. TE PATI MAORI IS HAVING A REMARKABLE NIGHT. THE GREENS HAVING A PRETTY GOOD NIGHT, WAY UP ON 2020. LABOUR HAVING AN AWFUL NIGHT. WE WILL COME BACK TO THAT BIT LATER, BECAUSE I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT WHAT WENT WRONG FOR LABOUR, BUT WE ARE GOING TO NOW TAKE A LITTLE BREAK, AND WE WILL TALK ABOUT THAT A BIT LATER ON. JENNY SUO IS IN DUNEDIN FOR US TONIGHT, WHERE SHE'S SPENDING THE EVENING WITH SOME OF OUR YOUNG VOTERS. THIS IS INSANE, IT IS THE BEST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED TO ME! LIAM IS A POLITICS STUDENT AT A OTAGO UNIVERSITY, AND THE POLITICS REP OF THE STUDENT ASSOCIATION. (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) TELL ME ABOUT THE BUZZ AROUND THE UNIVERSITY? PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE ELECTION MORE THAN THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT THEIR PAPERS, PEOPLE ARE SUPER ACTIVE, REALLY EXCITED THE SELECTION. SOMETIMES PEOPLE SAY YOUNG PEOPLE DON'T CARE... IT IS BEEN GREAT SEEING MY FRIENDS GET INVOLVED ` THEY MAY NOT HAVE CARED A MONTH OR TWO AGO, BUT NOW THEY DO. CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT PEOPLE HERE CARE ABOUT? THE ENVIRONMENT, COST OF LIVING. MENTAL HEALTH, A BIG ISSUE. AND RENTERS RIGHTS, THAT HAS BEEN MISSED BY A LOT OF PARTIES. WE'VE ESTABLISHED THAT YOUNG PEOPLE DO CARE. DO YOU THINK THE PARTIES HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB AT SPEAKING TO YOUNG PEOPLE? SOME PARTIES HAVEN'T EVEN TALKED TO US ` WHICH I THINK IS DISGRACEFUL. AS STUDENTS, WE ARE CITIZENS. WE WANT TO MAKE OUR VOICES HEARD. SOME PARTIES HAVE MISSED THE MARK. YOU GOT A LOT OF FRIENDS HERE, MORE THAN I DO! WILL CATCH UP WITH YOU SOON. WE'RE GOING TO BRING IN A PANEL ` SOME OF THOSE WILL BE YOUR STUDENTS METIRIA TUREI. ONE OF THE THINGS YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS TE PATI MAORI. LAST TIME AND THEY ONLY WON ONE SEAT, DEBBIE NGAREWA-PACKER IS NOW WAY AHEAD. WE'VE SHOWN OUR VALUE. I THINK TANGATA WHENUA HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF BEING THE` YOU KNOW, THE ONE-PLUS, THE ADDED VALUE, AND WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO LEAD OURSELVES AND GROW AN AOTEAROA HOU. THAT WAS THAT WAS THE MESSAGE THAT WE GAVE OUT, AND THAT'S CERTAINLY THE SUPPORT THAT WE'VE SEEN. AND I'M NOT I'M NOT ALL OVER THE FIGURES, BUT TO HEAR THAT SIX OF OUR SEVEN SEATS HAVE GOT THAT TAUTOKO SO EARLY IN THE GAME IS JUST AMAZING. JUST AMAZING. YEAH. AND JUST LASTLY ` YOU'VE SAID YOU THINK PEOPLE JUST WANT A CHANGE FROM LABOUR. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE TE PATI MAORI DID DIFFERENTLY THIS TIME AROUND? YEAH, I THINK` FIRST OF ALL, I THINK MAORI HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF BEING THE SUBSET WITHIN VARIOUS BIG PARTIES. AND I THINK THAT WE'VE GOT THE CONFIDENCE NOW, AND WE'VE WE'VE SEEN GENERATION TE TIRITI. THEY WANT TO COME OUT AND BE, YOU KNOW, BE RECOGNISED FOR THE ROLE THAT WE HAVE AS TANGATA WHENUA IN A TIRITI-CENTRIC AOTEAROA, AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SEEING ` THE CONFIDENCE OF TONIGHT. SO STILL A LONG WAY TO GO, BUT WOW. WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT`? YOU KNOW, THREE YEARS AGO, THIS WAS NOT WHAT WE WERE CONFRONTING. SO EXTREMELY HUMBLED. WE WERE HERE THREE YEARS AGO, AND WE WERE AMAZED THAT TE PATI MAORI WON EVEN A SINGLE SEAT. BUT TO SEE THEM WINNING SIX, BUT TO SEE THEM WINNING SIX, THIS WILL BE CRUCIAL TO HOW THE GOVERNMENT FORMS. PAT A I THINK WHAT WE HAVE IS A GENERATIONAL CHANGE. NANAIA MAHUTA HAS BEEN HERE FOR SEVEN YEARS, AND SHE APPEARS TO HAVE LOST HER SEAT TO SOMEONE IN THEIR EARLY 20S. AND IT HOLDS ACROSS THESE ELECTORATES ` I HAVE MADE SOME RECKLESS BETS, BUT TO SEE IT ACROSS THESE GENERATIONS. METIRIA TUREI? I AM NOT SAD BY THIS RESULT AT ALL. WHY ARE THESE MAORI ELECTORATES, FIVE OF THE SEVEN ARE CURRENTLY WITH TE PATI MAORI. IT PROVES THAT BEING STRONG ON THE TREATY, FOR STANDING UP FOR THE RIGHTS OF MAORI, IT'S ACTUALLY VERY IMPORTANT FOR VOTERS. MAORI VOTERS WILL BE VOTING FOR THE ELECTORATES ` THEY ALSO HAVE TO 2.5% OF THE PARTY VOTE. IT IS A CLEAR INDICATION, 17 YEARS AWAY FROM THE 200TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE TREATY ` DO NOT TAKE MAORI FOR GRANTED ANY MORE. DO YOU THINK THAT LABOUR HAS? I DO, I THINK SOME OF THE CAMPAIGNS HAVE BEEN TERRIBLE. WILLIE JACKSON BURYING OF THE HE PUAPUA REPORT, GAVE THE RIGHT A WEAPON AGAINST US. I HAVE A HUGE AROHA. BENEDICT COLLINS IS WITH GRANT ROBERTSON. YOU ARE TAKING A REAL BEATING. ARE YOU SURPRISED? IT IS HARD TO AVOID THE CLICHES BENEDICT, BUT IT IS STILL EARLY DAYS. MOST OF THE VOTES THAT WE SEE IS THE ADVANCED VOTE, WHICH REFLECTS THE POLLS AS THEY WERE DURING THAT VOTING.. CLEARLY THIS IS NOT A VOTE WE ARE LOOKING FOR. I THINK IT REFLECTS THAT EARLY PERIOD. I'M CLEARLY DISAPPOINTED THAT WE ARE NOW/ WHETHER THERE IS SURPRISE, WE WILL WAIT FOR ANOTHER DAY. WHEN YOU THINK IT'S GONE WRONG FOR THE LABOUR PARTY? THERE HAS BEEN A NARRATIVE AROUND CHANGE, YOU HEARD THE TALK A LOT, BUT WE UNDERSTAND HOW TOUGH IT HAS BEEN. AND WE KNOW PEOPLE WERE LOOKING FOR THINGS TO BE BETTER. AND SOME OF THE VOTE WILL REFLECT THAT. BUT WE HAVE TOLD A STORY ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO DO THE THINGS WE HAVE BEEN DOING. THERE ARE STILL A LOT MORE VOTES TO BE COUNTED. AND THERE WILL BE A LOT OF CHANGE. MANY OF YOUR COLLEAGUES HAVE SELF COMBUSTED, HOW HAS THAT BEEN TO WATCH? IT IS DIFFICULT TO SEE COLLEAGUES GO THROUGH THAT ` THESE ARE MY COLLEAGUES AND MY FRIENDS. AND HAS BEEN A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES, AND HAVE ALL CONTRIBUTED IN THEIR OWN WAY, AND IT WILL BE CONTRIBUTIONS MADE BY THEM IN THE FUTURE. THEY MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO WHAT WE'RE SEEING TONIGHT? IN POLITICS, WE ALWAYS LOOK FOR ONE THING, AND THERE IS NEVER ONE THING. IT IS OR IS A RANGE OF ISSUES. BACK TO YOU IN THE STUDIO. THANK YOU BENEDICT, GRANT ROBERTSON IS STARING DOWN THE BARREL OF ONLY 32 SEATS IN THE LABOUR PARTY. WINSTON PETERS IS DUE TO TALK SOON. WE WILL HAVE THAT AFTER THE BREAK. A KEY STORYLINE TO COME WE WORK ABSOLUTELY EVERY SINGLE DAY TO EARN THE TRUST AND THE PRIVILEGE OF REPRESENTING OUR COMMUNITIES, BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT GRASSROOTS COMMUNITY BUILDING AND CHANGE LOOKS LIKE. IT LOOKS LIKE ALL OF YOU. WE HAVE ALL BEEN PAYING ATTENTION TO WHAT IS HAPPENING AROUND US, BUT CAN WE JUST HAVE A MOMENT FOR WELLINGTON CENTRAL? IT HAS BEEN A GOOD FEW YEARS. LOOK AT WHAT WE HAVE ACHIEVED. I ALSO WANT TO MIHI TO YOU, E HOA, REIHANA ` THE CAMPAIGN OUT THERE. *RICCARDO. GIVE A BIG CLAP. FOR THE COMMUNITY THAT WAS BUILT TO THE CAMPAIGN THAT WAS RUN, BECAUSE CAMPAIGNS ARE A MANIFESTATION OF HOPE, A MOVEMENT TO ACHIEVE ALL THE THINGS THAT WE ALL DEEPLY AND PROFOUNDLY BELIEVE IN, AND THEY DON'T END HERE, BECAUSE ALL OF US KNOW THAT SO MANY IN OUR COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING UNDER THIS TRICKLE-DOWN ECONOMICS THING THAT SO MANY OF THOSE OTHER POLITICAL PARTIES TAKE FOR GRANTED. AN ECONOMIC SYSTEM THAT EXPLOITS EVERYONE ON THE PLANET. ALL OF US AND THIS ROOM KNOW THAT THAT IS NOT INEVITABLE. THAT IS THE CONSEQUENCE OF POLITICAL DECISIONS, AND WHAT WE HAVE SHOWN WITH OUR RESULTS TONIGHT ` ALSO SHOUT OUT TO RONGOTAI. CHLOE SWARBRICK SPEAKING LIVE AT AUCKLAND CENTRAL, WHERE SHE IS AHEAD AND LOOKS ON TRACK, ALTHOUGH ONLY 1/3 OF VOTES HAVE BEEN COUNTED, BUT LOOKS ON TRACK TO HOLD THE ELECTORATE. THE REASON SHE IS SO EXCITED.... JULIE-ANNE GENTER, WHO WAS NARROWLY AHEAD ` THERE IS THAT PRIDE AT CHLOE WINNING LAST ELECTION. THEY HAD 11 ELECTION IN THEIR HISTORY, SO SO IT IS A GOOD NIGHT FOR THEM. LET'S BRING IN RYAN BOSWELL, WHO'S LIVE IN CHRISTCHURCH TONIGHT FOR US WITH LABOUR'S MEGAN WOODS. KIA ORA. DESPITE THE RESULT THAT LABOUR IS GETTING THROUGH, THEY SEEM TO STILL BE QUITE BUOYANT HERE IN CHRISTCHURCH. MEGAN WOODS IS THE MP FOR WIGRAM AND HAS HELD THE SEAT SINCE 2011. SHE HAS BEEN THE PARTY'S CAMPAIGN CHAIR. TENA KOE. HOW ARE YOU HOLDING UP? IS THIS A RESULT YOU EXPECTED? WITHOUT A DOUBT, THIS IS A TOUGH NIGHT. WE ARE SEEING IT AROUND THE COUNTRY. ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE REALLY MINDFUL OF IS THAT THE VOTE IS ABOUT 1/3 COUNTED, AS MUCH OF THAT IS THE EARLY VOTE, AND WE KNOW THE MOMENTUM SHIFT TO LABOUR CAME IN THE LATER DAYS OF THE CAMPAIGN. WE ARE SEEING AS THE LABOUR VOTES COME IN SOME OPTICS AND SEATS AND PARTY VOTES. SO WITHOUT DOUBT, A DIFFICULT NIGHT, BUT WE ARE AWARE THERE IS STILL LONG WAY TO GO THIS EVENING. ANYTHING YOU WOULD HAVE DONE DIFFERENT IN THE CAMPAIGN? KNOW, THERE WASN'T. REALLY PROUD OF THE CAMPAIGN WE HAVE RUN. WE WILL HAVE TO GO BACK AND ANALYSE THAT TONIGHT. GETTING TOGETHER AND I JESTING THESE RESULTS. THERE ARE STILL A LOT OF RESULTS TO COME THROUGH. IN CHRISTCHURCH, WE HAVE SEEN A NUMBER OF SEATS SHIFT FROM LABOUR TO NATIONAL AND BACK AND FORTH. EVEN YOUR SEAT ` YOU LOST IT AT ONE STAGE. OBVIOUSLY, THAT WAS ONLY ON, BUT THEY MUST BE WORRYING. YEAH, AND IT IS OBVIOUSLY TIGHTER THAN I WOULD HAVE LIKED, BUT AS THOSE OTHER BOATS START COMING IN, I AM IN THE LEAD AGAIN, I WILL BE CONTINUING TO WATCH THAT. BUT WE ARE IN CHRISTCHURCH EAST TO LIGHT, SEEING A BRAND-NEW MP COMING IN HERE WITH DAVIDSON LOOKING COMFORTABLE IN THE LEAD AND CHRISTCHURCH EAST, AND WE WILL BE WATCHING THE RESULTS KEENLY THROUGHOUT THE EVENING. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANKS, TEAM. THANKS SO MUCH FOR THAT, RYAN. AND A KEY STORYLINE TO COME FROM THIS ELECTION IS THE SUCCESS OF TE PATI MAORI. JACK HAS AN UPDATE. MEGAN WOODS IS NOT WRONG THERE ` THESE ARE EARLY DAYS. WE HAVE A MAJORITY OF VOTES YET TO BE COUNTED. 40% AT THE MOMENT. THIS IS THE VOTE AS IT STANDS. AGAIN, I KNOW HOW I HAVE SAID THIS ALL THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT, BUT THOSE NUMBERS AREN'T CHANGING MUCH. EVEN THOUGH LABOUR IS HOPING FOR A LATE SEARCH WHEN THE VOTES THAT WERE CAST TODAY HAVE BEEN COUNTED, SO FAR WE HAVEN'T SEEN A LOT OF MOVEMENT. BUT YES, LET'S PICK UP ON THOSE MAORI SEATS. CURRENTLY, TE PATI MAORI LEAD SIX SEATS AND LABOUR LEADS ONE. THERE ARE ONLY A COUPLE WHERE LABOUR LOOKS LIKE THEY MIGHT BE MAKING PROGRESS. THINGS ARE VERY CLOSE AND TAMAKI MAKAURAU. AND IKAROA-RAWHITI, WHERE MEKA CAME FROM, SHE IS CURRENTLY BEHIND, SO IT WILL BE FASCINATING TO SEE WHAT THOSE NUMBERS MEAN. THIS IS THE STATE OF THE CHANGING ELECTORATES ` IKAROA-RAWHITI IS LOOKING LIKE IT WILL STAY WITH LABOUR. THE REASON THAT WE ARE FOCUSING SO MUCH ON THESE SEATS AS A COUPLE OF REASONS ONE, GENERATIONAL CHANGE. NUMBER TWO, OVERHANG. WE REALLY NEED TO THINK ABOUT THIS. WHEN WE COUNT UP ALL THE RESULTS, I THINK IT IS LOOKING INCREDIBLY LIKELY WE WILL NOT HAVE A PARLIAMENT WITH 121 SEATS EVEN AFTER THE FORTHCOMING BY-ELECTION. WE WILL LOOK AT SEVERAL EXTRA SEATS FOR TE PATI MAORI, WHICH MEANS GOVERNING PARTIES WILL REQUIRE MORE SEATS TO HAVE A MAJORITY. NICE. ALL OTHER IT LIKE A RASH THERE. I MEAN THAT AS A COMPLIMENT. DO YOU? WHETHER LOVE. *WITH LOVE. WHAT KIND OF RASH? THE BEST KIND OF RASH. THE KIND OF RASH YOU WANT. MORGAN GODFERY AND METIRIA TUREI. WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE MAORI ELECTORATES? IF TE PATI MAORI DID NOT TAKE MEKA, THEY MAY HAVE WON ALL SEVEN SEATS. IT IS A BIZARRE NIGHT FOR THE LABOUR PARTY TO BE LOSING SIX BUT PICKING UP THE ONE THEY DIDN'T EXPECT TO PICK UP. SO WE WILL SEE SOME STRANGE RESULTS, I THINK, THERE. JUST TO REINFORCE THE OVERHANG WILL BE CRUCIAL. AT THIS STAGE FOR THE LEFT, THEY WILL PROBABLY BE HOPING TE PATI MAORI VOTE IS LOW SO THAT THERE IS A GREAT OVERHANG THROUGH THE ELECTORATE SEATS. THAT IS REALLY WHERE THE LEFT'S HOPE IS RIGHT NOW, IS THAT THEY POLL LOW ENOUGH IN THE PARTY VOTE BUT WHEN ENOUGH OF THE ELECTORATE SEATS TO DEPRIVE NATIONAL AND ACT OF THE CLEAR MAJORITY. THAT LOOKS LIKE WHAT IT IS HAPPENING. EXEC YOU WHAT YOU ARE DESCRIBING. TE PATI MAORI ARE WINNING MORE ELECTORATES THAN THEIR PARTY VOTE WOULD ENTITLE THEM TO. I LOVED YOUR ANSWER BEFORE. WHAT IS THE MESSAGE FOR LABOUR? STAND ON YOUR PRINCIPLES AND ACTUALLY DEFEND YOUR RECORD ON MULTI-ISSUES. *MAORI ISSUES. HOW WE COULD BECOME A COUNTRY THAT RECOGNISES AND DELIVERS ON OUR RESPONSIBILITIES. WILLIE JACKSON BURIED IT, AND NATIONAL TURNED INTO A WEAPON. THEY HAVE TO DEFEND MAORI ISSUES, FROM THE CONSTITUTIONAL POINT OF VIEW, OR THEY LOSE LIKE THEY HAVE. WITHIN THESE ELECTORATES, WE SEE THE HEAT THAT HAS BEEN PUT ON. AND THAT IS BEEN PUT ON BY THOSE OTHER PARTIES. WHO ARE ANTI- CO-GOVERNANCE, I THINK IT IS A VOTE AGAINST THOSE PARTIES. THE BEST MIDDLE FINGER TO THEM, IS TO VOTE FOR TE PATI MAORI, DO YOU THINK THAT IS MORE BROAD? STANDING FOR SOMETHING, BEING UPFRONT. THEY WANT OUR GOVERNANCE TO BE STRONG, TO BE VALUES BASED, AND TO HAVE POLICIES THAT SIT BEHIND IT. BUT I DO NOT WANT TO UNDERESTIAMTE THE POWER AND CAMPAIGN OF TE PATI MAORI. THEY HAVE CHALLENGED GOVERNMENT, THEY HAVE STOOD UP FOR WHAT THEY BELIEVE IN, THE RIGHT WAY TO BE MAORI PARLIAMENT. AND THAT IS WHY SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ATTRACTED TO THEM. PICKING UP ON THE PHRASE MIDDLE FINGER, BECAUSE IT'S A GREAT ONE. LET'S TALK ABOUT THE MIDDLE FINGER THAT THE MAIN PARTIES ARE GETTING. NATIONAL AND LABOUR ARE LOOKING AT ABOUT 66% ` I DON'T THINK THEY HAVE EVER GOT LESS THEN 70%. IT SO TELLING, WE HAVE SEEN THE RISE AND RISE OF THE MINOR PARTIES. I THINK THAT METIRIA TUREI MADE A POINT, WHEN LABOUR DID NOT STAND BEHIND THE VALUES, WHEN THEY RULED OUT THE CAPITAL GAINS TAX, THAT IS WHEN THEY BLEED OUT SUPPORT TO THE GREEN PARTY. CHRIS HIPKINS DID NOT WIN AS INTEREST. CORRECTION: CENTRIST. LET'S NOW GO TO BROOKE VAN VELDEN. ... PEOPLE WANTING LOCAL DEMOCRACY, IT HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL EVENT TONIGHT. WE HAVE EVEN HAD LOTS OF CHILDREN, WHO HAVE BEEN A HUGE PART OF THIS CAMPAIGN, I REALLY ENJOYED SEEING SO MANY KIDS, AS WE WERE SIGNED WAVING, GETTING IN ON THE ACTION AND SPURRING US ALONG. THANK YOU TO THE PARENTS AND THE KIDS WHO WANT TO CHANGE FOR THE BETTER. DAVID SEYMOUR ON THE END OF LIFE'S CHOICE ACT, AND NOW YOU'RE AN ELECTORATE MP, IT HAS BEEN A SUCCESSFUL RISE. I BELIEVE IN HARD WORK AND BEING ACCOUNTABLE, GOOD LOCAL DEMOCRACY IS ALL I HAVE EVER WANTED, TO LISTEN TO PEOPLE, TO UNDERSTAND THEIR CONCERNS, AND TO FIND THE BEST SOLUTION TO THEIR PROBLEMS AND THE STRUCTURAL ISSUES THAT WE FACE AS A COUNTRY. I LOOK FORWARD TO BEING A LOCAL MP, AND HELPING MY CONSTITUENTS. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING A CHANGE OF GOVERNMENT, SO THAT WE MIGHT HAVE REAL CHANGE. IN THIS RESULT TO ACT AS LOOKING LIKE WE WILL HAVE REAL CHANGE. BUT IT IS STILL TOO EARLY! LISTENING TO BROOKE VAN VELDEN, AT THE ACT PARTY HEADQUARTERS. SHE IS NOW MORE THAN 3000 VOTES CLEAR, ON WHAT HAS BEEN A SAFE NATIONAL SEAT. 2002, THE PARTIES DID GO BELOW 70%. STAY TUNED TO THIS ELECTION SPECIAL; WE'RE BACK AFTER THIS SHORT BREAK.WE ARE WITH CHRIS BISHOP CONOR WHITTEN IS IN WELLINGTON AT NICOLA WILLIS' BASE. AND HE'S JOINED NOW BY NATIONAL'S CHRIS BISHOP WILL NATIONAL PARTY CAMPAIGN CHAIR CHRIS BISHOP, A MUCH BIGGER SMILE. NATIONALS IN THE 40S, IS THAT A SURPRISE EVEN TO YOU? WE DID SEE A SURGE, I KNOW CHRIS HIPKINS WAS TRYING TO WILL ONE INTO EXISTENCE, WE WORKED REALLY HARD OVER THE LAST SIX WEEKS. EARLY DAYS, THERE ARE STILL QUITE A FEW VOTES THAT WERE CAST TODAY, WE ARE CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC. THERE ARE SOME FASCINATING THINGS PLAYING OUT IN ELECTORATES ` SAFE LABOUR SEATS THAT MIGHT TURN BLUE. DID YOU EVEN THINK THEY COULD BE IN PLAY? IT IS EARLY DAYS` (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) BIG SWING FOR NATIONAL AND AUCKLAND. BUT AGAIN, EARLY DAYS, CLOSE MARGINS. AND THERE IS A FAIR WAY TO GO, BUT HOW CONFIDENT ARE YOU THAT NATIONAL AND ACT COULD FORM A GOVERNMENT ALONE? WE ARE CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC. BUT MANY VOTES STILL TO BE COUNTED. I HAVE SEEN MANY ELECTIONS, THOSE FINAL PERCENT CAN MOVE THINGS AROUND A LOT. CONNOR, WE ARE SORRY. TELL CHRIS BISHOP ` WINSTON PETERS HAS JUST ARRIVED! WE ARE LEAVING CHRIS BISHOP, THEY MAY NEED TO DEVELOP A RELATIONSHIP WITH THIS MAN. HERE HE IS ` WINSTON PETERS. IT IS GOING OFF IN RUSSELL. (APPLAUSE) FIRST OF ALL, A GRATEFUL THANKS TO ALL THOSE PEOPLE WHO CAME OUT AROUND NEW ZEALAND TODAY, AND VOTED FOR A PARTY CALLED NEW ZEALAND FIRST. I MUST SAY, A FEW YEARS AGO, EVERYONE LAUGHED WHEN WE TRY TO MAKE A COMEBACK, BUT THEY ARE NOT LAUGHING NOW, ARE THEY? I WANT TO SAY HOW GRATEFUL I AM TO ALL THE POLITICAL PEOPLE IN ELECTORATES, WHO, WORKING FOR A GREAT PARTICLE NEW ZEALAND FIRST, AND I WILL NEVER FORGET HOW BORED THEY WORK WAS. HOW IMPORTANT THAT WORK WAS. DON'T EVER FORGET THIS ` WE ARE SO GRATEFUL TO OUR MEMBERS. ALL THOSE PEOPLE THAT DID THE HARD YARDS, WHO BELIEVED IN US. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. WE HAVE ALWAYS KNOWN THAT IN GREAT DEMOCRACIES, THE PEOPLE ARE ELECTED, AND THEY MUST BE HELD TO ACCOUNT. WE NEED TO KEEP THEM HONEST. I CAN PROMISE YOU THAT'S WHAT NEW ZEALAND IS GOING TO GET OUT OF THE SELECTION. CORRECTION: THIS ELECTION. TOWARD THOSE CANDIDATES THAT SHOULD BE IN PARLIAMENT WITH US TONIGHT, MY THANKS TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES. ENORMOUS SACRIFICES FOR FAMILIES. THANK YOU FOR TRYING, AND HANG ON. ELECTION 2026, AND WE ARE GETTING READY FOR IT. ONE LAST THING FOR EVERYBODY WE WERE IN A CAMPAIGN WHERE THE ECONOMIC CIRCUMSTANCES WERE NOT KNOWN, AND WE WILL REALISE JUST A SERIOUS THE ECONOMIC CRISIS IS. 159 OUT OF 160 COUNTRIES. FOR THOSE PROMISES THAT WERE MADE... THERE IS A MOMENT OF REALITY ` IF WE DON'T DO THAT THEN WE ARE GOING TO GO ON A SLIDE. IF WE CAN HELP GOING FORWARD, WE WILL. THAT IS THE MOST IGNORANT THING. THE LAST THING I WANT TO SAY TO YOU ALL TONIGHT. HAVE A GREAT NIGHT. WE HAVE DONE THE IMPOSSIBLE. ARE REALLY INTERESTING MESSAGE THERE FROM WINSTON PETERS. BEING A LITTLE BIT COY ABOUT HOW THINGS WILL PLAY OUT. AT THE MOMENT HE IS SETTING WITH 6% AND EIGHT MPS. ARE PRETTY SIGNIFICANT RESULT FOR NEW ZEALAND FIRST. DOING THE IMPOSSIBLE, AND I DON'T THINK WE WILL HEAR THE LAST ABOUT. NOT FOR THE LAST TIME IN THE EYES OF NEW ZEALAND FIRST SUPPORTERS. ABOUT 45% OF THE PARTY VOTE HAS BEEN COUNTED SO FAR. THOSE NUMBERS HAVE MOVED AROUND TONIGHT ABOUT AS MUCH AS I COULD MOVE A SQUATTING ELEPHANT. IS ENTERED EXTRAORDINARY TO THINK THAT LABOUR HAD ALMOST DOUBLE THAT PARTY VOTE THREE YEARS AGO? AT THE TWENTY20 ELECTION, THERE WERE HALF A MILLION SPECIAL VOTES. LABOUR SUPPORTERS WILL BE HOPING THAT THEY WILL BENEFIT FROM THE SPECIAL VOTES. THAT IS A PRETTY EMPHATIC RESULT. LET'S SEE HOW IT ALL SHAKES DOWN ONCE WE BRING IT OVER HERE TO THE HOUSE. IN ORDER TO FORM A GOVERNMENT, YOU HAVE TO FORM A MAJORITY OF THE HOUSE BUT ON THE CURRENT NUMBERS, WE HAVE 122 OR 123 MPS DEPENDING ON HOW TE PATI MAORI GOES. THAT'S NOT BECAUSE THEIR PARTY VOTE EXCEEDS THE 5% THRESHOLD BUT BECAUSE THEY ARE DOING SO WELL IN THE ELECTORATES. AND COULD RESULT IN AN OVERHANG. THAT IS THE CASE, IN ORDER TO COMMAND A MAJORITY OF THE HOUSE, YOU WOULD HAVE TO HAVE 62 SEATS. THAT IS A COMFORTABLE MAJORITY. AT THE MOMENT, THEY WOULD NOT NEED THE SUPPORT OF NEW ZEALAND FIRST IF THEY WANT TO FORM A GOVERNMENT. WHICH IS REALLY INTERESTING, AND IT FEELS LIKE THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS WHOLE TIME. I WANT TO BRING AN SIMON BRIDGES, WHO HAS A LONG-STANDING RELATIONSHIP WITH WINSTON PETERS. DO YOU? HE BEAT HIM IN HIS SEAT... I AM PRETTY TOUGH. I CAN SHAKE IT OFF. WHAT ABOUT ME? YOU WIN, JACK. I THINK WINSTON WILL BE SITTING THERE WITH MIXED EMOTIONS. HE IS RIGHT ABOUT THE IMPOSSIBLE. A LOT OF COMMENTATORS WERE WRITING HIM OFF. NO ONE ELSE FROM OUTSIDE PARLIAMENT SEEMS TO BE ABLE TO GET IN TO PARLIAMENT LIKE WINSTON AND NEW ZEALAND FIRST. HE WILL BE CONFLICTED BECAUSE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF IT, HE WAS SITTING THERE JUST QUIETLY THINKING TO HIMSELF, I AM GOING TO BE THE KINGMAKER. AT THE MOMENT, IT DOESN'T QUITE LOOK LIKE THAT. I THOUGHT IT WAS INTERESTING ` IF WE CAN HELP OR SOMETHING, WE WILL. THAT WAS POSSIBLY QUITE CONCILIATORY FOR WINSTON, AND YOU WOULDN'T DISCOUNT THE THOUGHT THAT UNDER A CHANGED GOVERNMENT, EVEN IF HE WASN'T NEEDED, MAYBE THEY WILL BE THERE IN SOME SHAPE OR FORM. I THINK THAT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT ONE. WE'RE GOING TO BREAK. COMING UP, WE ARE CRUNCHING THE NUMBERS IN GISBORNE. LIFE IS A CURIOUS OLD FISH. TE PATI MAORI IS IN FRONT WITH FIVE OF SEVEN OF THE MAORI ELECTORATES. CUSHLA TANGAERE-MANUEL... LOOK AT THAT. KIA ORA! TENA KOUTOU. NICE TO SEE YOU. YOU ARE STANDING NEXT TO SOMEONE WHO LOOKS LIKE THEY ARE GOING TO WIN. THIS IS THE ONLY LABOUR CANDIDATE THAT IS LOOKING PROMISING AND THESE MAORI ELECTORATES. FIRST-TIME CANDIDATE FOR LABOUR PARTY. HOW DOES IT FEEL TO KNOW YOU'RE IN THE LEAD? AND IS REALLY HUMBLING IT IS A REFLECTION OF THE COMMITMENT I MADE. WE ARE OBVIOUSLY ON MY WHENUA IT'S IMPORTANT TO SEE THAT MY COMMITMENT TO GET AROUND IKAROA-RAWHITI APPEARS TO BE PAYING OFF. I HAVE BEEN IN YOUR ELECTORATE THIS WEEK, AND THEY SPOKE ABOUT DESPITE YOU BEING A NEWCOMER, YOU DID THE PUSH FOR CUSH. WHAT DID YOU DO DIFFERENT TO THE LABOUR CANDIDATES WHO ARE FIGHTING TO KEEP THEIR ELECTORATES? I WANT TO MIHI TO EVERYONE WHO CAMPAIGNED. EVERYONE BROUGHT THEIR A GAME. A TALK TO PEOPLE WITH ME. WHEN I TRAVERSED IKAROA-RAWHITI ROHE, I HAD THE BACKING OF MY OWN. ONCE THAT WAS IN LINE, IT WAS ABOUT GETTING OUT IN FRONT OF THE WHANAU. THEY WANT SOMEONE WHO WILL SHOW UP AND LISTEN AND FOLLOW THROUGH. IT WAS IMPORTANT TO GO BACK TO DEMONSTRATE THE KIND OF MPI WANT TO BE. GIVEN YOU ARE A NEWCOMER, WHY IS IT SO SIGNIFICANT TO BE HERE. AND IS NEAR THE TIP OF IKAROA-RAWHITI. WHY IS IT SO SIGNIFICANT TO BE HERE? THIS IS WHERE I WAS BORN, BRED AND CURRENTLY LIVE. OBVIOUSLY MAINTAINING THE LEGACY, BUT ALSO BRING AT BACK TO THE WAIPU VALLEY, IT WILL BE THE FIRST TIME SINCE APIRANA NGATA. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. CONGRATULATIONS TO CUSHLA. THEY SAID NGATI POROU VOTES WOULD WHEN HER THE SEAT. THERE ARE A LOT OF HAPPY NATIONAL PARTY SUPPORTERS WALKING THROUGH THIS ARCHWAY AND COMING INTO THIS ROOM INTO A VERY ELECTRIC VIBE AT THE MOMENT HERE AT THE PARTY HQ. THIS IS WHERE CHRISTOPHER LUXON WILL BE WALKING WHEN HE ARRIVES TO DELIVER A SPEECH ON STAGE. HE WILL BE HOPING IT IS THE WEDDING SPEECH. CORRECTION: WINNING SPEECH. THERE ARE SO MANY SEATS FLIPPING BELOW. ONE OF THOSE CLOSE SEATS WAS WEST COAST-TASMAN. I FELT THAT MOOD FOR CHANGE. MAUREEN PUGH STANDING THERE FOR NATIONAL, AND DAMIEN O'CONNOR FOR THE LABOUR PARTY. YOU COULD FEEL THE VIBE THERE. THEY WERE NOT HAPPY WITH THE LABOUR GOVERNMENT. IT IS VERY TELLING THAT WE ARE SEEING A LOT MORE OF THOSE SEATS FLIPPED BLUE. IN TERMS OF THE MAORI ELECTORATES, MIND BLOWN. OMG, THAT IS A BIG SLAP IN THE FACE. MEKA WHAITIRI MAY BE THE ONLY ONE THEY DON'T SCOOP UP. WE HAVE SEEN THAT WITH THE LIKES OF MATARIKI PUBLIC HOLIDAY, BUT WE ARE SEEING THE RISING MATURITY OF MANA MAORI AND THAT IS WHAT WE ARE SEEING PLAY OUT IN THE MAORI SEATS TONIGHT. THAT IS A REALLY GOOD POINT. THANKS SO MUCH FOR THAT WALK AND TALK THERE AND GIVING US A TASTE OF BEHIND-THE-SCENES. JACK HAS GOT LOOK AT INTERESTING RACES. WE'RE GOING RIGHT ROUND THE COUNTRY. THAT HAS BEEN A CLOSE ONE THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT. MAUREEN PUGH HAS A LEAD OVER THE INCUMBENT MP. HE WAS THE TRADE MINISTER, THE MINISTER FOR AGRICULTURE. LET'S GO JUST ACROSS TASMAN BAY TO NELSON. AT THE MOMENT, BLAIR CAMERON FROM NATIONAL HAS A LEAD OF 122 VOTES, A NARROW LEAD. RACHEL BOYACK AS THE INCUMBENT MP. IN 2020, SHE HAD A WINNING MARGIN, SHE WAS IN FIRST PLACE, FOR A THOUSAND VOTES, TONIGHT, SHE IS 122 VOTES BEHIND. LET'S GO TO THE WEST COAST OF THE NORTH ISLAND. NEW PLYMOUTH ` DAVID MACLEOD HAS A LEAD OVER GLEN BENNETT. HERE IN AUCKLAND, MOUNT ALBERT IS SHAPING UP AS ONE OF THE MOST SURPRISING ELECTORATE RESULTS OF THE NIGHT. KEEP IN MIND, THIS WAS HELEN CLARKE'S ELECTORATE ` THIS WAS JACINDA ARDERN'S ELECTORATE. SOON TO BE MELISSA LEE'S ELECTORATE. 45% OF THE VOTE STILL TO COUNT. RICARDO MENENDEZ MARCH. THIS AS YET ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF VOTES SPLITTING. THEY WOULD HAVE MORE THAN 10,000 IF YOU ADDED THE GREEN VOTES TO LABOUR. THE GREEN BLOCK HAS BEEN SPLIT. LET'S HAVE A LOOK AT BANKS PENINSULA. THIS IS THE CURRENT STATE OF THE RACE IN BANKS PENINSULA. MOST PEOPLE WOULD HAVE EXPECTED TRACEY MCLELLAN TO WIN. SHE IS TRAILING. THIS IS NOT COMPLETELY FINISHED FOR THE NIGHT. IT WILL BE VERY INTERESTING TO SEE SOME OF THESE SHIFT. I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING WE WILL START TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS ` WHICH LABOUR MPS, ON THE CURRENT RESULTS, GOING TO BE OUT OF PARLIAMENT. THE IRONY OF LABOUR IS BAD MARKS IS ACTUALLY BECAUSE SO MANY ELECTORATES ARE SWITCHING, LABOUR LOOKS SET TO RETAIN SOME OF ITS SENIOR MPS THAT MIGHT HAVE LOST OTHERWISE. JUST GOING TO THE LIST OF LABOUR MPS ` I WILL NOT READ THEM ALL OUT. THE BEST KNOWN MP WHO WILL NOT BE RETURNING TO PARLIAMENT IS MICHAEL WOOD. THAT IS A REALLY GOOD POINT, THEY ARE DOING SO BADLY. THAT MEANS DAVID PARKER IS BACK. KIERAN MCANULTY... AND AN ALTERNATIVE UNIVERSE, IF KIERAN MCANULTY HAD LOST WAIRARAPA, BUT OTHER MPS HAD LOST THEIR SEATS, HE WOULD FIND THEMSELVES OUT OF PARLIAMENT, THAT IS NOT THE CASE. STAY TUNED ` THE GREENS COLEADERS ARE SET TO MAKE THEIR ARRIVAL. WE WILL SEE YOU SOON. LET'S HAVE A LOOK VERY QUICKLY AT THE PARTY VOTE ` NATIONAL ON 41, THAT MEANS 51 SEATS, LABOUR ON 26. CHRIS FA'AFOI, FORMER LABOUR PARTY CABINET MINISTER. FROM PEOPLE YOU WORKED WITH FOR A LONG TIME ARE LOSING THEIR JOBS TONIGHT. WHERE DOES THIS LEAVE CHRIS HIPKINS? SURELY LABOUR WOULD HAVE DREAMT FOR AND HOPE FOR MORE THAN 26. LIKE I HAVE SAID TONIGHT, THEY WANTED A BETTER RESULT THAN THIS. HE IS GOING TO HAVE TO THINK VERY LONG AND HARD. HE WOULD BE WISE TO STICK AROUND FOR A BIT, THERE IS A REBUILT EFFORT NEEDED AFTER THE RESULT TONIGHT. WE NEED TO LEARN FROM PAST MISTAKES, WE SPENT YEARS IN OPPOSITION WE COULD HAVE BEEN MORE COMPETITIVE. THEY NEED WISE HEADS TOGETHER TO THINK ABOUT THIS. THEY NEED TO THINK ABOUT WHERE THEY ARE GOING TO POSITION THEMSELVES. WHAT THEY MIGHT DO. I THINK HE HAS HAD A PRETTY TOUGH SIX OR SEVEN MONTHS. THIS IS SUCH A BIG TALKING POINT. WE ARE GOING TO GO NOT FAR FROM US AND CENTRAL AUCKLAND, THE GREENS AND TWENTY20 GOT SEVEN POINT 6% OF THE PARTY VOTES, THIS TIME, THEY HAVE 10 POINT 3%. THIS MIGHT RISE AS THE EVENING GOES ON AND AS SPECIALS COME IN. HERE ARE THE COLEADERS ARRIVING AT GREEN PARTY HQ. WE HAD FROM CHLOE SWARBRICK WHO IS AHEAD IN THE AUCKLAND CENTRAL ELECTORATE. SHE IS 1300 CLEAR. WELLINGTON CENTRAL AS THE OTHER ONE. THEY ARE LOOKING LIKE WINNERS, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THEM STANDING THERE. THEY ARE GETTING A BIT OF A SHOUT OUT TO SUPPORTERS, TO THANK THEM. LET'S HAVE A LESSON TO WHAT THE COLEADERS HAVE TO SAY. WOW, FAR OUT. KIA ORA, KIA ORA KOUTOU. KIA ORA KOUTOU KATOA! (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) NGA MIHI NUI. (SPEAKS TE REO MAORI) TENA KOUTOU. (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) WHANAU, WHANAU. IT IS THE GREATEST, GREATEST HONOUR OF MY LIFE TO LEAD THE GREEN PARTY WITH JAMES SHAW, AND TO WORK WITH YOU AND OUR COMMUNITIES FOR AN AOTEAROA THAT PROTECTS OUR MOKOPUNA AND OUR PLANET. I AM SO PROUD, I AM SO PROUD AND GRATEFUL TO EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU HERE AND AROUND AOTEAROA ` THE STRENGTH THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN US, WE HAVE CARRIED YOUR SPIRIT, YOUR ENERGY, YOUR PASSION, WITH US EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR INSPIRING MAHI. (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) HONESTLY. YOUR MAHI, WHETHER YOU VOTED FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME, WHETHER YOU KNOCKED ON DOORS OR PICKED UP THE PHONE, WHETHER YOU PUT UP BILLBOARDS OR DELIVERED LEAFLETS, DESIGNED CAMPAIGN ARTWORK OR FEED OUR VOLUNTEERS, OR SLAYED IN DEBATES... EVERY SINGLE ACTION WE BROUGHT OUR VALUES AND HEARTS TO BEAR. LET ME BE CLEAR ` E TE IWI ` YOUR WORK, YOUR WORK HAS DELIVERED A GREEN PARTY CAMPAIGN THAT IS ONCE AGAIN DEFINED HISTORY. (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) OH MY GOODNESS. OH MY GOODNESS. MASSIVE CONGRATULATIONS TO TAMATHA PAUL! BUT WAIT... WAIT, WAIT. I LOVE THIS BIT. EARLIER, EVEN JUST THIS EVENING, PEOPLE WERE CALLING WELLINGTON CENTRAL A LABOUR STRONGHOLD, BUT IT IS LOOKING MORE AND MORE LIKELY AS THE NOTE GOES ON THAT THE PEOPLE OF WELLINGTON CENTRAL HAVE ELECTED A GREEN MP. (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) THERE IS MORE ` WAIT. I HAVE NOT EVEN FINISHED. AND HOLY HECK, JULIANNE GENTER. WE WERE LISTENING TO THE GREEN COLEADERS. WE ARE NOW GOING JUST WATCH OVER AND HEAD TO TE PATI MAORI IN ROTORUA. WE LIVE WITH THE COLEADER. WHAT CAN YOU TELL US? WELCOME BACK TO ROTORUA, THE HEADQUARTERS OF TE PATI MAORI. THIS IS THE COLEADER OF TE PATI MAORI ` RAWIRI WAITITI. ARE YOU SURPRISED? LOOK, FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO MIHI TO OUR TEAM. WE HAVE RUN A STRONG GROUND CAMPAIGN. I AM REALLY PROUD OF OUR WORK. YOU CAN SEE THAT THE TIE IS TURNING. PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF THEIR VOTE. THE FIRST THING I WANT TO SAY THAT I AM REALLY PROUD OF THE EFFORTS THAT OUR PEOPLE HAVE PUT IN. I WANT TO MIHI TO CHARLES AND TONY. THEY PUT THEIR HANDS UP, THIS IS NOT AN EASY MAHI, TO REPRESENT THEIR PEOPLE. TE PATI MAORI HAS SEVEN MAORI SEATS. WHAT DOES THAT COME DOWN TO? THIS IS A BELIEF IN THEMSELVES, IT IS TIME FOR OUR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THE POWER OF THEIR VOICE AND THE POWER OF THEIR VOTE. WE ARE 20% OF THE POPULATION, 20% OF THE PEOPLE VOTED TE PATI MAORI, IF THERE WAS AN UNAPOLOGETIC VOICE IN PARLIAMENT, THAT WOULD HAPPEN EVERY TIME, AND SERVICES ARE AWAKENING TO MMP. GONE IS THE RHETORIC SO YOU MUST HAVE TWO BIG PARTIES, THAT IS PAST THE POST STUFF, THAT IS 1993 STUFF. PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO WAKE UP TO THE POWER OF MMP. THERE HAS BEEN A HUGE INFLUX OF MAORI VOTERS. NEW THING THAT WAS BECAUSE OF TE PATI MAORI STRATEGY ` GETTING PEOPLE OFF THE COUCH AND GETTING TO THE VOTING BOOTHS? LOOK AT HANA RAWHITI ` SHE WILL BE THE YOUNGEST EVER MP IN PARLIAMENT HALLS. SHE REPRESENTS 70% OF OUR PEOPLE WHO ARE UNDER 40, AND 50% OF THOSE ARE 25 AND YOUNGER. THIS IS THE STRATEGY, WE WANT OUR PEOPLE TO SEE THEMSELVES AND OUR MOVEMENT. THIS IS A MOVEMENT THAT LEAVES NO ONE BEHIND. TE PATI MAORI POTENTIALLY WILL HOLD FIVE OR SIX SEATS IN PARLIAMENT. ARE YOU STILL EXPECTING A CALL FROM CHRIS? AND LOOKS LIKE THE NUMBERS ARE FALLING NATIONAL AND ACTS WAY. REGARDLESS OF THAT, LIKE I SAID IN ONE OF THE DEBATES, WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE IN OPPOSITION, WE HAVE BEEN IN OPPOSITION SINCE 1840. THAT IS OUR UNAPOLOGETIC VOICE THAT IS IN PARLIAMENT ` AND UNBRIDLED TANGATA WHENUA. WE ARE NOT ANSWERING TO ANYONE ELSE. WE WELCOME THEM TO THE GATEWAY. RAWIRI WAITITI, COLEADER OF TE PATI MAORI. BACK TO YOU GUYS IN THE STUDIO. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE SHARE AN OFFICE AND IT IS NICE TO SEE YOU ON TV. WE ARE NOW SEEING CHRIS HIPKINS OUTSIDE HIS HOME THERE. WAITING FOR HIM IN THE CAR THAT IS SET TO TAKE HIM TO THE PARTY HEADQUARTERS, HAS SPACE THERE IN THE HUTT. IT'S GOING TO PACIFIC CORRESPOND AND BARBARA DREVER WHO WAS IN SOUTH AUCKLAND. WE ARE HERE AT THE WEST AUCKLAND LABOUR PARTY HEADQUARTERS. AND ARE STILL PRETTY UPBEAT HERE. A WINE BAR IS FLOWING BIG-TIME. CARMEL SEPULONI HAS JUST ARRIVED WITH PHIL TWYFORD. THERE IS NOT AS MUCH OF A BOUNCE IN HER STEP. ONE OF THE THINGS I ASKED HER PERSONALLY AND SAID WHAT HAS BEEN THE HIGHLIGHT OF BEING DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER, AND SHE SAID BEING THE FIRST PACIFIC ISLAND PERSON TO BE DEPUTY AND HISTORY, AND SOME OF THE OLD PEOPLE HAVE SAID TO HER, AND IS NOT JUST HEARD THAT HAS BEEN DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER, AND HAS BEEN ALL OF US. AND REALLY SPEAKS TO HER STRENGTH AND MANA WITHIN THE PACIFIC COMMUNITY. THANKS SO MUCH FOR THAT. WE WILL BRING YOU AND NOW, KRIS. WE ARE HEARING THE VIBES FROM THESE LABOUR OFFICES. YOU WERE NOT LONG AGO AND THEIR POSITION. WHAT DO YOU THINK WENT WRONG WITH THE STRATEGY? THE FINAL THREE OR FOUR MONTHS BEFORE THE CAMPAIGN WERE PRETTY AWFUL IN TERMS OF A LONG LINE OF ISSUES THAT CHRIS HIPKINS DIDN'T WANT TO DEAL WITH. THE FIRST FEW WEEKS OF THE CAMPAIGN WERE FLAT. WHY WAS THAT? I DON'T KNOW. THE ENERGY WASN'T THERE. FOR A PARTY THAT LOOKS LIKE IT WANTED TO RETAIN GOVERNMENT. AND IS ALWAYS HARD. I DON'T WANT TO USE RUGBY ANALOGIES, BUT WE ARE PLAYING CATCH UP. DO YOU AGREE THAT THAT? DO YOU AGREE THAT LABOUR HAS BEEN A BIT FLAT, THAT IT WAS REALLY KNEE CAPPED BY ITS MINISTERS? THEY WERE AT THE START OF THE CAMPAIGN. HE WAS PROBABLY TIRED. WE ARE SEEING REALLY INTERESTING RESULTS IN AUCKLAND. WE ARE GOING TO CUT NOW TO CHRIS HIPKINS WHO WAS MAKING IS WAY TO THE CAR. HE WON'T BE SAYING ANYTHING. YOU CAN SEE IT ON HIS FACE, CAN'T YOU? YOU WERE JUST TALKING THEN. THE REASON WE ARE TAKING THE SHOT, IS BECAUSE CHRIS HIPKINS IS GOING TO THE TOWN HALL TO ADDRESS THE PARTY FAITHFUL. WHEN LABOUR LOSES TO NATIONAL, JOHN KEY HAD THREE TIMES, MULDOON HAD THREE TERMS... LABOUR HAS TO REBUILD AND REBUILD FAST. WHAT WE KNOW FROM NATIONAL FROM BILL ENGLISH, IT IS NOT EASY. IT IS A HARD ASK. PUT YOURSELF IN CHRIS HIPKINS' SHOES. THE TEMPTATION FOR HIM PERSONALLY IS GOING TO BE VERY STRONG TO ADMIT DEFEAT, AND GET OUT THERE AND SAY I AM NO LONGER THE LEADER. GOOD LUCK, MY FRIENDS. IF HE IS DOING THE RIGHT THING BY HIS PARTY, HE SHOULD STICK AROUND A WHILE. THEY ARE GOING TO BE AN MASSIVELY REDUCED NUMBERS. THEY ARE GOING TO NEED TO WORK OUT WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE. THEY ARE IN VERY DIFFICULT TIMES. MASSIVE JOB ON THE NUMBERS. NATIONAL WINNING SEATS ` WE HAVE NEVER WON THEM IN MY LIFE ` MOUNT ROSKILL, MOUNT ALBERT, NEW LYNN. WHAT IS GOING WRONG WITH LABOUR? YOU COULD REALLY PACK IN HINDSIGHT TWO THINGS. THE SECOND AUCKLAND LOCKDOWN. THAT WAS A REALLY BIG PROBLEM FOR THEM. THEN THE SUCCESSION OF MINISTERS. MICHAEL WOOD HADN'T GOT THINGS RIGHT. NEITHER HAD KIRI ALLAN. VERY HARD FOR CHRIS HIPKINS TO SAY THE RIGHT THINGS, TO BE HEARD AND GET BACK IN THE GAME. DO YOU THINK THAT CHRIS HIPKINS WILL BE ABLE TO SUCK IT UP AND CARRY ON? SOME PEOPLE WOULD ARGUE THAT HE SUCKED IT UP TAKING THE JOB ON. IT IS TIME FOR A REBUILD. THE PARTY WILL NEED TO BE MATURE ABOUT IT. IN THE PAST, WE WEREN'T SO MATURE ABOUT IT. WE FELT THE WRATH OF THE PUBLIC. FOR THE STRENGTH OF THE PARTY, THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TWO DO OPPOSITION DIFFERENTLY. A BIG PART OF THAT IS HOW THEY START AND THE REBUILD. WHOEVER WANTS TO ANSWER, HOW DOES LABOUR AND THE GREENS WORKOUT? IF YOU LOOK AT AN ELECTORATE LIKE NEW LYNN, WHERE LABOUR ARE BEHIND AND THEY WOULDN'T HAVE PICKED THAT. STEVE ABEL WHO WAS THE GREENS CANDIDATE HAS GOT 2000 VOTES. THAT IS LESS THE NATIONAL'S MAJORITY. HOW DO LABOUR AND GREENS WORKOUT ACCOMMODATIONS? YOU TAKE MOUNT ALBERT. JACK HAS MADE THIS POINT, BUT IF LABOUR AND GREEN CANDIDATES WERE COMBINED, THEY WOULD STILL BE THERE. CHRIS HIPKINS HAS LEFT THE HOUSE BUT WHAT ABOUT CHRISTOPHER LUXON? THERE IS MOVEMENT OVER HERE. YOUR TIMING COULDN'T BE MORE PERFECT. THE BANDS ARE JUST MAKING INTO THE LUXONS' HOUSE. MAYBE 20 MINUTES AWAY... A LOT OF THE NEIGHBOURHOOD HAD STARTED TO COME OUT TO SUPPORT CHRISTOPHER LUXON. AS WE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE, THIS IS BECOMING UNCHARTED TERRITORY. I'M USUALLY IN BED BY 9 PM BECAUSE MY CANDIDATE HAS NOT ONE. THEY LET YOU STAY WHICH I THINK IS GOOD NEWS. THEY DIDN'T JUST LET ME STAY. SOMEBODY SENT US FOR PIZZAS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IT IS VERY APPRECIATED. THINGS ARE GREAT. JOHN CAMPBELL: I GUESS CHRISTOPHER LUXON WILL WANT TO SEE WHAT CHRIS HIPKINS SAYS. WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON THE OVERALL PARTY VOTE. THERE HAS BEEN A LITTLE BIT OF MOVEMENT. NATIONAL STILL COME TO BE A HIT WITH 40.5% OF THE PARTY VOTES COUNTED. I REALLY WANT TO SHOW YOU HOW THAT BREAKS DOWN IN THE HOUSE. YOU NEED A MAJORITY IN THE HOUSE IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO FORM A GOVERNMENT. AT THE MOMENT, NATIONAL AND ACT TOGETHER MAKE 63 SEATS, BUT KEEP IN MIND, TE PATI MAORI HAVE FIVE SEATS ON THE CURRENT COUNT. THAT WOULD MEAN WE WOULD HAVE A PARLIAMENT WITH 122 SEATS, SO NATIONAL AND ACT ONLY GET TO 62. WE COULD SAY WINSTON PETERS AND NEW ZEALAND FIRST SUPPORT NECESSARY AT LEAST UNTIL THE PORT WAIKATO BY-ELECTION. THIS IS HOW THE ELECTRICITY LOOKING AT THE MOMENT. THE GREENS LEAD AND THREE ELECTORATES. I HAVE BEEN GOING THROUGH MY SPREADSHEETS AND WORKING OUT EXACTLY WHICH MPS WILL BE OUT OF PARLIAMENT. LET'S LOOK AT SOME OF THE HIGH PROFILE LABOUR MPS ` TAMATI COFFEY, ANNA LORCK, MICHAEL WOOD, PHIL TWYFORD, NANAIA MAHUTA... LOOK AT NATIONAL AS WELL. HARETE HIPANGO, SIMON O'CONNOR, MICHAEL WOODHOUSE WAS STANDING AND AN ELECTORATE MP ONLY. THERE ARE NEW MPS FOR ACT AND THE GREENS. PERHAPS THE MOST HIGH PROFILE WILL BE EFESO COLLINS WHO RAN FOR MAYOR IN AUCKLAND. A COUPLE OF ITS CURRENT MPS MAY BE RANKED LOWER DOWN THE LIST, ACT MAY HAVE A FEW NEW ONES. LIKE A RASH. YOU NEED ANOTHER LINE. I AM GOING TO GET IT ON A MUG OR A T-SHIRT. THERE IS MY SECRET SANTA SORTED. LIAM HAHIR WAS HERE THREE YEARS AGO. YOU HAVEN'T BROUGHT AND PARTY POPPERS. YOU ARE BEING REMARKABLY RESTRAINED. IT IS A GOOD RESULT. BETTER THAN ANYONE EXPECTED. THE HARD WORK WILL START TOMORROW. CHRISTOPHER LUXON WILL NEVER FEEL AS HAPPY AS HE DOES TONIGHT, AND TOMORROW IS GOING TO BE ALL DOWNHILL AS HE ACTUALLY HAS TO NEGOTIATE WITH WINSTON OR PUT A GOVERNMENT TOGETHER. THEY HAVEN'T RUN ON A BIG IDEAS CAMPAIGN. RUN THE PUBLIC SECTOR BETTER ` THAT IS QUITE HARD TO DO. THREE IS FROM NOW, WHO KNOWS? TONIGHT, THEY WILL BE FEELING PRETTY GOOD. I THINK PEOPLE OFTEN UNDERESTIMATE CHRISTOPHER LUXON. THEY ONLY NEED TO LOOK AT THE TRACK RECORD THAT HE HAS HAD. IT IS THE SHORTEST SPACE OF TIME TO BECOME LEADER, AND THEN TO BECOME PRIME MINISTER, AND IF YOU LOOK AT HIS CAREER AS UNILEVER PRESIDENT, AS HEAD OF A NEW ZEALAND, HE IS USED TO RUNNING BIG TEAMS, WITH BIG AGENDAS. KEEP TALKING, BUT` THEY WILL NEED TO WORK WITH THIS MAN AND HIS POLITICAL PARTY, THIS IS DAVID SEYMOUR ARRIVING AT THE ACT HEADQUARTERS. IF WE LOOK AT THE VOTE, NATIONAL HAS 51 SEATS ` THEY NEED 61, IN FACT, THEY MIGHT NEED 62, GIVEN THE OVERHANG, AND ALITALIA WHAT, AKHTAR TURNING UP WITH 12. IT IS AS TIGHT AS A FISHES BUM. 51 AND 12 ADDS UP TO 63 ` NATIONAL AND ACT COULD DO IT. THEY ARE NOW SITTING AT NINE POINT TWO 3%, AND THEY ARE AHEAD AND A NATIONAL STRONGHOLD, TAMAKI. DAVID SEYMOUR IS ARRIVING. YOU CAN SEE IT ON HIS FACE THE WAY HE IS GOING IN. PERHAPS NOT THE LOFTY HEIGHTS THAT ACT HAD RIGHT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE CAMPAIGN, THEY HAVE COME BACK A LITTLE BIT FROM THAT, BUT ON THESE NUMBERS, THEY WOULD STILL BE BRINGING IN 12 MPS, WHICH IS A RISE. LET'S LISTEN TO DAVID SEYMOUR. WHO HAVE PUT THEIR TRUST AND ACT TONIGHT. THIS COUNTRY HAS VOTED FOR CHANGE, AND A RECORD NUMBER HAVE VOTED FOR REAL CHANGE. (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) YOU KNOW... I HAVE LONG SAID THAT GETTING ELECTED IS NOT AN ACHIEVEMENT, IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO GOOD, AND FOR ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO TEXT THE BOX AND LENT THEIR VOTE TO ACT, PUTTING THEIR TRUST IN US TO MAKE THIS COUNTRY MORE AFFORDABLE, TO MAKE IT SAFER, AND PERHAPS, MOST OF ALL, TO MAKE IT A MORE UNITED PLACE, WHERE EACH AND EVERY PERSON... (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) THANK YOU. WE WILL WORK TIRELESSLY AND WILL NOT CEASE FROM THE EFFORT REQUIRED TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS COUNTRY DELIVERS THE PROMISE THAT HAS MADE TO SO MANY PEOPLE ` THOSE WHO WERE BORN HERE, THOSE WHO WERE BORN FAR AWAY AND CHOSE TO BE HERE, THIS THOSE FROM NORTH, THOSE FROM SOUTH, MEN AND WOMEN, RICH AND POOR, WE ARE ALL NEW ZEALANDERS WHO SEEK ONE FIVE MILLIONTH OF THE OPPORTUNITY THAT THIS COUNTRY HAS TO OFFER. THAT IS WHAT ACT PROMISES, THE IDEA THAT WE ARE EACH A LIKE INDIGNITY, AND CAN CHOOSE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR OWN LIFE. IF THOSE ARE YOUR VALUES, WE ARE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU. (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) THERE ARE... THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE THAT I CANNOT THANK YOU ENOUGH. SO MANY PEOPLE WHOSE SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT HAS INSPIRED ME, ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO DELIVERED FLYERS IN THE RAIN, KNOCKED ON DOORS, CAME TO MY STREETCORNER MEETINGS ` ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAD SO MANY OTHER THINGS THEY COULD BE DOING, BUT THEY CHOSE TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR DEMOCRACY AND CONTRIBUTE TO REAL CHANGE. THOSE OTHER PEOPLE THAT MADE TONIGHT. (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) I WANT TO THANK MY NEIGHBOURS IN THE EPSOM ELECTORATE FOR SENDING ME TO PARLIAMENT FOR THE FOURTH TIME AS YOUR MP FOR ACT. AND I WANT TO CONGRATULATE MY NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOURS IN THE TAMAKI ELECTORATE FOR YOUR EXCELLENT CHOICE... THAT WAS DAVID SEYMOUR THERE, JUST TALKING ABOUT THEIR WIN IN TAMAKI. WE WILL NOW TURN TO NATIONAL, WE CAUGHT UP WITH FORMER PRIME MINISTER JOHN KEY. SO MANY SEATS FLIPPING BLUE, DID YOU EXPECT IT? A LITTLE BIT, OBVIOUSLY, TWENTY20 WAS A DISASTROUS RESULT, WE ALWAYS THOUGHT WE WOULD GET BACK SOME OF THOSE SEATS THAT WE REALLY SHOULD NOT HAVE LOST. WHAT I THINK HAS REALLY BEEN HAPPENING OUT THERE IS THAT NEW ZEALANDERS HAVE BEEN DOING IT'S TOUGH, IT IS BEEN WHAT CHRIS LUXON HAS BEEN SAYING. PEOPLE HAVE BEEN FRUSTRATED ABOUT LAW AND ORDER AND EDUCATION, IT IS NOT SURPRISING THAT GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY, NEW ZEALANDERS SAID WE NEED TO CHANGE, WE NEED TO GET BACK ON TRACK, AND THAT IS WHAT WE'RE SEEING TONIGHT. WE HAD THE AIR FROM SIR JOHN KEY, BUT BEFORE THAT, WE HAD FROM DAVID SEYMOUR. WHAT WAS YOUR TAKE ON WHAT THE ACT LEADER HAD TO SAY. THE ACT PARTY CAN RIGHTLY CELEBRATE, AND THEY CAN RIGHTLY FEEL GOOD ABOUT TONIGHT, LET'S TAKE A PROPER, BALANCED VIEW. ONE OF THE BIG STORIES OF THE SELECTION HAS BEEN THE DECLINE OF ACT FROM WHERE IT WAS A MONTH AGO, THREE MONTHS AGO... THEIR BEST EVER RESULTS, BUT THE ACT PARTY HAD SOME SERIOUS HUBRIS ABOUT THE FACT THEY COULD GET CLOSE TO 20. THEY PUT A LOT OF RESOURCES INTO GUNNING FOR TAMAKI, WHICH HAS PAID OFF, BUT HOW MUCH OF THAT HAS COME AT THE EXPENSE OF RUNNING A MUCH MORE NATIONALLY FOCUSED CAMPAIGN. DAVID SEYMOUR WILL FEEL AWESOME, BUT THE BIG STORY OF THE SELECTION REALLY HAS BEEN THE DECLINE OF ACT FROM WHERE IT WAS MONTHS AGO, AND THE DEFECTION OF A LOT OF ACT VOTERS TO NEW ZEALAND FIRST. IF THAT HAD NOT HAPPENED, WE WOULD NOT HAVE WINSTON PETERS POSSIBLY BEING THE BROADCASTING MINISTER GOING FORWARD, BUT IT DID. YOU ARE SAYING THAT TO TAUNT US. THAT WAS A LOW BLOW. I WONDER IF THEY TRIPPED THEMSELVES. THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN A TRIGGER POINT FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE TO SAY, NO, I DO NOT WANT THAT, I WANT TO CHOOSE A TEAM THAT COULD FORM A STRONG AND STABLE GOVERNMENT. IT IS INTERESTING, I DID THAT INTERVIEW WITH HIM, AND HE WAS VERY PRECISE IN THE LANGUAGE ` HE SAID IT WAS TAKEN OUT OF CONTEXT. THAT VERY FIRST INITIAL INTERVIEW, I SPOKE TO HIM CLEARLY, AND HE ABSOLUTELY SAID THAT THEY WERE CONSIDERING GOING ISSUE BY ISSUE ` THAT CONFIDENCE AND SUPPLY ISSUE THAT WE HAVE SEEN. REALLY INTERESTING. WE ARE GOING TO GO NOW TO CHRIS HIPKINS. WE ARE GOING TO LABOUR'S HEADQUARTERS, AND CHRIS HIPKINS IS ARRIVING. WE'RE JUST GOING TO SEE ` THEY DO NOT TEND TO SPEAK MUCH ON THE WAY AND, PARTICULARLY WHEN THEY HAVE HAD A BAD NIGHT, AND HE WILL BE WANTING TO ADDRESS THE PARTY FAITHFUL FIRST. HE HAS JUST DRIVEN FROM HIS HOME IN UPPER HUTT TO LOWER HUTT. THERE IS BENEDICT COLLINS. I JUST WANT TO TALK TO THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE PUT SO MUCH TIME AND ENERGY AND EFFORT INTO THIS CAMPAIGN. AND THEN I WILL TALK TO YOU GUYS AFTERWARDS. HOW DISAPPOINTING IS THIS FOR LABOUR? AND MUST HAVE BEEN HARD TO WATCH THOSE RESULTS COME IN? AS I HAVE INDICATED, I WILL TALK TO THE PEOPLE INSIDE FIRST. THE MOMENTUM YOU ARE HOPING TO GET NEVER ARRIVED. WHY DO YOU THINK IT DID NOT COME? WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE TO THOSE OUT THERE, WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE TO THOSE AT HOME? CHRIS HIPKINS IS NOT REPLYING. AS SOMEONE WHO HAS LOOKED AT AND STOOD AND LISTENED TO THE PRIME MINISTER A LOT OVER THE LAST NINE OR 10 MONTHS, YOU CAN JUST SEE IN HIS BODY LANGUAGE HOW FLAT HE IS FEELING HE IS PUTTING ON A BRAVE FACE. HE IS BUGGERED. HE HAS HAD ENOUGH. NATIONAL WERE HOLDING JUST UNDER 42, THEY ARE NOW 40 POINT TWO. LABOUR WERE AT ABOUT 25, THAN A 26 POINT TWO. AS THE TEN-DAY VOTES CAME IN, AS OPPOSED TO THE EARLY VOTES, AND THEN THE SPECIALS, THE GAP BETWEEN THEM WOULD CLOSE. YOU SAID TO ME SOME MINUTES AGO, I WAS SAYING THAT THE NATIONAL AND ACT VOTE MIGHT BE A KNIFE COMBINED, AND YOU SAID THEY ARE GOING TO NEED NEW ZEALAND FIRST. THEY WILL NEED THEM IN SOME CAPACITY, WHATEVER THE ARRANGEMENT IS, BECAUSE YOU WANT TO HAVE A BUFFER IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE THROUGH YOUR AGENDA. IT WILL BE A FIERY GOVERNMENT WITH MORE GREEN MEMBERS AND GREATER PARTICIPATION BY TE PATI MAORI. YOU ARE GOING TO WANT TO HAVE A BUFFER TO ALLOW YOU TO FEEL SAFE. THAT IS WHY JOHN KEY WORKED WITH TE PATI MAORI. THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH HAVING A SAFETY NET. CERTAINLY, NEW ZEALAND FIRST BRINGS EXPERIENCE. THERE ARE VERY FEW MEMBERS GOING ON TO BECOME MINISTERS WHO HAVE THAT MINISTERIAL EXPERIENCE OF BEING ABLE TO DRIVE AN AGENDA THROUGH THE PUBLIC SERVICE. I THINK WHAT HAS HAPPENED WITH LABOUR IS THAT QUITE OFTEN, SOME OF THE OTHER MINISTERS HAVE ISSUED PRESS STATEMENTS AND THOUGHT, IT IS A DONE DEAL. THE PUBLIC SERVICE THROUGH INERTIA OR LACK OF SPEED DOES NOT GET THINGS DONE. YOU NEED SENIOR MINISTERS WHO HAVE BEEN THROUGH THAT BEFORE. WINSTON PETERS IS A SENIOR MINISTER, POTENTIALLY. OR SHANE JONES. THIS IS INTERESTING. JACK, AT THE MOMENT, WE HAVE AN OVERHANG, WE'RE LOOK AT 122. LOOK AT THAT KEY NUMBER, WHICH IS NATIONAL PARTY VOTE. 40 POINT 2%. THAT HAS SLOWLY GONE DOWN ` ONLY BY LITTLE MARGINS. WE ARE AT 70% PARTY VOTE ` KEEP IN MIND HOW THE SPECIAL VOTES MAY CHANGE, AND TWENTY20, THERE WERE HALF A MILLION SPECIAL VOTES, AND THOSE TAKE A COUPLE OF WEEKS TO ADD UP. WE WOULD EXPECT THE SPECIAL VOTES TO FAVOUR LABOUR AND THE GREEN, OR TO FAVOUR THE LEFT BLOC. IT IS NOT INCONCEIVABLE THAT NATIONAL WOULD MAYBE SLIP UNDER 40% ON THE CURRENT TREND, AND IF THAT IS A CASE, THAT I THINK YOU ARE EXACTLY RIGHT. WE COULD SEE NATIONAL REQUIRING THE SUPPORT OF WINSTON PETERS ` MAYBE NOT TO GIVE THEM A MAJORITY, BUT TO GIVE THEM A MORE COMFORTABLE MAJORITY. I ALSO WONDER WHETHER THE SPECIAL VOTES THIS TIME MAY BE DIFFERENT. THERE ARE A LOT OF OFFSHORE NEW ZEALANDERS WHO ARE STILL ANGRY ABOUT FEELING THEY WERE LOCKED OUT OF THEIR OWN COUNTRY. THAT IS A REALLY GOOD POINT. THERE IS GOOD REASON TO THINK THAT PERHAPS THE SPECIAL VOTES WILL NOT FAVOUR THE LEFT BLOC AS MUCH AS THEY HAVE IN THE PAST. IT IS TIME FOR A QUICK BREAK, CHRISTOPHER LUXON SHOULD BE LEAVING HOME SOON. WE WILL SEE YOU IN A MOMENT. WELCOME BACK. WE WANT TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON AN ELECTORATE/ LABOUR'S HELEN WHITE IS JUST ONE VOTE AHEAD OF MELISSA LEE. LABOUR AND THE GREENS BETWEEN THEM HAVE 13 1/2 THOUSAND VOTES. RICARDO MENENDEZ MARCH ON 5000 VOTES. THIS IS HOW THE PARTY VOTES ARE SHAKING DOWN. THIS IS THE LOWEST NATIONAL HAS BEEN ALL NIGHT. AND IS, OF COURSE, MUCH, MUCH HIGHER THAN MANY PEOPLE WERE EXPECTING THIS EVENING BUT WE HAVE SEEN NATIONAL GO DOWN A FEW PERCENTAGE POINTS OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF HOURS. NOW AT 40%. DON'T BE SURPRISED IF THAT SLIPS BELOW 40% AS THOSE VOTES CONTINUE TO TRICKLE IN. LABOUR HAS GONE UP A LITTLE BIT. HOW DOES IT SHAKE DOWN IN THE HOUSE? DON'T FORGET ` YOU NEED TO HAVE A MAJORITY IN THE HOUSE AND ORDERED TO BE ABLE TO FORM A GOVERNMENT. THIS IS HOW THE SCENES ARE SHAPING UP ` BETWEEN THEM, NATIONAL AND ACT WOULD HAVE 63 SEATS. LABOUR, THE GREENS AND TE PATI MAORI WOULD HAVE 50 SEATS. THIS WOULD ANTICIPATE A OVERHANG. TE PATI MAORI IS BRINGING FOUR MPS IN. TE PATI MAORI WOULD LEAD TO AN OVERHANG IN PARLIAMENT. YOU WOULD NEED 62 SEATS TO MAKE A MAJORITY. THEY WOULDN'T NEED THE SUPPORT OF NEW ZEALAND FIRST AT THIS STAGE. AGAIN, IF THESE NUMBERS WERE TO CHANGE A LITTLE BIT, THEY MAY NEED TO CALL ON WINSTON PETERS. THAT CHANGE IN TE PATI MAORI AS IN THE ELECTORATE OF HAURAKI-WAIKATO. DARE I SAY, GUYS, PERHAPS WE MAY HAVE CALLED NANAIA MAHUTA'S CAREER TOO EARLY? IT IS A VERY CLOSE RACE. ARE REALLY INTERESTING ONE TO KEEP AN EYE ON. ANOTHER INTERESTING SEAT TO KEEP AN EYE ON` WE WILL GO TO NICOLE FIRST TO HAVE A CHAT WITH NANAIA. KIA ORA. YOU HAVE JUST SPOKEN TO YOUR PEOPLE. TELL ME, WHAT DID YOU SAY? I THANKED THE TREMENDOUS NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS OF THE LABOUR PARTY AND OUR TEAMS OUT THERE. THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING HARD TO GET PEOPLE OUT VOTING. WE KNOW THAT EVERY VOTE COUNTS. IT IS NOT OVER YET. YOU ARE THE MOTHER OF THE HOUSE. LONGEST SERVING CONTINUOUS FEMALE MP. HOW ARE YOU FEELING ABOUT WHAT HAS UNFOLDED TONIGHT? CAN I SAY FIRST OF ALL, IT HAS BEEN AN ABSOLUTE PRIVILEGE TO SERVE HAURAKI-WAIKATO UNDER THE LABOUR BANNER. WHAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ACHIEVE HAS BEEN ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE, IS SPECIALLY FOR MAORI. IT IS GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE. IT IS NOT OVER YET. I KNOW THAT RIGHT TILL THE END OF CLOSING OF POLLS, OUR TEAM HAS BEEN WORKING HARD. YOU HAVE HAD MANY ROLLS. YOU APPOINTED COMMISSIONERS ` WHAT DO YOU SEE AS HIGHLIGHTS? THERE HAS BEEN SO MUCH THAT I HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO BE ABLE TO STEWARD THROUGH ` MAORI REWARDS. WE WILL HAVE TO GO TO CHRIS HIPKINS SPEAKING. CROWD CHANTS: LABOUR! LABOUR! ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. (SPEAKS TE REO MAORI) THANK YOU, EVERYONE, SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT, AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU HAVE DONE OVER THE LAST SIX WEEKS. WE HAVE RUN THE BIGGEST GROUND CAMPAIGN, KNOCKING ON DOORS AND CALLING PEOPLE ON PHONES THAT WE HAVE EVER RUN. FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART, THANK YOU SO MUCH. (CROWD APPLAUDS) UNFORTUNATELY, THE RESULTS TONIGHT SHOW THAT THAT WASN'T ENOUGH. EARLIER THIS EVENING, I CALLED CHRISTOPHER LUXON TO CONGRATULATE HIM ON NATIONAL'S RESULTS. WHILE IT IS MMP AND THE NUMBERS ARE LIKELY TO MOVE AROUND BEFORE THE FINAL COUNT, AS IT STANDS, LABOUR IS NOT IN A POSITION TO FORM A GOVERNMENT. THE RESULT TONIGHT IS NOT ONE THAT ANY OF US WANTED. I WANT YOU TO BE PROUD OF WHAT WE ACHIEVED OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS. DESPITE GOVERNING THROUGH SOME OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES OUR COUNTRY HAS EVER FACED, WE KEPT NEW ZEALAND MOVING FORWARD, AND WE PROTECTED THOSE WHO NEEDED HELP THE MOST. (APPLAUSE) WE RAISED 77,000 KIDS OUT OF POVERTY, DESPITE AN ECONOMIC DOWNTURN. WE REDUCED OUR REMISSIONS THREE YEARS IN A ROW, FINALLY BENDING THE CURVE ON CLIMATE CHANGE. WE BUILT 13,000 NEW PUBLIC HOMES, MORE THAN ANY GOVERNMENT SINCE THE 1950S. WE KEPT KIWIS IN WORK WITH UNEMPLOYMENT BELOW 4% FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS, AND WE MOVED RECORD NUMBERS OF PEOPLE INTO WORK. ONE THAT IS VERY NEAR AND DEAR TO ME ` WE INTRODUCE THE FOOD AND SCHOOLS PROGRAM, TO MAKE SURE KIDS HAD A FULL STOMACH. WE HAVE REBUILT AND INCREASED POLICE NUMBERS, WE INCREASE THE NUMBERS OF TEACHERS, NURSES AND DOCTORS, AND WE INCREASED THEIR PAY AS WELL. WE SOUGHT TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER TO UNITE, NOT DIVIDE. WE MOVED TOWARDS BETTER HONOURING OF THE TREATY, AND I AM INCREDIBLY PROUD OF THAT. IT HASN'T BEEN EASY. I HONESTLY THINK THE GODS RAN OUT OF CURVEBALLS TO THROW AT US. TERRORIST ATTACKS, VOLCANOES, CYCLONES AND FLOODS, AND OF COURSE THE COVID-19 GLOBAL PANDEMIC AND THE COST OF LIVING CRISIS THAT FOLLOWED. DESPITE THESE HUGE FORCES AGAINST US, THROUGH IT ALL, WE MADE A DIFFERENCE. WE SAVES LIVES AND RECORDED THE LOWEST NUMBER OF COVID DEATHS IN THE DEVELOPED WORLD. NOW, THAT IS A REAL OUTCOME. WE KEPT KIWIS IN WORK WHILE UNEMPLOYMENT SPIKED AROUND THE WORLD, AND WE GREW OUR ECONOMY FASTER THAN MOST. WE LIVED OUR VALUES, AND I BELIEVE NEW ZEALAND IS A BETTER PLACE FOR THAT. I WANT YOU TO STAY PROUD OF THAT. WE PUT PEOPLE FIRST. WE CARED. WE REFUSED TO LEAVE PEOPLE BEHIND, BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT WE DO. IT IS WHAT THE LABOUR PARTY DOES. MY FRIEND AND FORMER PRIME MINISTER, THE LATE MIKE MOORE, THAT THE HIGHEST HONOUR A DEMOCRACY CAN AFFORD A CITIZEN IN A FREE NATION IS TO BE ELECTED A MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT. TO THOSE THAT HAVE SERVED BUT ARE NOT RETURNING TO PARLIAMENT, PARTICULARLY TO MY LABOUR PARTY COLLEAGUES, THANK YOU TO THE SERVICE YOU HAVE OFFERED TO THE PEOPLE OF NEW ZEALAND. I KNOW YOU GAVE IT YOUR ALL, AND YOU DESERVED A BETTER OUTCOME THAN THIS ONE/. AL AND YOU DESERVED A BETTER OUTCOME THAN THIS 1 TO 1 OF THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN ELECTED TONIGHT, I OFFER YOU MY WARMEST CONGRATULATIONS. TO THE PEOPLE OF THE REMUTAKA ELECTORATE, I OFFER MY SINCERE THANK YOUS. YOU HAVE CONSISTENTLY PLACED YOUR TRUST IN ME, AND IT CONTINUES TO BE AN HONOUR TO REPRESENT YOU. THANK YOU FOR WAVING THE FLAG, EVEN THOUGH YOUR CANDIDATE WAS SELDOM THERE IN THIS ELECTION. BECOMING PRIME MINISTER EARLIER THIS YEAR WAS THE HONOUR OF MY LIFE. FOLLOWING ON FROM MY GOOD FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE, JACINDA, IT WASN'T GOING TO BE AN EASY TASK. I DID KNOW WHEN I TOOK ON THIS JOB, IT WAS GOING TO BE AN UPHILL BATTLE. NO GOVERNMENT HAS REPLACED A PRIME MINISTER IN AN ELECTION YEAR AND CARRIED ON TO WIN. WE HAD THE ADDED CHALLENGES OF FLOODING, A CYCLONE AND COST OF LIVING CRISIS TO CONTENT WITH. I AM PROUD OF THE PROGRESSIVE PLATFORM WE PUT FORWARD IN THIS CAMPAIGN, ONE THAT SUPPORTS EVERYONE, NOT JUST THE WELL OFF. I GAVE IT MY ALL TO TURN THE TIDE OF HISTORY, BUT ALAS, IT WAS NOT ENOUGH. IN THE COMING DAYS, WE WILL ENSURE THAT THERE IS A SMOOTH TRANSITION TO GOVERNMENT. UNTIL THAT NEW ADMINISTRATION IS SWORN IN, THE CURRENT GOVERNMENT WILL OPERATE IN A CARETAKER MODE, AND THE DAY-TO-DAY ORDER OF GOVERNMENT WILL CONTINUE. THE LABOUR PARTY WILL TAKE SOME TIME TO REFLECT AND REFRESH. WE HAVE AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN OPPOSITION TO HOLD THE GOVERNMENT ON WE HAVE AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN OPPOSITION TO HOLD THE GOVERNMENT TO ACCOUNT. I CAN PROMISE THAT WE WILL KEEP FIGHTING FOR WORKING PEOPLE BECAUSE THAT IS NO HISTORY, AND OUR FUTURE. (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) WHEN THE TIDE COMES IN BIG, IT ALMOST INVARIABLY GOES OUT BIG AS WELL. THAT IS THE NATURE OF POLITICS. THE LABOUR PARTY IS STILL HERE. WE ARE NOT GOING ANYWHERE. WE WILL GET UP AGAIN LIKE WE HAVE MANY TIMES BEFORE. (CROWD ROARS) (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) THANK YOU. THANK YOU NEW ZEALAND FOR THE HONOUR AND THE OPPORTUNITY THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN US TO SERVE AND MOVE NEW ZEALAND FORWARD, AND FINALLY, SOME SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL OF YOU, OUR LABOUR TEAM, OUR LABOUR WHANAU, OUR VOLUNTEERS AND SUPPORTERS UP AND DOWN NEW ZEALAND, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE. TO JILL DAY AND THE TEAM AT LABOUR PARTY HQ, THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE SUPPORT THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN ME AND ALL OF OUR MPS AND CANDIDATES DURING THIS CAMPAIGN. FINALLY, TO MY FAMILY, FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR ME. (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) TEARFULLY: TO MY MUM AND DAD, FOR ALL OF THE LOVE YOU HAVE GIVEN ME, AND ALL OF THE GAPS YOU HAVE PLUGGED OVER THE LAST NINE MONTHS, I REALLY WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO YOU. THERE IS SOMEONE ELSE SPECIAL I WANT TO THANK TONIGHT, SOMEONE THAT MOST OF YOU WILL NOT KNOW, AND THAT IS MY PARTNER, TONI. BEING PRIME MINISTER IS NOT THE ONLY SPECIAL THING THAT HAS HAPPENED FOR ME THE CO, AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH ME EVERY STEP OF THE WAY OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS AS WE HAVE GONE THROUGH THIS CAMPAIGN. (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) AND FINALLY TO MY KIDS, WHO HAVE SACRIFICED MORE THAN ANYONE WILL KNOW ` THEY ARE GOING TO BE HAPPY THAT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO GET TO SPEND A BIT MORE TIME WITH THEIR DAD NOW. (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) KIA KAHA, EVERYBODY. THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN FOR THE ENORMOUS PRIVILEGE OF SERVING AS YOUR PRIME MINISTER. THANK YOU TO OUR LABOUR TEAM FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU HAVE DONE. WE HAVE A NEW JOB AHEAD NOW ` TO REGROUP AND TO REBUILD AND TO COME BACK FIGHTING STRONGER THAN EVER. THANKS VERY MUCH. (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) CHRIS HIPKINS, THE OUTGOING PRIME MINISTER. THAT WAS AN EXTRAORDINARY SPEECH, REVEALING ON MANY LEVELS. LABOUR'S TALLY WENT UP FROM 33 TO 34 SEATS. HE IS EXHAUSTED. DAVID CUNLIFFE, YOU HAVE HAD THE EXPERIENCE OF MAKING ONE OF THOSE SPEECHES, HOW BLOODY AWFUL IS IT? I HAVE TO SAY, I THOUGHT THAT WAS AN EXTRAORDINARILY DIGNIFIED SPEECH, AND A WELL CRAFTED SPEECH. HE WAS SPEAKING FROM THE HEART. HE WAS ALSO LAYING DOWN A STRONG NARRATIVE FOR THE EVENTS OF THE LAST YEAR, AND SETTING A CHALLENGE FOR LABOUR TO REBUILD AND REFRESH GOING FORWARD. I THINK IT IS THE SORT OF SPEECH THAT HE NEEDED TO GIVE. PEOPLE WELL NEED TO THINK CAREFULLY ABOUT ALL OF THE FACTORS IN THIS LOSS ` IT IS A BIG LOSS FOR LABOUR. THERE WILL BE A LOT OF PEOPLE HURTING, AND AS I SAID, I WANT TO MIHI TO ALL OF THE ACTIVISTS THAT HAVE WORKED SO HARD IT IS PARTLY COVID-19 ` THE PARTY WAS GRUMPY AND TIRED AND READY FOR CHANGE, AND ANY INCUMBENT WOULD HAVE HAD A HARD TIME. WE HAVE HAD SOME ISSUES WITH PERSONNEL AND MINISTERS, THAT IS TRUE, AND OTHER COMMENTATORS HAVE POINTED THAT OUT. THERE IS A STRATEGIC ISSUE HERE THAT LABOUR WILL NEED TO REFLECT ON, WHICH IS THAT IT CHASED THE CENTRE VOTE ABOVE ALL AROUND COST OF LIVING AND IT WAS NOT ENOUGH. WHAT WE SAW WAS THE RISE OF A VOTE SHIFT TO ITS LEFT, AND NOW WE HAVE GREEN MPS AND SEATS THAT ARE LONG-STANDING LABOUR STRONGHOLDS, AND WE HAVE MAORI PARTY MPS AND SEATS THAT ARE LABOUR STRONGHOLDS, AND LABOUR IS GOING TO HAVE TO THINK ABOUT INTERNAL REFRESHMENT AND IDEA REFRESHMENT, BUT ABOUT A NEW WAY FOR THE LEFT TO WORK TOGETHER IN OPPOSITION, AND THAT HAS YET TO BE DEFINED. THAT WAS AN INCREDIBLE MOMENT, WHEN HE SPOKE ABOUT HIM HIS PARENTS AND HAS CHILDREN, AND THE SACRIFICE YOU HAVE TO MAKE AS A LEADER. HAS CHILDREN HAVE MADE THE BIGGEST SACRIFICE, THEY HAVE NOT SEEN HIM. IS THAT GINNY ANDERSEN? SHE HAS LOST HUTT SOUTH. I THINK LABOUR HAS DONE SO BADLY IN ELECTORATES THAT SHE MAY BE IN ON THE LIST. HOW HAS HE GONE? SHE IS ON ON THE LIST. GINNY ANDERSEN, THE POLICE MINISTER. HOW HAS HE GONE? I THINK YOU MADE A STRATEGIC ERROR AT THE START OF HIS PRIME MINISTERSHIP, WHERE HE DECIDED THAT HIS STRONGEST ACT WOULD BE TO RULE OUT THINGS THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS DOING, AND SO FOR THE FOLLOWING NINE MONTHS, PEOPLE KNEW WHAT THEY WANT LABOUR WAS NOT GOING TO DO, BUT CHRIS HIPKINS NEVER REALLY SOLD NEW ZEALAND ON WHAT THEY WOULD DO. THAT IS THE POINT THAT DAVID WAS MAKING BEFORE, AND AWAY, WE SEE THE RISE OF THE GREEN PARTY'S IS ONE OF THE SUB- STORY TONIGHT. WATCH THE GREEN PARTY STAND FOR, WEALTH TAX, CLIMATE... DID THEY DO A BETTER JOB OF CLARIFYING POLICIES THAN LABOUR HAS DONE. LET'S ALLOW FOR THE FACT THAT WHEN LABOUR IS DOWN, THE GREEN BOAT TENDS TO COME UP, BECAUSE SOME LEFT VOTERS DECIDE TO REALLOCATE THE PARTY VOTES. I THINK IT IS FAIR TO SAY, IT DOES NOT GIVE ME ANY PLEASURE, BUT I THINK THE GREENS HAVE BEEN VERY CLEAR ABOUT THEIR VALUES, AND VERY CLEAR ABOUT THE LINK BETWEEN THEIR VALUES AND THE BIG POLICIES THAT THEY WILL DELIVER ON. I THINK THE QUESTION HAS TO BE ASKED ABOUT WHETHER LABOUR HAS BEEN EQUALLY CLEAR ABOUT THAT STUFF. WHAT POLICIES ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? THIS AS A PERSONAL, AND IT IS NOT DATA DRIVEN, BUT I PERSONALLY, FROM THE PEOPLE I HAVE TALKED TO, FOUND THAT THE TAX RETHINK WAS A NEGATIVE FOR LABOUR. A LOT OF ACTIVISTS EITHER STAYED AT HOME OR MOVED FURTHER LEFT. YOU ARE TALKING THERE ABOUT RULING OUT A CAPITAL GAINS TAX. DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT? ALL OF THE POLLING FROM LAST YEAR INDICATES THAT A MAJORITY OF NEW ZEALANDERS ACTUALLY SUPPORTED A CAPITAL GAINS TAX. WHAT CAUSES POLITICIANS LIKE CHRIS HIPKINS TO BE HESITANT IS THAT THE MEDIAN VOTER THAT THOSE TWO PARTIES, LABOUR AND NATIONAL ARE COMPETING OVER, DO NOT NECESSARILY WANT TO CAPITAL GAINS TAX. IS A CHOICE BETWEEN AM I CHASING THAT MEDIAN VOTER, OR AM I TRYING TO STRENGTHEN MY LEFT FLANK, OR EVEN INDEED THOSE PEOPLE WHO THINK THAT A CAPITAL GAINS TAX IS THE WAY TO GO, I AM A BROKEN RECORD ON THIS. EVERYONE ON THE LEFT IS A BROKEN RECORD ` EVERY POLL INDICATES THAT NEW ZEALANDERS SUPPORT A CAPITAL GAINS TAX. IF EVERYONE ON THE LEFT IS A BROKEN RECORD, WHY WAS LABOUR NOT LISTENING THE POLLSTERS WERE POLLING A SMALL GROUP WHO HAVE VOTED FOR JOHN K, ROBERT MULDOON... THE QUESTION IS, HOW BIG WAS THAT SEGMENT, AND HOW MANY OF THOSE WERE MOVING, RELATIVE TO THE PRESS THAT WAS PAID FOR LOSING VOTE STRENGTH TO THE LEFT? I DO NOT THINK IT PAID OFF, AND I THINK THAT PART OF WHAT LABOUR WILL NEED TO DO IN OPPOSITION IS TO REFRESH ITS POLICY PLATFORM. THERE IS ANOTHER RELATED THING I WOULD CALL DELIVERY, AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT NATIONAL MADE QUITE A BIT OF FOLLOW-THROUGH ON IN THE CAMPAIGN. I DO NOT THINK THAT LABOUR QUITE GOT THE PUBLIC SERVICE TO DELIVER. THAT IS NOT NECESSARILY ALL OF THE POLITICIANS FAULT, THE TECHNOLOGY OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE IS PROBABLY A BIT 19TH-CENTURY, BUT YOU HAVE TO BE REALLY CLEAR ABOUT YOUR PRIORITIES, AND YOU HAVE TO MEASURE PROGRESS PRETTY HARD TO GET IT ALONG THE LINE THAT CENTRISM THAT CHRIS HIPKINS WAS CHASING VERY STARKLY IN THAT FIRST DATE, WE OUT THAT DISTANCE BETWEEN CHRIS HIPKINS AND CHRISTOPHER LUXON THERE WAS NO DAYLIGHT BETWEEN THEM. THE QUESTIONS POSED TO THEM BOTH, THEY LARGELY AGREED ON ALMOST ALL OF IT. I AGREE WITH DAVID ON THE FACT THAT THE POLLSTERS WERE TELLING THEM TO CHASE THAT MEDIAN VOTE, BUT THE PHONE WAS OFF THE HOOK. WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT LABOUR, CHRIS HIPKINS IS THE OUTGOING PRIME MINISTER, AND THIS IS THE INCOMING PRIME MINISTER. WE ARE NOT QUITE SURE WHAT CONFIGURATION WE ARE LOOKING AT, BECAUSE AT THE MOMENT, NATIONAL HAVE SLIPPED BACK IN ONE SEATS 250, ACT HAVE 12 WHICH IS 62, AND IF THERE IS AN OVERHANG, THAT MAY ONLY JUST BE ENOUGH. THEY MAY HAVE TO TALK TO NEW ZEALAND FIRST. LEAVING HIS HOME AS THE NEXT PREMISE OF NEW ZEALAND. A BIG THUMBS UP OUT THAN WINDOW. CORRECTION: PRIME MINISTER STAY TUNED. WE WILL BE BACK RIGHT AFTER THIS SHORT BREAK. LET'S BRING IN TE ANIWA. WHAT CAN YOU TELL US? YOU HAVE JUST MISSED IT, BUT TE PATI MAORI CO-LEADER DEBBIE NGAREWA-PACKER HAS GIVEN A VICTORY SPEECH. THE HAURAKI-WAIKATO SEAT IS THE STORY OF THE ELECTION IN THE MAORI SEATS. NANAIA MAHUTA WILL BE OUT OF PARLIAMENT AND WE WILL BE WELCOMING IN OUR YOUNGEST MP. TE TAI TONGA ` ANOTHER BIG SEAT. TAKUTA FERRIS IS AHEAD OF RINO TIRIKATENE. TE PATI MAORI HAVE HEADED OUT OF THE PARK. I HAVE BEEN WITH THESE CANDIDATES. THEY HAVE WORKED INCREDIBLY HARD TO GET THEIR NAMES OUT THERE, TO CONVINCE VOTERS TO VOTE FOR THEM. THIS HAS BEEN AN INCREDIBLE NIGHT, AND IT HAS BEEN SURPRISING. IT HAS BEEN MIND BLOWING. WOW IS A GOOD WAY TO DESCRIBE IT. POLITICS IS BRUTAL. HE WAS PRIME MINISTER. HE WILL NOT BE PRIME MINISTER. WE ARE JOINED BY CHRIS HIPKINS. CAN YOU HEAR ME? WE'RE GETTING AN EAR PIECE? CHRIS, CAN YOU HEAR ME? HE CAN'T HEAR YOU. YOU KNOW WHAT TO ASK HIM, BENEDICT. 65 SEATS IN 2020 TO 35 SEATS TONIGHT. YOU ARE PLUMMETING NOW. YOU ARE JUST OVER 30 SEATS. WHAT HAS GONE WRONG? AND HAS BEEN A REALLY CHALLENGING THREE YEARS, THIS IS NOT THE RESULT ANY OF US WERE LOOKING FOR. WHAT DO YOU PUT IT DOWN TO? DO YOU PUT A DOWN TO COVID OR WHAT YOU HAVE SEEN FROM YOUR MINISTERS? IT IS A WHOLE COMBINATION OF THINGS. WE HAVE FACED THE PERFECT STORM OF THINGS WITH THE COST OF LIVING CRISIS, GLOBAL PANDEMIC... THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF THINGS WE HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH. IN THE LAST FEW DAYS, I HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING YOU ON THE CAMPAIGN. YOU FELT LIKE YOU WENT UP IN THE POLLS. THEY DIDN'T SEEM TO ARRIVE. THERE WAS A BIT OF MOMENTUM TOWARDS THE END OF THE CAMPAIGN, BUT CLEARLY NOT ENOUGH AND LATE IN THE PIECE. FOR YOU NOW LOOKING AHEAD... YOU WILL REMAIN LEADER OF THE LABOUR PARTY AS YOU HAVE A REFRESH? WE NEED AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE STOCK AND TO TAKE A BREATH AND REFLECT AND TO DO SOME REFRESHING. I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO RUSH DECISIONS IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS. WE ALSO NEED TO SUPPORT A SMOOTH TRANSITION TO A NEW GOVERNMENT. WE WILL DO THAT AS WELL. PARTICULARLY IN THE MAORI SEATS, TE PATI MAORI HAVE GONE VERY WELL. THAT IS CLEARLY A BIG BLOW TO LABOUR. THAT IS CLEARLY NOT THE RESULT WE WANTED. WE WILL TAKE SOME TIME TO TAKE STOCK AND REFLECT ON THAT AS WELL. YOU STARTED THIS YEAR AND NOT TOO BAD A SHAPE. IT IS QUITE INCREDIBLE HOW MUCH SUPPORT YOU HAVE LOST OVER THIS YEAR. IT HAS BEEN A REALLY CHALLENGING YEAR. WE WERE CLEARLY SWIMMING AGAINST THE MOOD FOR CHANGE, ESPECIALLY IN THE SECOND PART OF THE YEAR, AND CLEARLY IT WAS VERY STRONG. BACK TO YOU IN THE STUDIO. THANK YOU, BENEDICT. A BRUTAL BUSINESS POLITICS. YOU HAVE EXPERIENCE THAT. HOW SICK DO YOU FEEL AT THIS STAGE? PHYSICALLY SICK? PRETTY EXHAUSTED. SIMILAR RESULT. YOU FEEL VERY BAD FOR YOUR TEAM. CHRIS HIPKINS HAS SPOKEN WITH INCREDIBLE DIGNITY TONIGHT. HE HAS WORKED HIS GUTS OUT FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. I WOULDN'T TAKE ANYTHING FROM HIS EFFORT. I THINK THE QUESTIONS ARE PARTLY EXTERNAL STUFF HE CAN'T CONTROL, BUT THEY ARE DEEPER QUESTIONS OF STRATEGY. THAT IS A REALLY INTERESTING POINT. LET'S BRING IN KATIE BRADFORD. SHE IS AT THE ACT PARTY BASE. HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE THE LOCAL MP FOR TAMAKI? IT IS NOT BEEN MY CAMPAIGN BUT EVERYBODY IN TAMAKI'S CAMPAIGN. IT IS NOT BEEN MY CAMPAIGN BUT EVERYBODY IN TAMAKI'S CAMPAIGN. I STOOD WITH JUST A FEW CORE SUPPORTERS SAYING THAT WE WANTED CHOICE. MORE AND MORE PEOPLE SLOWLY CAME ON BOARD THE CAMPAIGN AND WE HAVE NOW HAD CHANGE FOR THE BETTER. WHAT IS THE CHANGE GOING TO BE BEING AN ELECTORATE MP AND POSSIBLY A MINISTER? IT WILL BE HARD WORK BUT I AM COMMITTED TO BEING IN ON THE GROUND MP AND HELPING TO ADVOCATE FOR DAY-TO-DAY CONCERNS, BUT ALSO TO BRING THE BOYS AND CONCERNS OF THE PEOPLE OF TAMAKI. WE WILL HAVE TO SEE WHERE THE PARTY VOTES GO TONIGHT. IT IS A BIG WIN IN THAT SEAT. A COUPLE OF THOUSAND VOTES. DID YOU EXPECTED TO BE SUCH A STRONG WIN? I HAVE JUST BEEN LOOKING AT THE VOTES, AND THEY HAVE BEEN TRACKING UP THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT. WE HAD ONLY THROUGH POLLS TO GO OFF. THEY SHOWED IT WAS NECK AND NECK. IT HAS BEEN REALLY WONDERFUL TO SEE. THAT IS YOU THEY ARE CHEERING FOR. ON THE GROUND WORK HAS PAID OFF. IT IS ALL BEING LOCAL, BEING VISIBLE, LISTENING TO PEOPLE AND GIVING PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE AN MP THAT WANTS TO WORK HARD IN THEIR AREA, AND I AM COMMITTED TO DO THAT FOR THE PEOPLE OF TAMAKI. IT IS YOUR BIRTHDAY TOMORROW. A BIT OF A DOUBLE CELEBRATION. WHAT WILL YOU DO TO CELEBRATE? MY PARENTS ARE IN TOWN SO WE ARE PLANNING TO GO TO ST HELIER'S FOR A BIRTHDAY LUNCH. I WANT TO BE ON THE GROUND THANKING PEOPLE FOR COMING ON BOARD. ARE YOU DISAPPOINTED IN THAT PARTY VOTE? I THINK THIS SHOWS THE STRONGEST RESULT EVER FOR THE ACT PARTY, BRINGING IN 12 MPS BUT ALSO TO ELECTORATE SEATS. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO LEAVE THAT HERE BECAUSE WE NOW HAVE GOT CHRIS LUXON ARRIVING AT THE LOCATION. NATIONAL PARTY LEADER IS ABOUT TO ARRIVE HERE AT SHED 10 QUEENS WHARF, AUCKLAND. CHRISTOPHER LUXON IS HERE. HOW ARE YOU FEELING THIS EVENING? GREAT. IT HAS BEEN A GREAT DAY AND A GREAT RESULT. DID YOU SPEAK TO TO BE THIS GOOD? I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE GOOD. WE HAD GREAT SUPPORT ACROSS THE COUNTRY. ARE YOU PART OF YOUR HUSBAND? I AM SO PROUD OF HIM. MAIKI GETTING IN WITH FIRST QUESTIONS. HE IS FEELING PRETTY PUMPED. LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT HE HAS ACHIEVED. MORGAN GODFERY, WHEN JOHN KEY WENT, WE HAD BILL ENGLISH, WE HAD TODD MULLER, JUDITH COLLINS, SIMON BRIDGES... HAVE I MISSED ANYONE? THEY WERE LEAKING LIKE A CHEAP SIEVE. THEY DIDN'T LIKE ITS OTHER VERY MUCH. YOU WERE THE CHIEF BENEFICIARY OF THE LEAKS, JESS. AND CHRISTOPHER LUXON SAID I AM BRINGING DISCIPLINE TO THIS CAUCUS, AND HE IS A FIRST-TERM MP. HE HAS MADE THEM GOVERN. IT IS QUITE INCREDIBLE. PART OF IT IS DOWN TO WHEN HE TOOK THE LEADERSHIP, THE POLLS WENT UP AND HE LOOKED LIKE A WINNER. AND HAS CAUCUS KNEW. THE CAMPAIGN BEGAN FROM THAT MOMENT. HE HAS BEEN OVER THIS CAMPAIGN RELENTLESSLY ON MESSAGE, MUCH MORE SO THAN HIS OPPONENTS. I THINK THAT THAT HAS BENEFITED HIM TONIGHT, BECAUSE HE HAS HAD A CLEAR MESSAGE THAT HAS RESONATED WITH PEOPLE ON THE COST OF LIVING. DAVID AND I WILL DISAGREE WITH THE PARTICULARS OF THAT. MANY OTHERS HAVE DISAGREED WITH IT TOO. HE HAS BEEN RELENTLESSLY ON MESSAGE, DISCIPLINED ABOUT COMMUNICATING, AND HE HAS REAPED THE BENEFIT OF THAT TONIGHT. DO YOU AGREE? LARGELY, I DO. KIWIS HAVE A STRONG SENSE THAT THE COUNTRY IS NOT RIGHT, IN FACT THAT THE WORLD IS NOT RIGHT. THAT IS BECAUSE IT ISN'T. WE HAVE CLIMATE CHANGE HAPPENING FASTER, WAS ALL OVER THE WORLD, SUPPLY CHANGE STRETCH, WE HAVE STAGFLATION IN NEW ZEALAND. THEY LOOK TO SOMEONE WHO COULD SAY I AM GOOD AT FIXING THINGS/ LOOK, I RAN AN AIRLINE. HE DIDN'T RUN AN OUTLINE, DID HE? THAT IS BRAND-NEW INFORMATION. THE IDEA THAT YOU BRING SOME MANAGEMENT CREDENTIALS TO THE JOB OF MANAGING A COUNTRY IS SOMETHING THAT APPEAL TO VOTERS. WHETHER THE POLICY PLATFORM MEASURES UP, ONLY TIME WILL TELL THERE IS A LOT OF WORK TO DO. THERE IS A LOT OF TALK ABOUT REGIONAL DEALS. THAT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW IT GOES. THERE IS A LOT TO DO. AND SEE HOW IT SHAKES DOWN. AMONGST ALL OF THIS, A PEACEFUL TRANSFER OF POWER, WHICH WE ALWAYS HAVE. A FAIR SENSE OF DIGNITY BETWEEN THE PARTIES. LOOK AROUND THE WORLD IS NOT ALWAYS LIKE THAT. THERE WAS THE GLOBAL STORY. IN CANADA, TRUDEAU IS GOING TO BE GONE. SCOTT MORRISON IS GONE. SUNAK WILL BE GONE TOO. THIS IS A COMMON PATTERN ACROSS THE ENGLISH SPEAKING WORLD BECAUSE PEOPLE IN ALL OF THESE COUNTRIES ARE HURTING. INFLATION, THE COST OF FUEL... EVERY DAY ISSUES LIKE THAT, GOING TO THE PUMP, SEEING THAT IS THREE DOLLARS PER LITRE FOR 91.. I SAW SOMEONE AND A SUPERMARKET UNIFORM FILLING UP THEIR CAR. WHAT IS CHRIS LUXON GOING TO DO ABOUT THAT? HERE HE COMES. THE STAFF WALKING THROUGH HERE. THEY HAVE CHAMPAGNE GLASSES. TENDED TO ON THE BUBBLY FRONT. ALL THE PEOPLE WORKING IN HIS TEAM. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT. THAT SOUNDS LIKE THE PARTY PRESIDENT. WHAT THEY ARE DOING IS WAITING TO GIVE HIM A BIT OF A REV UP AS HE COMES IN. HE IS GOING TO BE WALKING AND THROUGH THAT BLUE GARLAND. HE WON'T BE TOO FAR AWAY. THEY HAVE 50 SEATS, DAVID CUNLIFFE. WHAT KIND OF PRESSURE WILL THAT PUT ON THEM FROM THE RIGHT? YOU HAVE JUST PUT YOUR FINGER ON SOMETHING THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT. WE STILL DON'T KNOW AS OF NOW IF IT'S GOING TO BE A TWO-PARTY OR A THREE PARTY GOVERNMENT. WE WON'T KNOW UNTIL SPECIALS ARE COUNTED. THERE IS ONLY ONE SEAT IN IT. THAT'S ONE OF THE STORIES OF THE LIGHT. CORRECTION: NIGHT. IT IS THE BIGGEST LOSS OF A GOVERNING PARTY FOR MANY YEARS. I CAN'T THINK OF A BIGGER ONE. THAT IS NOT SOMETHING WE RELISH. THIS IS AN ELECTION OF A NUMBER OF FIRSTS. THE CHANGE IN THE MAORI SEATS, THE DESTRUCTION OF THE WEST AUCKLAND RED WALL NEVER SEEN BEFORE, AND THE EMERGENCE OF TWO PARTIES ON THE LEFT OTHER THAN THE MAIN ONE THAT WINNING SEATS. WE WON'T KNOW HOW THAT PLAYS OUT, BUT THERE WILL NEED TO BE MORE THINKING. THESE PEOPLE WILL BE ABSOLUTELY DELIGHTED. SIMON BRIDGES NATIONAL PARTY LEADER WHO NEVER GOT TO LEAD AS PARTY INTO POWER. IMAGINE HOW THEY ARE FEELING AS THEY WATCH THIS. THE NATS HAVE HAD SIX YEARS IN THE WILDERNESS. THEY GOT CRUSHED SO BADLY IN 2020 WITH ONLY 33 SEATS. THE FACT THAT THEY ARE IN THIS POSITION TONIGHT IS A REMARKABLE THAT HAS BEEN A PRETTY GRUELLING CAMPAIGN, IT IS THE FIRST ONE FOUR CHRISTOPHER LUXON, AND THERE IS NOTHING THAT QUITE PREPARES YOU FOR THAT. YOU HAVE A GROUP OF PEOPLE AROUND YOU. OH. IT FEELS LIKE SOMETHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN. HERE WE GO. I MIGHT BE WRONG. YOU ARE NEVER WRONG, JESS. AND MY DEFENCE, I FEEL LIKE THINGS WERE HAPPENING AND CHANGING. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE NEXT PREMISE OF NEW ZEALAND, CHRISTOPHER LUXON, ACCOMPANIED BY HIS WIFE, FOLLOWED BY THEIR CHILDREN WILLIAM AND OLIVIA, WALKING THROUGH THE ASSEMBLED AND VERY EXCITED NATIONAL PARTY SUPPORTERS, NOT FAR FROM US IN DOWNTOWN AUCKLAND. THERE WILL BE A NATIONAL LEAD GOVERNMENT, WE DO NOT KNOW YET WHETHER THEY CAN DO IT WITH ACT OR WHETHER THEY WILL REQUIRE NEW ZEALAND FIRST, BUT WHAT WE DO KNOW IS THAT A PARTY WHO GOT 33 SEATS IN 2020 ALMOST EXACTLY HALF OF LABOUR'S TOTAL, IS BEST PLACED TO FORM THE NEXT GOVERNMENT, AND YOU ARE LOOKING` GETTING LOTS OF HUGS AS HE WALKS THROUGH. FIRST OF ALL, HAVE A LOOK AT ALL OF THOSE PHONES CAPTURING THAT MOMENT. THIS IS A REALLY BIG DEAL FOR THE CROWD. I REMEMBER TALKING TO CHRISTOPHER LUXON WHEN HE WAS THINKING ABOUT BECOMING A NATIONAL CANDIDATE. I PESTERED HIM FOR AGES TO GIVE ME THE STORY THAT HE WAS GOING TO ANNOUNCE. I REMEMBER GETTING THAT TIP FROM HIM WHEN HE TOLD ME HE WAS GOING TO STAND, AND WE WERE ABLE TO BREAK THAT STORY ON 1 NEWS, THAT THE FORMER CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF AIR NEW ZEALAND WAS GOING TO COME AND JOIN THE NATIONAL PARTY. EVEN THEN, HE WAS TIPPED AS FUTURE LEADER MATERIAL, AND IT DID NOT TAKE VERY LONG FOR HIM TO FULFIL THAT. ONE TERM, FOR GOODNESS SAKE. JOHN CAPABLY GIVING HIM A LITTLE BIT OF ADVICE IN THE BACKGROUND. HE HAS TAKEN A LOT OF POLITICAL GAMBLES, AND NEW ZEALAND FIRST WAS ONE OF THEM. THAT GAMBLE MAY OR MAY NOT PAY OFF, WE WILL SEE IN THE COMING DAYS. THE PUNDITS MAY ARGUE THAT HE MIGHT POSSIBLY HAVE DONE THAT A BIT LATER IF HE WAS GOING TO DO IT AT ALL ` IT OPENED THE DOOR A BIT EARLY. I THINK IT WAS A STRATEGIC MISTAKE. IF ANYTHING, I THINK CHRISTOPHER LUXON IS A MAN OF INCREDIBLE TENACITY TO HAVE RISEN IN THE CORPORATE WORLD AND TO HAVE RISEN TO THE PRIME MINISTER APPARENT. HE HAS INCREDIBLE COMMITMENT TO HIS TASK, AND OVER THE SIX WEEK CAMPAIGN, WE HAVE SEEN HIM REALLY COME ALIVE. PEOPLE ARE WRITING HIM OFF AS A CAMPAIGNER, BUT HE WAS ALMOST A NATURAL, AND YOU WOULD NOT HAVE THOUGHT SO, WHEN HE IS ONLY A FIRST-TERM MP. ON QUITE A SHALLOW LEVEL, HE HAS GONE THROUGH A TRANSFORMATION. HE HAS GOT HIMSELF FIT AND HEALTHY FOR THIS CAMPAIGN, HE HAS REALLY HONED HIS SKILLS, HE HAS LEARNT HOW TO DO THE WALK ABOUT AT A SHOPPING MALL, HE HAS LEARNT HOW TO SHAKE HANDS, AND ONLY JUST RECENTLY GET AROUND THE ROOM RECENTLY QUICKLY, IT USED TO TAKE ON A LONG TIME. HE HAS REALLY PICKED UP THOSE SKILLS QUICKLY, HE IS A FAST LEARNER, HE SAID HE WAS, AND HE HAS PROVEN THAT HE IS. THAT IS A VERY REAL SKILL THAT ALL POLITICAL LEADERS DO NEED TO LEARN. AND NOT TO BE SHALLOW, BUT WE SHOULD NOT UNDERPLAY THE HEALTH ASPECT AS WELL, AND THE ENERGY THAT IT REQUIRES. THAT ENERGY, HE HAS SHOWED US. HE HAS BOUNCED OUT OF THAT BIG BLUE BUS WITH A BUNDLE FULL OF ENERGY, AND HUGGING JOHN KEY, BRONAGH KEY. A BIT OF A MOMENT, THE PASSING OF A TORCH IN SOME WAYS. YOU AND I HAVE BOTH FOLLOWED HIM. I SPENT TWO WEEKS ON THE ROAD WITH HIM, AND EVERY TIME HE GOT OUT OF THE CAR, HE WAS GOOD TO GO. AND BOY, IT WAS AN EXTRAORDINARY ENERGY TO BEHOLD. HE MUST HAVE SHAKEN HANDS ABOUT HALF THE COUNTRY. HE ALWAYS ENGAGES WITH PEOPLE, AND TALKED WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE. IT WAS REALLY INTERESTING, HE LIKES TALKING TO PEOPLE, WHICH I KNOW SOUNDS STRANGE, BUT IT IS UNUSUAL. IT IS A TOUGH GAME IF YOU DO NOT LIKE TALKING TO PEOPLE. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU NEW ZEALAND. FROM ALL OVER YOUR COUNTRY, THIS GREAT COUNTRY, YOU HAVE REACHED FOR HOPE AND YOU HAVE VOTED FOR CHANGE. (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) I AM IMMENSELY PROUD TO SAY THAT ON THE NUMBERS TONIGHT, NATIONAL WILL BE IN A POSITION TO LEAD THE NEXT GOVERNMENT. (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) MY PLEDGE TO YOU IS THAT OUR GOVERNMENT WILL DELIVER FOR EVERY NEW ZEALANDER. WE WILL REBUILD THE ECONOMY AND DELIVER TAX RELIEF. WE WILL BRING DOWN THE COST OF LIVING. WE WILL RESTORE LAW & ORDER. WE WILL DELIVER BETTER HEALTHCARE, AND WE WILL EDUCATE OUR CHILDREN SO THAT THEY CAN GROW UP TO LIVE THE LIVES THAT THEY DREAM OF. THAT IS WHAT YOU VOTED FOR, AND THAT IS WHAT WE WILL DELIVER. (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) EARLIER THIS EVENING, I TOOK A CALL FROM LABOUR LEADER CHRIS HIPKINS, CONCEDING THE ELECTION. (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) I THANKED HIM FOR THE CALL, AND I THANKED FOR SERVING NEW ZEALAND AS A PRIME MINISTER, AND THEY WISHED HIM WELL, AND THEY WISHED HIM WELL BECAUSE IT IS OBVIOUSLY A TOUGH NIGHT FOR LABOUR. I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT. I ALSO SPOKE TO ACT LEADER DAVID SEYMOUR AND I CONGRATULATED HIM ON HIS OWN WHEN IN EPSOM. THERE ARE MANY VOTES STILL TO BE COUNTED, BUT ON CURRENT NUMBERS, IT LOOKS LIKE NATIONAL AND ACT WILL BE IN A POSITION TO LEAD THE NEXT GOVERNMENT. (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) (ALL CHANT) ALL CHANT: BACK ON TRACK! I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO CONGRATULATE WINSTON PETERS NEW ZEALAND FIRST'S RETURN TO GOVERNMENT, AND I APPRECIATE HIS COMMENTS THAT HE IS WILLING TO HELP WHERE NEEDED. (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) AS A RESULT OF VOTERS CHOICES, AND SPECIAL VOTES STILL TO COME, IT LOOKS LIKE NATIONAL WELL, ON MONDAY, BE WELCOMING MANY, MANY NEW MPS INTO OUR CAUCUS. (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) (ALL CHANT) ALTHOUGH THIS CAMPAIGN WAS LONG, NEW ZEALANDERS LISTEN TO NATIONAL, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, NATIONAL LISTENED TO NEW ZEALANDERS. WE LISTENED TO THE PEOPLE NEEDING INTEREST RATES TO COME DOWN SO THEY CAN PAY THEIR MORTGAGES, AND WE LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE WHO NEED TAX RELIEF TO HELP PAY FOR THE GROCERY BILLS, AND WE LISTEN TO THE RETAILERS WHO WANT TO KNOW THAT THE JUSTICE SYSTEM AS PUTTING THE VENDOR'S INTERESTS FIRST. (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) AND WE ALSO LISTEN TO THE PATIENTS WAITING 11 HOURS AT THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT WHO KNOW THAT THE FRONT MAY NEED SUPPORT. AND TONIGHT, YOU HAVE GIVEN US THE MANDATE TO TAKE NEW ZEALAND FORWARD (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) AND IN ALL OF OUR CONVERSATIONS WITH YOU, WE HEARD A DESCRIPTION OF NEW ZEALAND THAT CAN BE SO, SO MUCH BETTER THAN IT IS, AND WE KNOW IT, AND YOU VOTED FOR IT, AND TOGETHER, WE WILL MAKE THIS AN EVEN BETTER COUNTRY. TURNING AROUND THE COUNTRY MAY TAKE TIME, IT IS A BIG JOB, AND WE HAVE TO GET IT RIGHT, AND IT IS GOING TO BE HARD WORK, BUT THE GOVERNMENT, COMMUNITY GROUPS, IWI AND BUSINESSES WILL TOGETHER, GET THE JOB DONE, BECAUSE THAT IS HOW I WANT TO LEAD THIS COUNTRY, TOGETHER, FOR EVERY SINGLE NEW ZEALANDER. (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) AND ONE NIGHT, ABOUT MIDWAY THROUGH THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN, I WAS ON A LATE FLIGHT HOME TO AUCKLAND, AND I WAS SITTING, LOOKING OUT OF THE PLANE WINDOW, AND I LOOKED OUT OF THE DARK LAND BELOW, AND THERE WERE HUGE BLACK SPACES, EXCEPT WHERE, AT TIMES, THE DARKNESS WAS BROKEN BY A SINGLE, ISOLATED LIGHT, IT WAS PROBABLY A FARMHOUSE, AND SOMETIMES THERE WERE SMALL GROUPS OF LIGHTS AND TOWNS, AND I LOOK DOWN, AND I THOUGHT ABOUT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF LEADING THIS COUNTRY ON BEHALF OF EVERY NEW ZEALANDER, WHEREVER THEY ARE, WHOEVER THEY ARE, AND WHATEVER THEIR LIFE CIRCUMSTANCES ARE, AND REGARDLESS OF ETHNICITY, AND WHETHER OUR FAMILIES ARRIVED GENERATIONS AGO OR NEW MIGRANTS, WE ALL SHARE AN INTEREST IN LIVING IN A SAFE, STABLE COUNTRY, THAT CELEBRATES... (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) A COUNTRY THAT CELEBRATES FAIRNESS AND WANTS THE VERY BEST FOR EVERY NEW ZEALANDER. WE ALSO SHARE AN INTEREST IN HAVING A STRONG ECONOMY THAT IS PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES, BECAUSE THE PROMISE OF NEW ZEALAND IS QUITE SIMPLY THAT IF YOU WORK HARD IN THE BEST COUNTRY ON PLANET EARTH, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET AHEAD. IT IS WHAT UNITES US THAT MATTERS MOST TO ME, AND THAT WILL ALWAYS BE THE ETHOS OF A GOVERNMENT THAT I LEAD. BEFORE I FINISH, I DO WANT TO EXPRESS MY TRIM IN THIS GRATITUDE TO SO MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE MADE TONIGHT'S OUTCOME POSSIBLE, AND FIRST, OF COURSE, ARE YOU, THE VOTERS. (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) TO ALL OF YOU WHO VOTED FOR NATIONAL, THANK YOU. WE WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN. (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) AND TO ALL OF THOSE WHO DID NOT VOTE FOR NATIONAL, WE WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN EITHER. (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) AND TO THE PEOPLE OF BOTANY WHO RETURNED ME AS YOUR MP, I SAY THANK YOU. (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) IT IS MY GREAT PRIVILEGE TO REPRESENT YOU IN PARLIAMENT, AND THE PLACE THAT I SPENT SO MUCH OF MY CHILDHOOD, IT IS THE BEST ELECTORATE IN NEW ZEALAND. AND THE NATIONAL PARTY, FROM PRESIDENT SYLVIA WARD AND RIGHT THROUGH TO EVERY VOLUNTEER AND SUPPORT AND EVERY ELECTORATE, THANK YOU. (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) YOUR COMMITMENT TO NATIONAL DID NOT WAVER, AND TONIGHT'S OUTCOME IS YOURS TO CELEBRATE AS WELL. AND I WANT TO THANK MY FANTASTIC DEPUTY, NICOLA WILLIS. (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) ARE INCREDIBLE, HARD-WORKING CAMPAIGN SHOWER, CHRIS BISHOP. AND ALL OF OUR CAUCUS AND CANDIDATES FOR THEIR RELENTLESS CAMPAIGNING OVER THE PAST SIX WEEKS, YOU HAVE GIVEN IT YOUR ALL, AND WE HAVE SPLASHED BLUE ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THANK YOU. AND I WANT TO THANK OUR GREAT CAMPAIGN DIRECTOR, AND ALL OF OUR CAMPAIGN TEAM. THEY HAVE LEFT NO STONE UNTURNED, NO PRESS RELEASE UNWRITTEN, NO SOCIAL MEDIA MEME UNPOSTED IN THE EFFORT TO REACH AS MANY KIWIS AS POSSIBLE. AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK MY AMAZING, AMAZING CHIEF OF STAFF, CAMERON BURROWS. YOU HAVE HAD WEEKS WITHOUT WEEKENDS AND NIGHTS WITHOUT SLEEP, BUT TONIGHT, IT HAS ALL BEEN WORTH IT. BEFORE I THANK MY OWN FAMILY, I WANT TO THANK THE CHILDREN, THE SPOUSES AND THE PARTNERS OF EVERY MP, OF EVERY CANDIDATE, AND OF EVERY MEMBER OF OUR CAMPAIGN TEAM AND STAFF. (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) BECAUSE ALL OF YOU HAVE SACRIFICED A GREAT DEAL TO SUPPORT US, AND THAT SUPPORT IS GREATLY ACKNOWLEDGED AND GREATLY APPRECIATED. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY LATE NIGHTS AND LONG ABSENCES, AND I GENUINELY HOPE THAT TONIGHT'S VICTORY IS SOME REPAYMENT FOR YOUR SACRIFICES. (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) FINALLY, TO AMANDA AND WILLIAM AND OLIVIA ` AMANDA, I HAVE TO SAY, BEING PRIME MINISTER IS A GREAT HONOUR... I HAVE ALWAYS SAID MARRYING YOU WILL BE MADE GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT. I LOVE YOU, AND I AM SO GRATEFUL THAT I GET TO DO LIFE WITH YOU EACH AND EVERY DAY. I WANT TO SAY TO WILLIAM AND OLIVIA, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT, RIGHT FROM THE MOMENT I SAID I WANTED TO ENTER POLITICS AND PUBLIC SERVICE. THANK YOU, TEAM. I LOVE YOU LOTS. (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) AND TOMORROW MORNING, NEW ZEALANDERS ARE GOING TO WAKE UP TO NOT ONLY A NEW DAY, BUT THE PROMISE OF A NEW GOVERNMENT AND A NEW DIRECTION. (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) THIS GREAT COUNTRY OF HOURS HAS SO MUCH POTENTIAL, AND OUR NEW GOVERNMENT WILL HELP REALISE IT. I HAVE TO TELL YOU I AM HUMBLED BY TONIGHT'S SUPPORT, BUT I AM SO ENERGISED BY IT, AND I CANNOT WAIT TO GET STUCK IN AND TO GET TO WORK, BECAUSE NEW ZEALANDERS HAVE CHOSEN CHANGE, AND OUR NEW GOVERNMENT WILL DELIVER IT, AND WE WILL GET THIS COUNTRY BACK ON TRACK. THANK YOU, EVERYONE. HAVE A GOOD NIGHT. (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) LET'S GET A VERY QUICK REACTION. REMARKABLE. THIS IS A GUY WHO HAD A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS CAREER, BUT WASN'T IN PARLIAMENT 3 1/2 YEARS AGO. THE FASTEST CAREER TRAJECTORY TO PRIME MINISTER. HE PEAKED AT THE RIGHT TIME. WHEN THE CAMPAIGN CAME ON, HAS ENERGY LEVELS LIFTED, HIS SPEECHES BECAME MORE POLISHED, AND WE SAW AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF THAT. THAT IS REALLY EXCITING. IT IS NOT GOING TO BE EASY. NEW ZEALAND HAS A LOT OF PROBLEMS AND ISSUES. THIS MIGHT BE THE FRESHEST WE SEE HIM. WE HAVE SEEN THIS WITH OTHER PRIME MINISTERS AS WELL. EVERY FEW MONTHS IN THE JOB, IT IS A TOUGH JOB. WHAT AN EXCITING DAY FOR HIS FAMILY AND NATIONAL SUPPORTERS. I AM DELIGHTED. HE BEHAVED IN A VERY PRIME MINISTERIAL WAY. HAS SPEECH WAS VERY HEARTFELT. THAT LINE THAT HE WAS ELECTED BY A CERTAIN PART BUT WILL SEEK TO SERVE ALL OF PARLIAMENT... I THOUGHT THAT WAS REALLY FLAGGING THAT HE WANTS TO UNIFY THE COUNTRY. I THINK THERE ARE SOME WOUNDS TO HEAL. IN HEALTH, EDUCATION... NOTHING IS LOOKING GOOD RIGHT NOW. LIAM HEHIR, YOU HAD A MISERABLE NIGHT THREE YEARS AGO. THERE ARE THREE THINGS, REALLY. THERE HAS BEEN NO SHORTAGE OF BACKSEAT DRIVERS. I THINK LUXON AND HIS TEAM WILL FEEL VERY VINDICATED TONIGHT. THE SECOND THING I WILL NOTICE, AS YOU MAY NOT LIKE HIM BUT HE IS NEVER PERSONALLY ATTACKED ANYONE IN POLITICS. IT IS A REALLY INTERESTING THING. AND I HOPE HE NEVER DOES. WE'RE GOING TO GO TO LUXON. MAIKI IS WITH CHRISTOPHER LUXON. SHOULD I SAY PRIME MINISTER ELECT. HOW GOOD DOES IT FEEL? IT IS SUCH A GREAT RESULT AND I AM SO INCREDIBLY PROUD OF OUR TEAM. WE HAVE A FANTASTIC COUNTRY AND MY MOTIVATION TO COME INTO POLITICS TO GO TO WORK FOR NEW ZEALANDERS... THAT'S THE WORK WE HAVE AHEAD OF US. WE HAVE GREAT HOPE FOR THIS COUNTRY. THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO REALISE. THE NATIONAL PARTY ABSOLUTELY KNOCKED OUT THE PARK TONIGHT. DID YOU THINK IT WOULD BE THAT GOOD? WE FELT IT WAS GOING TO BE GOOD. WE FELT THE MOMENTUM SHIFT MONTHS AGO. AS I GOT ROUND THE COUNTRY AND DOING IT FOR THE LAST PART OF THE YEAR, AND FEELING THAT PEOPLE WERE IN THE WRONG DIRECTION, AND THEY WANT CHANGE AND THEY WANT TO SOLVE PROBLEMS. THAT'S WHAT WE GOING TO DO. YOU SPOKE WITH CHRIS HIPKINS. HOW DO THE CONVERSATION GO? IT WAS A RELATIVELY SHORT CONVERSATION, BUT I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO CHRIS FOR BEING PRIME MINISTER. I WILL THANK HIM FOR HIS SERVICE AND I WISHED AS WELL FOR THE FUTURE. ONE OF THE BIG SURPRISES WAS SAVE LABOUR SEEDS BEING FLIPPED TO NATIONAL. IT IS FOR LABOUR TO WORK THAT OUT. WE SPOKE TO NEW ZEALANDERS AND WORKED REALLY HARD OVER THE LAST YEAR TO LISTEN AND UNDERSTAND WHAT KIWIS NEEDED. IT IS ABOUT REBUILDING THE ECONOMY, RESTORING LAW & ORDER, DELIVERING ON HEALTH AND EDUCATION, AND DELIVER PRACTICAL COMMON SENSE IDEAS TO TAKE THE COUNTRY FORWARD. THAT IS WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO. DOES CHRIS HIPKINS NEED TO STEP DOWN? THAT IS ULTIMATELY A DECISION FOR THEM. TONIGHT FOR THE NATIONAL PARTY, WE HAVE WORKED SO HARD. WE HAVE COME SO FAR OVER THE LAST 18 MONTHS. I AM SO PROUD OUR TEAM. POLITICS AS A TEAM SPORT. WE GO UP AND DOWN AS A TEAM. WE HAVE DONE THIS AS A TEAM. YOU MENTION WINSTON PETERS THERE. IF YOU DON'T NEED HIM, WOULD YOU BRING HIM INTO THE MIX OR RULE HIM OUT TONIGHT? WE THINK A STRONG TWO-PARTY, LUSH AND WITH NATIONAL AND ACT IS THE RIGHT WAY FORWARD. THE COUNTRY HAS VOTED FOR CHANGE. I APPRECIATED WINSTON PETERS REMARKS TO HELP IF NEEDED. THE REALITY IS NEW ZEALANDERS HAVE VOTED FOR CHANGE DENIED. WE HAVE WORK TO DO. FINAL MESSAGE FOR THOSE WHO ARE HEARTBROKEN ON THE LEFT, WHO ARE WORRIED THAT WE HAVE SEEN DIVISION IN THE COUNTRY. HOW WILL YOU UNITE THIS COUNTRY? I APPRECIATE THAT PEOPLE DIDN'T VOTE FOR NATIONAL. I WANT THEM TO KNOW THAT WE WILL BE A GOVERNMENT FOR NEW ZEALANDERS. WE HAVE A GREAT COUNTRY AND WE WANT TO SEE EVERY KIWI FLOURISHING. THAT'S WHY I CAME TO POLITICS. WE ARE GOING TO GO TO WORK. WE HAVE TOUGH DAYS AHEAD OF US AND TOUGH REALITIES TO FACE UP TO, BUT WE CAN DO THIS AS A COUNTRY TOGETHER. AND WE HAVE HOPE TO TAKE THE COUNTRY FORWARD. IT IS A REALLY EXCITING TIME BUT I WANT TO REASSURE EVERYONE THAT WE WILL BE MAKING THE COUNTRY MORE UNITED, DEAL WITH OUR ECONOMIC CHALLENGES. IMPORTANTLY, DELIVER BETTER SERVICES FOR PEOPLE. THERE WILL BE PLENTY OF PEOPLE WHO WANT TO TALK TO YOU AND CONGRATULATE YOU TONIGHT. I WILL LEAVE IT THERE. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. THIS TEAM HERE IN THE STUDIO WILL BE BACK WITH YOU RIGHT AFTER THE BREAK. WELCOME BACK. HOW CLOSE HAVE YOU BEEN PAYING ATTENTION? THERE WAS A SMALL SHIFT DURING CHRISTOPHER LUXON SPEECH. NATIONAL HAS LOST A FEW PERCENTAGE POINTS. LOOK AT TE PATI MAORI. THEY ARE AT 2.6%. WE ARE ALMOST CERTAIN TO HAVE A PARLIAMENTARY OVERHANG. THAT MEANS INSTEAD OF 120 SEATS IN THE HOUSE, WE WILL HAVE 121. WITH 121 SEATS IN THE HOUSE TO COMMAND A MAJORITY, YOU NEED 61 SEATS. ACT HAS LOST A SEAT/ NATIONAL AND ACT HAVE A BARE MAJORITY. KEEP IN MIND WE ARE GOING TO BEEN WAITING UNTIL NOVEMBER 25 FOR THE BY-ELECTION IN PORT WAIKATO. THAT WILL INCREASE THE NUMBER OF SEATS TO 122. IT IS A BARE MAJORITY. THE SPECIAL VOTES ARE YET TO BE COUNTED. THEY ARE LIKELY TO FAVOUR LABOUR AND THE GREENS. THEY COULD SEE NATIONAL AND ACT POTENTIALLY LOSE A SEAT, MEANING, GUYS, THEY WOULDN'T BE CHOOSING TO WORK WITH WINSTON PETERS. I THINK IT IS LOOKING INCREASINGLY LIKELY ON THESE NUMBERS THAT IN ORDER TO FORM A GOVERNMENT, CHRISTOPHER LUXON WILL NEED TO WORK WITH WINSTON PETERS. IT WAS VERY INTERESTING HEARING CHRISTOPHER LUXON TALKING ABOUT A NATIONAL ACT GOVERNMENT. ON THE NUMBERS AS THEY STAND AT THE MOMENT, IT IS LOOKING INCREASINGLY LIKELY AND IS GOING TO BE SOME FORM OF A NATIONAL, ACT, NEW ZEALAND FIRST GOVERNMENT. WHAT IS GOING TO BE THE NEXT SHAPE OF THE GOVERNMENT? I REALLY DON'T WANT YOU TO SAY THAT. THE OTHER POINT WORTH NOTING IS THAT BY-ELECTION ISN'T UNTIL 25 NOVEMBER. WE ARE GOING TO GO AND CHECK IN WITH SOME OF THE PARTY HEADQUARTERS AT THE MOMENT. WE HAVE OUR REPORTER STANDING AT NATIONAL, ACT AND LABOUR. WE WILL START AT LABOUR'S HEADQUARTERS, WHERE BENEDICT COLLINS IS. A BIT OF A SOMBRE VIBE THERE? SOMBRE MIGHT BE OVERSTATING IT. IT IS SADSVILLE. PEOPLE ARE HAVE PACKED UP. THERE WERE BEER BOTTLES BEHIND ME BUT THEY HAVE GONE HOME. THEY ARE NOT HANGING AROUND AT ALL. ALMOST ON CUE YOU HAVE SOMEONE MOPPING UP BEHIND YOU. JOHN: THEY PROBABLY ONLY HIRE THE HALL TO MIDNIGHT. THEY WON'T GET BACK THEIR DEPOSIT. NOT LONG AGO, WE SAW A SAUSAGE ROLL ON THE FLOOR, WHICH KIND OF SUMS UP THE END OF LABOUR IN AN ELECTION CAMPAIGN. ON THAT NOTE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. WE'RE GOING TO GO TO MAIKI AT THE WINNERS PARTY. ARE THE CELEBRATIONS IN FULL SWING? ABSOLUTELY. THE CELEBRATIONS ARE GOING OFF THE RICHTER., I AM JOINED BY AMANDA LUXON. DID YOU THINK YOU WOULD HEAR THE TITLE OF PRIME MINISTER? HE HAS WAS REALLY HARD FOR IT AND I AM INCREDIBLY PROUD. HE HAS THE RIGHT PERSON TO TAKE THIS COUNTRY. IT IS NICE TO HEAR HIM BEING CALLED PRIME MINISTER. HE HAS BEEN WORKING INCREDIBLY HARD ON THE CAMPAIGN. HE HAS ALREADY REFERRED BACK TO YOU AS BEING SUCH A STRONG BACKBONE FOR HIM. WHAT ROLE HAVE YOU PLAYED? WE ARE AN INCREDIBLY TIGHT TEAM. WE LIVED OVERSEAS FOR AN INCREDIBLY LONG TIME WITHOUT FAMILY SUPPORT, SO THE TEAM WAS EVERYTHING. WE ARE VERY STRONG. HAVING THAT PERSON BY YOUR SIDE... ALWAYS KNOWING THAT THE STRENGTH WITH BOTH OF YOU. HE HAS HAD TO CARRY THE LOAD OF THAT, AND HE HAS BEEN THE ONE OUT ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL EVERY DAY, GIVING EVERYTHING HE HAS GOT. YOUR CHILDREN ARE HEAR BEHIND. THEY ARE INCREDIBLY PROUD OF THEIR FATHER. HE IS AN INCREDIBLE ROLE MODEL FOR THEM/. SPENDS A LOT OF TIME PUTTING INTO THEM. AND IS NICE FOR THEM TO HELP HIM ACHIEVE WHAT HE WANTED TO ACHIEVE. VERY SUPPORTIVE. YOU KNOW HIM AS A HUSBAND. HOW WILL HE GO AS A PRIME MINISTER, DO YOU THINK? HE HAS PROVEN HIMSELF TIME AND TIME AGAIN AS A LEADER OF THE COMPANIES, OF TURNAROUND... HE IS VERY TALENTED, CAPABLE. PROBABLY THE SMARTEST PERSON I KNOW. HE'S A REALLY AMAZING PERSON. HE WILL GIVE IT EVERYTHING HE HAS GOT. I REALLY DO BELIEVE NEW ZEALAND WILL BE A BETTER PLACE FOR IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT. LET'S BRING IN KATIE BRADFORD. WHAT IS HAPPENING? I WAS TRYING TO THINK OF WHAT THE OPPOSITE OF SADVILLE IS ` I THINK THE ACT PARTY WILL BE HAPPY TO PARTY ALL NIGHT. THEY HAVE HAD THEIR BEST RESULT EVER, THEY ARE VERY HAPPY ABOUT THAT, OBVIOUSLY, BROOKE VAN VELDEN WINNING HER SEAT. AS YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT BEFORE, THERE ARE STILL QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN WITH THE COALITION. DAVID SEYMOUR HAS BEEN TALKING TO CHRISTOPHER LUXON ALL DAY, I THINK WE WILL FIND THAT THEY WILL SIT DOWN QUICKLY TOMORROW AND START TALKING ABOUT HOW THEIR COALITION WILL WORK. THEY REALLY WILL HAVE TO WAIT TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE SPECIAL BOATS, THE POTENTIAL OVERHANG, AND THAT MAKES THINGS A LITTLE BIT MORE TRICKY FOR THEM. THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO MAKE ANY DECISIONS QUICKLY. DAVID SEYMOUR IS NOT SAYING WHAT MINISTERIAL ROLES OR WHETHER HE WANTS TO BE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US. 9% OF THE PARTY VOTE FOR ACT, 11 SEATS, INCLUDING, OF COURSE, TAMAKI DID HE EVER DELIVER HIS MESSAGE TO WELLINGTON? AND HAS BEEN A GREAT NIGHT FOR ACT. THEY CAME OFF SIX POINT 7% LAST YEAR, THEY HAVE IMPROVED, AT THE SAME TIME THAT NATIONAL HAD DEMONSTRABLY IMPROVED. THE CAKE ON THE RIGHT HAS GOTTEN MUCH BIGGER. THAT IS PROBABLY TRUE. THE BIG ISSUE FOR MAORI, PEOPLE ON LOW INCOMES, IS WHETHER OR NOT BECAUSE OF A LESSON WILL LIVE UP TO HIS PROMISE. JOHN KEY SAID THE SAME THING AND DID NOT DELIVER. THE KEY FOR ME HAS BEEN ACT AND NATIONAL IS REALLY DIVISIVE CAMPAIGN THEY HAVE BEEN DOG WESTLING RACES AND THE WHOLE CAMPAIGN THROUGH ` NOW, CHRISTOPHER LUXON HAS TO STEP UP AND PROVE HE IS NOT A RACIST PERSON AND INTENDS TO MAKE SURE THAT MAORI ARE INVOLVED IN THE GOVERNANCE OF OUR OWN COUNTRY. THE RHETORIC SOFTENS AFTER AN ELECTION, BUT THAT IS THE BIG CHALLENGE I WANT TO SEE HIM ADDRESS AS PRIME MINISTER WHAT DO YOU THINK THE BIG CHALLENGE FOR CHRISTOPHER LUXON IS? I THINK COST OF LIVING ARE STILL AN IMMEDIATE CHALLENGE. PEOPLE ARE GOING TO WANT TO SEE THEM MAKE SOME CHANGES THAT ARE GOING TO MAKE THEM FEEL BETTER AND THEIR BACK POCKET. THAT IS A BIG CHALLENGE. THE IMMEDIATE THING IS THAT PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR A CHANGE IN THEIR LIVES RIGHT NOW ` THAT IS A BIG CHALLENGE. THERE ARE SOME GLOBAL FACTORS THAT HE CANNOT CONTROL, BUT A TAX CUT PACKAGE, WE WILL SEE WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE ONCE WE ORGANISE A COALITION ARRANGEMENT. PEOPLE WANT TO FEEL BETTER WHEN THEY LOOK AT THEIR PAY PACKET AND WHEN I GO TO THE SUPERMARKET. AND WHEN THEY GO TO GAS UP. IT IS ALL OF THOSE THINGS THAT ARE ON THE TABLE. IF YOU HAVE ACT IN THE MIX, IT IS ONE SET OF NEGOTIATIONS, AND OF NEW ZEALAND FIRST AND THERE, IT IS ANOTHER LEVEL OF COMPLEXITY. OR WILL HAVE THE FINAL CONCLUDING REMARKS AFTER THE BREAK. YOU SUCKED IT UP THREE YEARS AGO. LIAM IS A FATHER OF FOUR ` IT IS GOING TO BE A DAD JOKE. THE THIRD THING ABOUT CHRISTOPHER LUXON IS WHAT A HUGE NIGHT FOR BALD GUYS IN NEW ZEALAND. . WELL DONE. I ASPIRE TO BE A BALD GUY. I DO FEEL A LITTLE BIT SENSITIVE ABOUT THE GENDER COMMENT. I WILL LET THAT GO CORRECTION: GINGER KIA ORA, GUYS. WELCOME BACK, IT IS ALMOST BEDTIME. WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU THE FINAL VOTE TALLIES AS THEY STAND. HOWEVER, TE PATI MAORI LOOKS SET TO WHEN FOUR ELECTORATES, WHICH MEANS THAT WE END UP WITH A PARLIAMENTARY OVERHANG. THIS IS HOW THINGS ARE SHAPING UP IN THE HOUSE. IT LOOKS EXTREMELY LIKELY WE WILL HAVE AN OVERHANG, THAT MEANS WE WILL HAVE 121 SEATS ` YOU NEED 61 TO HAVE MAJORITY OF THE HOUSE. NATIONAL PLUS ACT IS 61 EXACTLY ` IT IS A MAJORITY, BUT A NARROW MAJORITY. WE STILL HAVE SPECIAL VOTES TO COME. IF THE SPECIAL BOATS AND UP COSTING THE RIGHT BLOCK ONE OR TWO SEATS, IT WILL BE TRUE THAT NATIONAL AND ACT WILL NEED THE SUPPORT OF NEW ZEALAND FIRST IN ORDER TO FORM A GOVERNMENT. THAT WILL BE FASCINATING TO WATCH THIS OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS. I THINK IT LOOKS INCREASINGLY LIKELY THAT WINSTON PETERS IS GOING TO HAVE SOME SERIOUS INVOLVEMENT. WE ARE REALLY PREPARED FOR THIS PERIOD OF UNCERTAINTY. WE HAVE OUR PANEL HERE WITH US. WE ARE GOING TO GO TO A GRAB OF CHRISTOPHER LUXON FIRST, HEARING FROM OUR NEW PRIME MINISTER ELECT. THERE IS CHRISTOPHER LUXON. WE LISTENED TO THE PEOPLE. INTEREST RATES HAVE COME DOWN, THEY NEED TO PAY THEIR MORTGAGES, WE LISTEN TO PEOPLE WHO NEED TAX RELIEF TO HELP PAY FOR THE GROCERY BILLS, AND WE LISTEN TO THE RETAILERS THAT WANT TO KNOW THAT THE JUSTICE SYSTEM IS PUTTING VENDOR'S FIRST. (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) WE ALSO LISTENED TO THE PEOPLE WAITING 11 HOURS AT THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT ` THE FRONT-LINE NEEDS SUPPORT. AND TONIGHT, YOU HAVE GIVEN US THE MANDATE TO TAKE NEW ZEALAND FORWARD. I AM JUST DOING HEALTH AND SAFETY. DAVID CUNLIFFE IS COMING IN. MORGAN GODFREY IS COMING. I'M COMING ON THE FAR RIGHT. THE POLITICAL JOKE IS COMING OUT. A GOING TO COME AND JOIN US, JACK? YOU HAVE DONE A STUNNING JOB OVER THERE. EVERYONE IS GOING TO HAVE A LAST WORD. OH, SHIT. SORRY. SHIVERS. WE HAVE TWO MINUTES. BLOODIED TOUGH NIGHT FOR LABOUR. WHAT MATTERS NOW IS WHAT HAPPENS NEXT. NOTHING TO CELEBRATE TONIGHT FOR LABOUR. IF THEY NEED NEW ZEALAND FIRST, THEY MIGHT AS WELL NEED THEM FOR 10. DO NOT DISCOUNT A NATIONAL NEW ZEALAND FIRST COALITION GOVERNMENT WITH ACT ON THE SIDE. BIG CALL. I WOULD SAY DITTO ON THE NEW ZEALAND FIRST PART ` PLACING A CALL TO WINSTON PETERS I THINK IS BETTER SOONER RATHER THAN LATER, IT CANNOT BE THE VERY LAST THING THAT HAPPENS. TONIGHT I CAME IN QUIETLY CONFIDENT, BUT I HAVE SEEN THINGS TO NOTE THAT I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD SEE, IN THE FALL OF SOME OF THOSE LABOUR STRONGHOLDS. TOMORROW, THE HARD WORK STARTS, WE HAVE THE BIG ISSUES IN THIS COUNTRY AND WE HAVE SOME VERY BIG EXPECTATIONS AS A RESULT OF TONIGHT NATIONAL PARTY SUPPORTERS, ENJOY IT. LABOUR PARTY SUPPORTERS, DO NOT FEEL TOO BAD, THINGS CAN CHANGE. CONGRATULATIONS, DAVID CUNLIFFE. YOUR RECORDS REMAINS UNBROKEN. ANDREW LITTLE BROKE IT. YOU WERE BEING SO SWEET. YOU JUST TURNED FERAL. AMAZING NIGHT FOR THE GREEN PARTY. THEY ARE GOING TO CRACK THAT 11% WITH A SPECIAL VOTES. THREE ELECTORATES THAT I HAVE ONE IS INCREDIBLE, AND TE PATI MAORI COMING BACK STRONG. HARD FOR THE POOR IN THIS COUNTRY, BUT AS ALWAYS, WE WILL WRAP AROUND THEM. THREE CONGRATULATIONS ` TO TE PATI MAORI, WINSTON PETERS, THE CREPE STORE HAS BEEN OPENED, AND HE IS BACK. THE THIRD IS TO LIAM. CORRECTION: CRYPT DOOR HUGE NIGHT FOR TE PATI MAORI. I THINK THERE IS MORE TO PLAY OUT. IT WILL BE A FASCINATING COUPLE OF WEEKS. I THINK THAT EVERYONE IS NOW FEELING A SIGH OF RELIEF, FOR ALL OF US POLITICAL REPORTERS, WE GO BACK TO WELLINGTON AND IT ALL STARTS ON MONDAY. YOU AND YOUR TEAM TO SUCH A GREAT JOB. I NEVER THOUGHT THAT I WOULD SAY THE WORDS USO AND BAMBOOZLED ON THE TELEVISION TONIGHT. I QUEUED UP TO VOTE ON MOUNT TODAY. I WAS SURROUNDED BY PEOPLE WHO I WAS ABSOLUTELY SURE WERE NOT VOTING THE SAME WAY AS ME, AND WE CHATTED, AND WE SPENT TIME TOGETHER, AND AT THE END OF IT, I FELT HOPEFUL. I THINK WE ARE AT OUR BEST WHEN WE GET ALONG. IF CHRISTOPHER LUXON IS GOOD TO HIS WORD AND DOES NOT LEAVE PEOPLE OUT, THEN THAT WILL BE A FANTASTIC THING. I HOPE TOMORROW THAT WE WAKE UP IN THIS COUNTRY AND GET ALONG WITH EACH OTHER, BECAUSE IF WE DO NOT, WHERE DOES THAT LEAVE US. I ALSO WANT TO DO A SHOUT OUT TO OUR STUDIO CREW AND OUR DIRECTORS AND EVERYONE ELSE INVOLVED IN ORGANISING. ( (APPLAUSE) WE DID ALL RIGHT, EH? DO NOT DROP HER ON HER BACK. ON THAT NOTE ` WILL CONTINUE THE THEME OF THIS NIGHT, AND I WILL KEEP US ON TRACK, THERE YOU HAVE IT ` WELL, THERE YOU HAVE IT, AOTEAROA, NEW ZEALAND HAS A NEW LEADER. CHRISTOPHER LUXON IS OUR 42ND PRIME MINISTER. WHAT A RIDE THAT HAS BEEN. HE WASN'T EVEN IN PARLIAMENT THREE AND A HALF YEARS AGO, AND NOW HE'S RIGHT AT THE TOP. WHAT A NIGHT. IT WASN'T QUITE AS THE PUNDITS OR THE POLLS CALLED IT. WINSTON PETERS NOT YET GIVEN THE KEYS TO THE KINGDOM. BUT AS JACK HAS SAID, THERE ARE STILL LOTS OF CONVERSATIONS TO BE HAD, INCLUDING THOSE ON Q+A WITH JACK TOMORROW. I NEED TO SLEEP. HE'S BACK WITH YOU ALL AT 8am. BUT, OF COURSE, IF YOU'RE TOO HYPED TO SLEEP, YOU CAN GO TO 1news.co.nz FOR MORE COVERAGE ON ALL OF TONIGHT'S RESULTS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US. IT'S BEEN A NIGHT TO REMEMBER. FROM THE WHOLE 1 NEWS TEAM, PO MARIE. GOOD NIGHT. CAPTIONS BY SEAN LYDIARD, MAEVE KELLY, SAM BAKER AND PHOEBE UPTON.