Waiariki's new MP Tamati Coffey is still processing his election night victory in which he beat Te Ururoa Flavell and become the first openly gay holder of a Maori seat.
Coffey told the Rotorua Daily Post yesterday he was feeling energised after a morning full of interviews.
"It hasn't fully sunk in yet.
"I head down to Wellington first thing [Monday] morning for induction," he said.
"I am ready to take all of that onboard and fuel myself up to be the best possible MP I can be for our city, but also our region."
More than 100 supporters of Coffey had gathered at Hinemihi Marae to be there as the results came in.
The whare kai was plastered in red with Labour Party signs and red balloons across the walls.
Supporter Ryan Gray said Coffey was the underdog from day one and his victory was a tribute to the mahi his campaign whanau had put in across the Waiariki.
"Te Ururoa Flavell will be a loss to the parliamentary landscape, but the voters have spoken, and they have voted for the person they thought best to represent their dreams and ambitions.
"I'm looking forward to seeing Tamati in the house and delivering on his pledges for those across Waiariki."
The Waiariki seat at a glance Tamati Coffey: 9847 Te Ururoa Flavell: 8526 The Labour Party held the Waiariki seat in the 1999 and 2002 election. The Maori Party's Te Ururoa Flavell has held the seat since 2005. The Waiariki electorate covers Rotorua, Tauranga, Whakatane and Taupo.