2014 Election: Muller wins Bay of Plenty seat

Todd Muller with friends and family at the Te Puna Rugby Club. PHOTO/CARMEN HALL

10.31pm: Bay of Plenty labour candidate Clare wilson has congratulated winning National candidate Todd muller and said he was a good man who campaigned hard.

It was a safe national seat, she said, but Labour had made a significant difference in the electorate and the final results would be out tomorrow.

9.45pm: National Party candidate Todd Muller is saying his winning speech after claiming the Bay of Plenty seat in the 2014 General Election.

Mr Muller said being a politician was something he had dreamt of since being a "little fella" at Te Puna School.

He said to achieve that at forty five and being able to represent his home community was a huge privilege.

"The support tonight is extraordinary and it's brilliant to be able to share this with them."

Mr Muller said he was overwhelmed and humbled by the people of the electorate who had given him their confidence and he was going to work very hard over he next three years to earn it.

He said he had already received a great text from Tony Ryall and Jim Bolger.

"It's awesome to have got support from those two who have been my mentors it's very exciting."

9.25pm: 41.6 per cent of the vote has been counted and National Party candidate Todd Muller is still well ahead.

Currently in the top three are:

Todd Muller, National Party = 12047
Clare Wilson, Labour Party = 3440
Raymond Dolman, NZ First = 2581

8.30pm: National Party candidate Todd Muller has just arrived at his gathering at Te Puna Rugby Club tonight.

About 200 others including his wife and children are there with him to watch as the results unfold.

At 21.2 per cent, Mr Muller is currently holding the most votes for the Bay of Plenty seat.

Mr Muller said he was feeling "absolutely humbled" by the current results and very excited if they were to hold.

7.20pm: National Party candidate Todd Muller is currently in the lead with the first results of the Bay of Plenty electorate released.

Mr Muller is on 6600 votes and the National Party is also leading the electorate on 6311 votes.

New Zealand First is currently second in the party vote and Labour candidate Clare Wilson is currently second in the vote for the seat.

Mrs Wilson is spending the night with close family and supporters as she awaits the results of the election at her Mount Maunganui home.

Mrs Wilson said she would like to see a big jump in votes in the electorate and was expecting to see a lift on the number of voters compared to the votes the party received in 2011.

During her campaign trail she said she stood because she saw families in Bay of Plenty working hard and doing everything right but not getting ahead.

Clare Wilson at her Mount Maunganui home tonight. PHOTO/CARMEN HALL

7pm: Voting in the 2014 General Election has now closed.

Votes are being counted around the country and a final count is expected to be announced by midnight tonight.

Bay of Plenty Times reporters are stationed across Tauranga to keep you up to date with the latest action.

Keep an eye on the bayofplentytimes.co.nz for the latest.

TAURANGA:
BRIDGES, Simon - National Party
HESLOP, Nathaniel - Conservative
JONES, Rachel - Labour Party
KANE, Rusty - Independent
LAMARE, Yvette - Independent
McLEAN, Ian - Green Party
MAXWELL, James - United Future
MITCHELL, Clayton - New Zealand First Party
OHIA-GATE, Verna - Maori Party
O'NEILL, Michael - NZ Independent Coalition
PEDERSEN, Stuart - ACT New Zealand

BAY OF PLENTY:
CUNLIFFE, Deborah - Conservative
DOLMAN, Raymond - New Zealand First Party
HORAN, Brendan - NZ Independent Coalition
LIVINGSTON, Tracy - Democrats for Social Credit
MULLER, Todd - National Party
RICKARD, Ben - United Future
WILSON, Clare - Labour Party