Tauranga National Party MP Simon Bridges with his wife Natalie Bridges after the 2011 election. Photo/file
Tauranga National Party MP Simon Bridges with his wife Natalie Bridges after the 2011 election. Photo/file
It's an election-night tradition for Kiwis to get together and cheer on - or bemoan - the results. Juliet Rowan finds out how Tauranga's candidates plan to spend the big evening.
A sleeping baby, supporters shaving heads, and a mandolin-playing candidate are among the quirkier sights that may be seen at election night parties in Tauranga next week.
Candidates are planning soirees big and small on the evening of September 20 at everywhere from exclusive clubs to the humble family dining table.
Bite-size nibbles will be all some supporters have to sustain themselves as they watch the action unfold, while others will be feasting on pot-luck dinners and roast lamb.
Expect the usual colourful outfits from party faithful, the candidates say, and prepare for emotions to run high as results become apparent.
Mr Bridges said he and Mrs Bridges would need to take a Moses basket for Harry, 6 months, but could count on 2 1/2 year old Emlyn to keep pace with the adults. "Harry will fade out pretty early but Emlyn will do everything he can to stay on to the bitter end," said Mr Bridges.
"He's met [Prime Minister] John Key a few times and knows that he's my boss. There's no way he wants to see anything other than his Dad and John Key returned."
Mr Bridges expected about 100 people who had been involved with his campaign to attend the event, including those who had helped by putting up signs, delivering pamphlets and allowing their land to be used for hoardings.
There was no dress code, but judging by past election nights, party faithful would dress up and there would be "a fair bit of blue" in the room.
Television screens would keep the crowd up to date with the election action and platters early on would be followed by "typical Kiwi fare" - ham off the bone in buns - later in the evening.
Supporters could help themselves to one free drink but those wanting more would be subject to a "user pays system", Mr Bridges said.
CLAYTON MITCHELL
"We've got a big party planned," said New Zealand First's Clayton Mitchell.
Mr Mitchell is hosting an invitation-only event at the exclusive Tauranga Club, where he and other senior members of New Zealand First are members.
He expected a couple of hundred people to take up his invitations during the night and to dress for the occasion.
"There will just be a lot of excitedly nervous people who hope that New Zealand voters choose a government that will make New Zealand a fairer place," she said.
"Plus we'll be watching the party vote for Labour to see if Tauranga gets its first Labour MP in a decade."
Dr Jones said all Labour supporters were welcome to join her at Greerton RSA from 7.30pm.
"[There is] no dress code, but I expect a lot of red clothing."
Labour candidate Rachel Jones.
The food would be "nothing fancy - just some finger food to get us through the night" and she expected a good-sized gathering of her campaign team, volunteers and supporters, as well as friends and family.
She was to be joined by her husband Jim Corner and hopefully two siblings from Puhoi, north of Auckland, and Napier.
A musical recital is a possibility at Green Party candidate Ian McLean's election night gathering.
Dr McLean and his wife Rebecca Sargisson have a collection of more than 100 instruments and he said they had been known to bring them out at Green Party gatherings.
His favourite was the mandolin, and his wife, who teaches psychology at University of Waikato's Tauranga campus, played the guitar and had 'a great singing voice'.
Dr McLean said the menu was yet to be decided but was likely to follow the pot-luck style typical of the Greens: "Bring some food and we will all share."
All local party members were invited and they could wear what they liked, although plenty of verdant colour was expected.
The gathering was to be held at a friend's house this year.
"We used to have election parties at my place, but we don't have a TV anymore in this digital age," said Dr McLean.
Green Party candidate Ian McLean.
STUART PEDERSEN
Act candidate Stuart Pederson is promising to let party guests shave his head on election night if Act is successful in Tauranga.
He is holding a gathering at his home in Mt Maunganui and said he and local list candidate Bruce Carley would let supporters shave their heads in the style of Act leader Jamie Whyte if Dr Whyte got in and Act's party vote percentage in Tauranga was higher than the national average.
Mr Pederson expected his friends and supporters at the gathering would dress in Act's trademark yellow and he looked forward to marking the end of a busy campaign.
"We'll be celebrating whatever the result because Act was at zero [in Tauranga] at the beginning."
NATHANIEL HESLOP
Conservative Party candidate Nathaniel Heslop is confident of celebrating 'a historic night'.
As party secretary, Mr Heslop plans to join other party faithful for an election night event at Auckland's North Shore Golf Club.
"When the Conservative Party passes the five per cent threshold it will be a historic night because it will be the first time a party that does not have a sitting MP gains entry to Parliament," he said.
He had no idea of details such as dress code, but promised lots of nibbles, a cash bar and 'many conversations where campaign stories are exchanged'.
"The main thing is that we can enjoy the evening with each other and reflect on what has been a very busy three months."
MICHAEL O'NEILL
New Zealand Independent Coalition candidate Michael O'Neill plans to join independent MP Brendan Horan at his home on election night.
Mr O'Neill expected a good size gathering, similar to the group of about 50 people who had come to the coalition's opening.
He said the coalition's efforts were focused on regaining a seat in Parliament for Mr Horan, who is campaigning in the Bay of Plenty electorate, and the party would likely head to Imbibe bar at the Mount once results were known.
"It's a celebration no matter what [of] what we've achieved in a short time with so little money. It's just the start of a bigger movement."
Maori Party candidate Verna Ohia-Gate 'can't wait' to join colleagues at a Rotorua marae on election night.
"Me and the Tauranga team will be celebrating with [Waiariki MP and Maori Party co-leader] Te Ururoa Flavell and the [other] candidates sitting in the general election," she said. Party supporters and workers were also invited to attend the event.
"We will all be enjoying a meal and then watching the election results on a big screen," said Mrs Ohia-Gate. "[I] can't wait."
RUSTY KANE
Independent candidate Rusty Kane has two invitations to election night parties - one with Labour's Rachel Jones; the other with New Zealand First's Clayton Mitchell.
The Gate Pa grandmother said she planned to enjoy the traditional Kiwi dinner at home with 10 members of her family.
"I'll be with my daughters, granddaughters and grandsons and we'll be keeping a close eye on the TV," she said.
Ms Lamare is standing on a platform of preventing drink driving, suicide, youth alcoholism, smoking and drug addiction.
After 15 years writing to mainstream politicians about these issues, she decided to stand at the last election and gained 52 votes.
With no advertising then or now, she was ambivalent about her chances next Saturday. "[But] if I win or lose, I hold my head up high with what I stand for," she said.
- United Future's James Maxwell did not respond to questions about his plans by our deadline.
