National MP Mike Sabin has easily held on to the true-blue Northland seat, gaining just under 17,000 of the nearly 32,000 votes cast.
Although his majority remains unassailable - the election night result puts him 8785 votes ahead of his nearest rival, Labour's Willow-Jean Prime - it has fallen since he was first elected in 2011, while National's share of the total vote has increased.
Three years ago Mr Sabin had a majority of more than 11,300, surpassing even his long-standing predecessor John Carter.
Mr Sabin said he was pleased to have been returned with a good mandate and even more pleased that National's progress had been so strongly endorsed. Factors that could have contributed to his reduced majority included a former National Party aspirant deciding to run against him (Focus Party founder Ken Rintoul collected more than 1500 votes), a Labour candidate offering attributes not available in 2011, and controversy over his Kaipara Bill validating illegally struck rates.
"People elect you not just to do the easy stuff," Mr Sabin said, defending the bill.