New National MP finds her way around with a 'really decent bunch of people'

Dana Kirkpatrick, who won the East Coast seat back for National after three years of Labour rule, is keen to get to work as the electorate’s new MP. File photo

Friday will be an exciting day for newly elected East Coast MP Dana Kirkpatrick when the official results of the general election  are released.

Ms Kirkpatrick is safe in East Coast with a preliminary majority of 3138 votes, but says she will not know what responsibilities she will have until a coalition government is established.

Those coalition talks will heat up when the make-up of Parliament is finalised.

Two seats to look out for are Nelson, where the National candidate leads the sitting Labour candidate  Rachel Boyack by 54 votes, and Te Atatū, where the National candidate leads former Labour cabinet minister Phil Twyford  by 30 votes.

Ms Kirkpatrick said her life had been “a bit of a whirlwind since the election”.

National’s new MPs were flown to Wellington on the Monday after election day to undergo induction and to learn about parliamentary life.

“I only got lost twice and in my defence, it was because I got out of the lift on the wrong floor and all the corridors look the same,” said Ms Kirkpatrick.

“Parliament needs its own Google map.”

The National “class of 23”  has 23 new MPs who have been learning quickly about their new world of standing orders, the Speaker’s directions, remuneration and expenses, Members Bills, select committees, and the press gallery.

The new MPs “are a really decent bunch of people who have some great experience across a wide range of areas”, said Ms Kirkpatrick.

The MPs have been looking for accommodation in Wellington, while electorate MPs have also been learning about electoral offices and staff requirements.

“The message from our leadership team has been that they want us to be very active in our communities and to make sure we are working hard both in the electorate and in Parliament.”

Ms Kirkpatrick told the Herald she enjoyed getting back to Gisborne earlier this week.

“It was lovely to be at home and spend some time regrouping, and recovering from an extremely high energy and busy election, and to tidy up some large piles of campaign material.

“I spent time connecting with those people who had helped me in the electorate campaign as well as writing thank you cards, attending a few functions, tidying some bits and pieces up at home, taming the pile of signs that had come home to roost, and doing a bit of gardening here and there to plant the summer crops.

“There were literally thousands of messages of support and good luck.

“I have tried to respond to as many as I can, but I do worry I may have lost a few. They all meant so much and I was just so excited and humbled by the support and the goodwill shown to me throughout the campaign.”

The campaign was fought in good spirit, she said.

“We don’t always agree with every party, but I think we all campaigned with integrity and that was great to see.”

The National MPs are working on their maiden speeches, setting up electorate offices, hiring staff and learning about the process for the opening of Parliament.

After declaring the official results on Friday, and when satisfied that no application is to be made for a judicial recount, or after any recount has taken place, the Electoral Commissioner delivers the writ to the Clerk of the House on November 9.

The writ is effectively a certificate of election, proving the right of membership to the House.

Following the return of the writ, the Governor-General issues a proclamation summoning Parliament to meet within six weeks.

The formal State opening of Parliament by the Governor-General must take place between November 11 and December 22.

“We are all dying to get into the work,” said Ms Kirkpatrick.